The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), is an international organization that was formed at Washington D.C on April 4, 1949.
It originally comprised 12 member countries:-
US
UK
Canada
Belgium
Denmark
France
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
All these countries made a promise to defend each other in case any of them are attacked and to resolve and dispute peacefully. Its headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium.
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After the World War II, the Soviet Union helped set up communist governments in many Eastern European countries. The US and the Western European countries feared the further spread of communism. To protect each other against the Soviet Union and the communist countries, NATO was formed.
It is the world’s biggest military alliance with 31 member countries as on date. NATO does not have its own armed forces. Instead it has a military command structure that works with the militaries of member countries in peacekeeping operations.
Official Languages of NATO
NATO has two official languages, English and French, as defined in Article 14 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
Article 5 Article 5 of the Washington Treaty (NATO’s founding document) provides that “an attack or provocation on one of its member states is considered as an attack against all”. This is known as collective defence and has been used only once in the history of NATO — in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
Defence Spending of its Members
All members of NATO must commit to spending at least 2% of their GDP on defence.
What is Communism?
Communism is a type of government. In a communist system, individual people are not allowed to own land or factories. Everything is owned by the government or the whole community and everyone shares the created wealth.
NATO on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Ukraine, a country in Eastern Europe, was a part of the Soviet Union (which broke up into different independent countries including Russia and Ukraine in 1991). Ukraine shares a border and history with Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin believes that Ukraine is a part of Russia. He also wants to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. Russia attacked Ukraine on February 25, 2022.
NATO does not support the war between Ukraine and Russia. It believes Ukraine is an independent and peaceful country. Although Ukraine is not a member of NATO, it is a close partner.
New NATO Member: Finland
NATO has announced that Finland has become the 31st member of the alliance, thanks to Turkey’s unanimous vote. Despite Russia’s opposition to Finland’s membership, Turkey’s approval has allowed the extension of NATO. Finland shares a long border of over 1,300km with Russia, and its decision to join NATO was prompted by security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. However, Sweden’s application to join NATO has been declined by Turkey and Hungary.
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NATO Ministerial
Foreign Ministers Meetings & Defense Ministers Meetings give opportunities for NATO Allies to address many of NATO’s most pressing security challenges at some of the highest levels of government. Key strategic issues discussed at these meetings have included Capabilities, Afghanistan, Missile, and Kosovo Defense. Generally attended also by many of NATO’s partners, these meetings are a chance for NATO to strengthen its relationships around the world.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is based on the cycles of the Moon. The Ramadan dates are different every year as the Islamic calendar is based on the Moon. This year Ramadan began on March 22 and will end on April 21.
During Ramadan, people who follow Islam won’t eat or drink between dawn and sunset. This is called fasting. They eat one meat before sunrise, which is known as ‘Sahoor’, which means “of the dawn”. They also have another meal right after sunset known as ‘Iftar’ which means “break of the fast”. They also read the Qur’an and pray during the entire month.
Origin of Ramadan
Ramadan is the month of remembrance and celebration of when the Qur’an (the Muslim holy book) was revealed to Prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel, in A.D. 610. Muslims believe that the Prophet of Muhammad is the last Prophet, who received the teachings of Allah and who spread the Islamic faith after the Qur’an (believed to be the direct word of Allah) was revealed to him.
Ramadan officially ends with the first glimpse of the new Moon. The festival of “Eid al-Fitr” or the “Feast of Fast-Breaking” is observed to mark the end of the month of Ramadan. Eid al-Fitr is celebrated to end fasting and also to thank God which is done through special services held in the mosques. Special meals are eaten during the daytime and people dress in the finest clothes, spend time with family and friends, and give gifts to children.
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Eid is celebrated around the world in more or less the same manner with slight changes which are usually because of cultural differences. In Ghana and Somalia, traditional dances like Adowa and Buraanbur are performed respectively along with the celebrations. This is a unique way of celebrating in Africa during Eid.
Eid is celebrated every year with great spirits, enthusiasm, traditions, and lots of love and brotherhood among people.
Easter is the most important festival in the Christian calendar. It celebrates Jesus rising from the dead, three days after he was executed, symbolising his conquest of death. The date of Easter Sunday varies from year to year. It is observed on or after March 21, on the first Sunday following the full moon. Each culture has its own unique traditions to commemorate this special day. From food to decorations, there are many interesting Easter traditions that vary by region.
Know Of The Various Easter Traditions Around The World –
1. Cooking A Giant Omelette
Brotherhood of the Big Omelette members have gathered in Bessières, France, every year since 1973 to prepare an enormous omelette consisting of 15,000 eggs. The feast is prepared over a sizable fire in the town square by a group of volunteer cooks using wooden utensils shaped like oars and a four-meter-wide pan.
The colourful geometric patterns in the sky represent Jesus’ journey into heaven as Bermudians assemble to fly homemade kites constructed from wooden sticks and colourful tissue paper. Together with a codfish feast, hot cross buns, and sunrise services on the beach, this Easter custom is celebrated.
3. Halloweening
Halloween is a springtime tradition in Sweden and some of its Nordic neighbours. On the Thursday before Easter, young people dress as witches and knock on doors to ask for candy. In exchange for the treats, the kids typically give the grownups colourful willow branches or drawings. The custom is based on the myth that Swedish witches visited Blkulla before Easter to celebrate with the devil. On Easter Sunday, Swedes build large bonfires to ensure that the witches won’t return.
4. Easter Almonds
On Easter, people in Portugal give each other almonds, also known as amêndoas. The delicious candies are coated in hard candy, chocolate, or caramelised sugar and come in a variety of colours. On Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, godchildren give their godparents a stalk, and in exchange, the godparents give almonds on Easter Sunday.
5. Easter Egg Roll
At the White House in America where the country’s president lives, an annual Easter egg roll is held on the lawn. The tradition dates back to 1878 when President Rutherford B Hayes ran the country. It’s held on Easter Monday and it’s usually the President’s wife, known as the First Lady, who is in charge of the event.
6. Water Fights
In Poland, people throw water over each other on Easter Monday. It’s known as Wet Monday. In the olden days, it was mainly single guys chasing single girls, but now it’s pretty much everyone water-fighting everyone. The weapons of choice are water guns, empty shampoo and dishwashing soap bottles, and buckets.
7. Pot Smashing
Old pots are traditionally thrown out of windows on Easter Saturday morning on the Greek island of Corfu. It’s believed that the custom originated with the Italians of Venice, who regularly discard their goods.
8. Easter Eggs Are Red In Greece
In Greece, dying eggs red, symbolizing Christ’s blood, has held strong throughout the millennia as an Easter tradition. The egg in itself is a symbol, as its hard shell represents the sealed tomb of Jesus, the cracking of egg symbolizes his resurrection from the dead and exit from the tomb.
The Earth is made of four basic layers: a solid crust, a hot, nearly solid mantle, a liquid outer core and a solid inner core.
What Is An Earthquake?
Earthquake is a natural disaster that occurs when the tectonic plates crash into or brush against each other. Earthquakes cause the ground to shake and large cracks open up in the Earth’s surface. Earthquakes are more common in certain countries due them being on the edge of tectonic plates.
What Causes an Earthquake?
The tectonic plates are always moving, but sometimes they get stuck. This non-stop movement causes stress on Earth’s crust. When the stresses get too large, it leads to cracks called faults. When tectonic plates move, it also causes movements at the faults. An earthquake is the sudden movement of Earth’s crust at a fault line.
There are four different types of earthquakes: tectonic, volcanic, collapse and explosion.
A tectonic earthquake is one that happens when the earth’s crust breaks down as a result of geological forces acting on nearby plates and rocks, which change their physical and chemical composition.
A volcanic earthquake is any earthquake that results from tectonic forces which occur in conjunction with volcanic activity.
A collapse earthquake are small earthquakes in underground caverns and mines that are caused by seismic waves produced from the explosion of rock on the surface.
An explosion earthquake is an earthquake that is the result of the detonation of a nuclear and/or chemical device.
What is an Epicentre?
The ground above where an earthquake starts is called the epicentre. An earthquake’s most intense shaking is often felt near the epicentre. However, the vibrations from an earthquake
can usually be felt and detected thousands of miles away from the epicentre.
How are Earthquakes Measured?
Earthquakes are measured using seismographs, which monitor the seismic waves that travel through the Earth after an earthquake strikes.
Scientists use something called the Moment Magnitude scale to measure how strong an earthquake is. This scale measures the energy that is released by the earthquake which makes it very accurate.
In the past, scientists used something called the Richter scale which measured the size of the seismic waves.
What is an earthquake zone?
An earthquake zone is defined as the zone on the earth’s surface around which the majority of earthquakes occur. It is also known as the seismic zone or earthquake belts.
Where Earthquakes Happen?
Where tectonic plates collide, there are earthquakes along the fault lines. Around 80% of earthquakes happen near the Pacific Ocean’s rim. The region is a meeting place for numerous tectonic plates and is known as the Ring of Fire due to the abundance of volcanoes there.
What Can You Do To Stay Safe in an Earthquake?
Usually earthquakes last only 10 to 30 seconds. During an earthquake it is advisable to get to a safe place fast. Keep the following things in mind:
If you are indoors:
Get down on your hands and knees and crawl to your shelter.
Take cover underneath a sturdy table, desk, or bed. Cover your head and neck with your arms. If furniture isn’t nearby, crouch down on your knees with your arms over your head and neck next to an interior wall. (Don’t stand under a doorway—they can easily collapse.)
Stay away from glass windows, doors, and walls.
If you are outdoors:
Stay away from tall buildings and trees.
Find a space spot and stay there until safe
What To Do After An Earthquake?
Once the earthquake has passed, look for any wounds. Stay tuned for warnings from the local authorities. Be ready for any possible aftershocks. First aid kits must be used to tend to persons with minor injuries such as bleeding and bruises. Whereas seriously injured individuals must not be moved until they are out of danger and proper medical help has arrived. One must stay away from downed power lines and any object or appliance in contact with it.
Did You Know?
– Tectonic plates are made up of rocks that make up the outer layer of the Earth, which fit together like a puzzle covering the Earth. Tectonic plates are located all over the world and are constantly moving.
– Seismic waves are the shockwaves that travel through the ground and are very strong at the centre of the earthquake.
Tiger is the largest wild cat in the world. Presently, there are five different subspecies of tigers namely the Royal Bengal Tiger, Sumatran Tiger, Siberian Tiger, South China Tiger, and Indochinese Tiger. Three subspecies of tigers are already extinct. The extinct subspecies are Balinese, Caspian, and Javanese subspecies. These are just some of the interesting facts about tigers.
Tigers are fascinating creatures, renowned for their beauty, strength, and agility. As the largest wild cat species, they captivate our imagination with their majestic presence.
Here are some interesting facts about tigers:
Size and Appearance:
Tigers are the largest members of the cat family (Felidae). They can grow up to 11 feet (3.3 meters) in length, excluding the tail, which can add another 3 to 4 feet (1 meter). Adult tigers can weigh between 220 to 660 pounds (100 to 300 kilograms). Their iconic orange fur with black stripes provides excellent camouflage in their natural habitats.
Subspecies:
There are currently six recognized tiger subspecies: Bengal tiger, Siberian tiger, Sumatran tiger, Malayan tiger, Indochinese tiger, and South China tiger. Each subspecies has its unique characteristics and is adapted to specific regions across Asia.
Habitat and Distribution:
Tigers inhabit a diverse range of habitats, including dense forests, mangrove swamps, grasslands, and even high-altitude regions. Historically, tigers ranged from eastern Turkey to the Russian Far East and as far south as the Indonesian island of Bali. Today, they are mainly found in isolated pockets across Asia.
Hunting and Diet:
Tigers are carnivores and apex predators, primarily feeding on large ungulates such as deer, wild boar, and buffalo. They are solitary hunters and can take down prey that outweighs them. A tiger can consume up to 88 pounds (40 kilograms) of meat in one sitting and may go several days without eating.
Strength and Abilities:
Tigers possess incredible strength and agility. They are capable of leaping distances of over 30 feet (9 meters) and can swim up to 3 miles (5 kilometers) at a time. Their muscular bodies allow them to overpower prey, and they have a strong bite force that can crush bones.
Communication:
Tigers use vocalizations, body language, and scent markings to communicate with each other. Roaring is a prominent vocalization, which can be heard over long distances. Other sounds include growls, hisses, and chuffing noises.
Endangered Status:
Tigers are listed as endangered species due to poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict. Their population has significantly declined over the past century. Conservation efforts focus on protecting their habitats, combating poaching, and promoting sustainable coexistence between tigers and local communities.
Symbolic Significance:
Tigers hold cultural and symbolic significance in many societies. They are considered national animals in several countries, including India, Bangladesh, and Malaysia. Tigers feature prominently in folklore, mythology, and art, often representing power, courage, and nobility.
Conservation Success Stories:
Despite the challenges, conservation efforts have shown positive outcomes in certain regions. For instance, the population of the Siberian tiger (also known as Amur tiger) has increased in recent years due to conservation measures in Russia.
Importance for Ecosystems:
Tigers play a vital role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems. As apex predators, they help regulate prey populations, which in turn affects vegetation and other wildlife. Protecting tiger habitats also benefits a wide range of other species.
Facts about Tigers.
Tiger Sub-Species
Where Are They Found?
Conservation Status
Royal Bengal Tiger
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal.
Endangered
Sumatran Tiger
Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Critically Endangered
Siberian Tiger
Russia’s birch forests and some exist in China and North Korea
Endangered
Indochinese Tiger
Tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia.
Endangered
South China Tiger
Tropical rain forests and evergreen broad-leaved forests in southern China.
Endangered
Characteristics of Tigers.
These apex predators can kill prey of all sizes, even rats and baby elephants. Tigers live far apart from one another. Based on the trees around, a tiger can determine if it is in another tiger’s territory. Each tiger uses urine and unique scratches to mark the trees in its territory.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Male – Tiger
Female – Tigress
Young Ones – Cub, Whelp
Sound – Roar, Growl
Average Lifespan – Wild: 8-10 years, Captivity: 20-25 years
1. India has the largest population of wild tigers. You can easily spot tigers in these wildlife sanctuaries-
A) Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan.
B) Sunderban Tiger Reserve, West Bengal.
C) Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
D) Sariska Tiger Reserve – 200 km from Delhi.
E) Panna National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
2. Tigers are solitary animals and live in their marked territories.
3. Each tiger has unique stripes. No two tigers will have the same stripes. Tiger stripes are also found on their skin. The stripes help them camouflage during the day.
4.Tigers can grunt, growl, roar, moan, snarl, chuff, hiss and gasp. Each vocalisation is used to communicate different things.
5. Tigers are good swimmers. They like water and often cool off in pools or streams.
6. A group of tigers is called ‘ambush’ or ‘streak’.
7. One of the most shocking facts about tigers is that they’re known for sharing their hunts. If they land a particularly plentiful prey, tigers have been seen to share with other nearby tigers.
International Tiger Day.
July 29 is the International Tiger Day.
The tiger was adopted as the National Animal of India in 1972. The tiger was adopted as the National Animal because of its presence in many Indian states, the global importance of this wild cat, and the need to protect it.
One can hear a tiger’s roar from almost three kilometres away.
Tigers’ “eyes” are on the back of their ears. It is believed that the white spots on a tiger’s ears function as its extra eyes that can detect attackers from behind.
When tigers get bruised or wounded, they lick the affected area to disinfect and prevent any kind of infection as their saliva is a natural wound antiseptic. This healing property comes from a special protein found in their saliva, which quickens their recovery.
Tigers have strong, powerful paws with claws that could grow up to 12 cm long. Next to their strong teeth, tiger claws serve as their main defence mechanisms.
Tigers have been excessively hunted for their fur and other body parts that are used in traditional medicine by many people. As people have developed land for needs such as farming and logging, the habitat for tigers has also drastically decreased.
Tigers are mostly nocturnal (more active at night) and are ambush predators that rely on the camouflage their stripes provide to stalk prey.
Did you know that tigers wait until dark to hunt? The tiger runs up to an unwary animal and typically lifts it off its feet using its teeth and claws. Smaller prey is typically killed by the tiger breaking its neck; larger prey is destroyed by the tiger biting its throat.
Tigers continue to captivate us with their grace and strength, but their future remains uncertain. Preserving their habitats, combating poaching, and raising awareness are crucial for ensuring the survival of these magnificent creatures for generations to come.
