The Effects Of Cigarette

There have been numerous campaigns against cigarette smoking communicating that this vice causes death. But a threat to health doesn’t seem to be a good reason for quitting anymore. People somehow block themselves and ignore all the information that is given to them. The purpose of this essay is to discuss three effects of cigarette smoking, besides the broadly mentioned possibility of developing cancer or dying, which are the smell of smoke, the stained teeth, and the cost of doing it.

The first effect of cigarette smoking, and probably the one that the non-smokers hate the most, is that it permeates everything around it. Smokers usually have smelly hair, breath, clothes, and, if they smoke indoors, a smelly room. The stench of cigarette smoke is very penetrating and hard to remove. Even if the person quits smoking the odor remains for a long time.

The second effect of cigarette smoking is one that most people don’t even take into consideration. It stains the teeth yellow or sometimes even brown. Since this effect is long term, most people are not aware of it when they begin smoking. The truth is that a cigarette stain is very hard to eliminate from the teeth, and it will probably end up costing a considerable amount of money. Yellow teeth are disgusting because they give an unhygienic image and make people look older.

The third effect of smoking is that it will eventually end up affecting the smoker’s personal economy. Depending on the country the prices of cigarettes can differ. But even at an affordable price the regular consumption of cigarettes will eventually take its economic toll.

These are only three out of many other effects that cigarette smoking can have, but to any sensible person they are more than enough to realize that smoking is bad. People can’t possibly be proud of calling themselves smokers. It is terrible for health as well as personal appearance. In the end, those who live in poverty, stink of smoke, and have yellow teeth are the people who are affected the most by this life threatening activity.

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Population Explosion And Pakistan

Population is considered as an asset for a country. But it turns to be a burden when increases uncontrollably. This is the case with the world. Rapid growth in population has become a global problem and Pakistan is no exception. Pakistan inherited many chronic problems at the time of its inception. Problems like illiteracy, poverty, unemployment, corruption, lawlessness, political instability, poor infrastructure etc. were uncalled gifts for Pakistan. Overpopulation has further added to the fire. Many reasons are behind it; most of them seem to arise from our social and cultural norms. All of them are leaving adverse effects on our society. Some of the major impacts are shortage of food and housing facilities, overcrowding in cities, low investment etc. Let’s discuss the problem of overpopulation from world’s perspective and then see what are its causes and impacts on Pakistan.

The whole world is in the grip of overpopulation. It has crossed the six billion mark. After terrorism, the population explosion can be called the biggest problem the world is facing today. Every day, we come across the often repeated phrase, “Population Bomb is ticking”.

At the time of partition, Pakistan had a population of 33 million. Today, our country has crossed the number of 170 million. At present, Pakistan’s population is growing at the rate of 1.57% yearly. if the current growth rate of Pakistan remained continued, the day is not away when Pakistan would be number 1 in term of population. Let’s discuss some of the major causes responsible for this phenomenon.

Illiteracy is the major cause of overpopulation. Those lacking education fail to understand the need to prevent excessive growth of population. They are unable to understand the harmful effects that overpopulation has. Lack of family planning is commonly seen in the illiterate lot of the world. In Pakistan’s rural areas, there is a trend of large families and due to the lack of awareness and proper knowledge people go on producing more and more children.

Thanks to science for its contribution, on one hand it is saving the lives of people but if we look it on other hand it is playing a negative role to population growth.

Along with it, the rapid growth in population can be attributes to the custom of early marriages in our society. More than half of the population of Pakistan lives in rural areas. In rural areas, due to ignorance, people have a conservative approach. They prefer early age marriages for their children. They do so to prevent them from indulging in immoral activities. Child marriage not only affects the health of the couple but also the child they give birth to.

Furthermore, the trend of polygamy is also responsible for this problem. Polygamy is the most common in our rural areas. In rural areas people prefer to have more than one wife at a time. This inclination of people further aggravates the situation of population in the country. Likewise, improper usage of contraceptive method has contributed negatively.

Furthermore, preference of male child over female infant has deteriorated the existing situation of backward countries. Again the religious zeal, inculcated into the minds of illiterate class at the hands of pseudo orthodox contributes very harmful effects on ever increasing population. The one of the reason described by these orthodox not to interfere in the work of creator.

Only a few of all Pakistanis participate in outdoor activities such as eating out, domestic and foreign travel for fun and work etc. Majority is unable to do any of these activities. This is mainly due to lack of finances and opportunity. Therefore, the lack of recreational activities force people to stay with their life partner. The male performs his duty like drone.

Lastly, the failure of proper implementation of government’s Population Planning Policies is the major cause of population growth. Many policies have been formulated up till now. But none of them has produced the desired results. There are many challenges to population planning implementation in Pakistan. In Pakistan, the cultural and religious institutions consider family planning a very wrong deed. This factor is the primary reason why many areas of Pakistan are still devoid of family planning centres. Misconception, rumours and false propaganda about family planning practices are also among the common reasons.

Overpopulation has badly hampered the economic growth in the country. High population is responsible for a decline in the per capita income. This leads to a decline in the purchasing power of the people. As the demand for goods decreases then by “Demand and Supply” law, the investment in the country also suffers. Such a stagnant economy will lead to closing of factories and businesses and the outcome is joblessness and poverty. 

Even if the country somehow is successful in attracting foreign investment, still overpopulation will not allow effects on the country’s economy. Greater population means more number of hungry souls to feed. This is the problem of “Dependency ratio” which is acutely felt in our country.

For years, social services in the country have suffered even after sincere efforts by successive governments. The fact remains that more schools, hospitals and parks are of little comfort if the population keeps on increasing at an alarming rate.

Agriculture is another sector, which has been adversely affected by the rapid increase of population. About 70% of Pakistan’s population rely on agricultural sector. Overpopulation is even having an adverse effect on agricultural outcome. More population means smaller farms and that leads to a decline in productivity. The same would happen with the forests and also with the availability of fresh water.

People having smaller farms have no other choice but to mitigate in hope for better life. This leads to urbanization, which itself is a major social problem. 

Overpopulation has contributed towards an increase in a number of social evils, like lawlessness, crime and corruption. The fight over resources has divided the society into groups i.e. one who possess all and the other who fight for its mere survival. 

Overpopulation in cities has also contributed to toxic pollution. A greater number of vehicles on the roads mean the availability of large quantities of poisonous gas for people to inhale. Sewage problems and lack of clean drinking water can also be attributed to the population problem. 

Despite the adverse effects of rapidly growing population, the government of Pakistan can mitigate these effects and can achieve control on population. Following are some suggestions:

• Family planning facilities be made a part of health facilities.
• There should be a greater role for local and provincial governments.
• Role of NGOs and doctors in disbursement of Aid received for family planning should be increased.
• Males should be urged to cooperate more.
• Status of women be raised in society as done by present government by giving more seats in assemblies.
• Better health and educational facilities be provided for women.
• Issue to be taken as a nation crisis.
• Role of media be encouraged especially in rural areas.
• Government programs should involve Ulemas and NGOs
• Greater participation of landlords.

Pakistan today is standing at the crossroads. What is need of the hour is vision and sincere leadership that could transform dreams into reality. The problem of population has started to haunt us and unless we tackle it pragmatically our dream of bright and glorious future will just remain a pious wish. It needs a multi-pronged attack with overpopulation. A strong Pakistan should be our first priority. If we have to make certain hard decisions for its accomplishment no one should hesitate to lead and pull the trigger. Indeed, Pakistan comes first even before our personal vested interests.

Plastic Garbage in Oceans: Understanding Marine Pollution from Microplastic Particles

 Large quantities of globally produced plastics end up in the oceans where they represent a growing risk. Above all very small objects, so-called microplastic particles, are endangering the lives of the many sea creatures. An estimate of how greatly the oceans are polluted with microplastic particles has so far failed in the absence of globally comparable methods of investigation and data. Together with British and Chilean colleagues, scientists of the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in the Helmholtz Association have now analysed all published studies on this topic and have proposed standardised guidelines for the recording and characterisation of microplastic particles in the sea.

Plastic bottles washed on to the beach are as much a part of the coast as the sound of seagulls. What the eye does not see are the innumerable ultra-small plastic objects which float in the water, are washed on to the beach or settle on the sea bed. Scientists refer to these plastic particles as "microplastic particles," understanding these to mean plastic objects whose diameter is less than five millimetres -- whereby the majority of microplastic particles are smaller than a grain of sand or the tip of a needle. It is this property that also makes them so dangerous to the sea dwellers. "Microplastic particles are swallowed by organisms and absorbed via the digestive tract. It has been possible, for example, to detect them in the tissue of mussels or other animals," says Dr. Lars Gutow, biologist at the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in the Helmholtz Association. Toxic substances also attach to the small particles in the sea which then enter the food chain in this way and may therefore ultimately be dangerous to humans.

Lars Gutow and colleagues from the Universidad Católica del Norte in Chile and the School of Marine Science and Engineering in Plymouth have now jointly addressed the question as to how greatly the oceans of the world are polluted with microplastic particles. The biologists analysed 68 scientific publications on this subject and determined that the results are difficult to compare. "Very different methods were used in these studies which is why it could not be understood whether the observed regional differences in the distribution of the plastic particles are real or whether they are attributable to the methods of recording," explains Prof. Martin Thiel, initiator of the now published comparative study and scientist at the Universidad Católica del Norte. It emerged that 100,000 times more microplastic particles could be fished out of the water column if a net with a mesh of 85 micrometres was used instead of one with 450 micrometres.

Based on these findings the international team of researchers has now for the first time prepared guidelines for the recording and characterisation of microplastic particles and has published these in the Environmental Science & Technology journal in which the scientists also explain the possible origins of the plastic waste. "Microplastic particles reach the seas in different ways. A large share is accounted for by so-called plastic pellets used as a raw material in the manufacture of plastic products such as computer housings and other everyday articles. If these pellets are handled carelessly, during ship loading for example, many may be blown away by the wind and fall into the sea," explains Lars Gutow.

Microplastic particles are also to be found in cosmetics and cleaning agents, however. "Very small plastic particles are used as "abrasives" in many a peeling product. They then reach the sea via sewage water and rivers," says the biologist. And finally every plastic bottle, every plastic bag floating on the sea, one day disintegrates into countless microparticles. "It can take years for larger plastic parts to disintegrate primarily through physical processes. The UV radiation of the sun makes the plastic brittle. It is then broken down into ever smaller parts from the waves and friction processes," says Lars Gutow.

The smallest particles so far detected had a diameter of one micrometre which is one thousandth of a millimetre. Complex investigations are required to be able to determine such tiny plastic objects exactly and clarify their origins. "We recommend to every scientist to analyse very small microplastic particles using an infrared spectroscope. This procedure uncovers the constituents and permits an exact identification as a plastic," says Lars Gutow.

The scientists also point out gaps in their knowledge in their research guidelines. "The topic of plastics in the sea has become considerably more important in recent years. There is a lot of research going on. Nevertheless we do not know, for example, whether and in which quantity microplastic particles are deposited on rocky shores and in salt marshes. The latter are above all known for having a high retention potential for particles. Whether this also applies to microplastic particles is not so far known," says Martin Thiel who is examining the contamination of the Chilean coast with microplastic particles.

If in the future all marine researchers used standardised methods to record the microplastic particles based on the recommendations of this comparative study, then not only the reliability of their results ought to increase considerably. This then offers the chance of determining the final fate of microplastic particles accumulating in the world's oceans and to uncover the consequences of this pollution for the ecological systems and therefore for humans.

Historical Places Of Pakistan

Pakistan is a country in which you would find a variety of historical places that signify the unique traditions and culture of the country. These places are of extraordinary significance for people interested in history, at the same time they may act as an attraction for tourists. The tourism industry of Pakistan flourishes because of the existence of beautiful historical sites in the country.

Some of the most significant historical places in the country include Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro and Taxila. Harappa is situated approximately 200 km from Lahore in the Montgomery District of Punjab. It is the place of the historic Indus Valley Civilization settlement which is as old as 5000 years and is a civilization which the modern day people almost forgot about. A beautifully designed civilization which was discovered in 1920 has all elements of a modern day arrangement of a city. It had an exceptional sewerage system, drinking water wells and a high quality waste disposal system. The Harappans were agrarian people and experts believe they had a system of government for the distribution of the wealth of food.

Mohenjo-Daro was discovered in 1922 and is one of the oldest and most built up urban civilizations of the world. It is located on the west bank of the Indus River and it is a tiny proportion of the Indus river civilization of Harappa. Experts believe that the city was one of the most important in the Indus Valley Civilization and would have held majority of the trade courses and strength of the Southern Indus Plain between 2600 and 1900 BCE. One might find it difficult to find any palaces or monuments in the area but the city is well known for having historical pieces of gold beads, lapis, carnelian and ivory. All the houses in the city had areas for bathing and water wells were located in multiple spots all across the city. It had the most amazing drainage system and many of the modern day civilizations use the model of Mohenjo-Daro's drainage system to build new ones.

Taxila is another place which holds much significance when talking about the historical places of Pakistan. It is located 30 km North West of the Rawalpindi city and it is considered to be one of the most significant historical locations in Asia. The city is known for prospering culturally and economically from the 1st to 5^th century AD. The city comprises of a variety of buildings, settlements and castles. It also used to be the capital of the Budhist Kingdom so tourists might come across multiple Budha monuments in the city.

The three sites mentioned above are historical sites of utmost importance, but there are other historical sites in the country which attract tourists from all over the world such as the Takhti Bahi and the mausoleum of Jahangir, the Mughal emperor.

The historical significance of various sites of Pakistan is the country's unique selling point when it comes to the tourism industry. With a country marred by terrorist attacks finds it difficult to attract tourists, these sites act as a pulling force for archeologists who are willing to risk their lives to view the most extraordinary sites in the world.