earthPoems
Celebration of LifeArchive for October, 2008
Photographs on animal cruelty, care on display at UVAS
By Our Correspondent
LAHORE
THE Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in collaboration with the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) organised an exhibition of photographs in a bid to highlight different aspects of cruelty to animals and their care at the university campus on Tuesday.
Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Secretary Jehanzeb Khan inaugurated the exhibition. UVAS Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Nawaz, SPCA Honorary Secretary Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry, executive members and the university students were present.
Students, the university staff and livestock professionals placed their pictures in the exhibition. The pictures covered both the aspects-cruelty to animals and love for them-by society. Total 300 pictures were received for the exhibition while 80 best pictures were put on display. The three top position winners would get cash prizes of Rs 10,000, Rs 7,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively on the last day of the show. The exhibition will continue till Oct 30.
Speaking in the inaugural ceremony, Livestock and Dairy Development secretary called for creating awareness about the animal rights.
He said animals had also the right to live in the world with peace, adding that a coalition of animal lovers should be formed to work for animal welfare.
He sought suggestions to amend laws to prevent cruelty to animals and work for their rights, asking the SPCA to make a plan of action for the year 2009 and assured the government support in its animal welfare efforts.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Nawaz said the UVAS was an institution dedicated to the welfare of animals, adding that the staff and students of the UVAS would continue giving their contributions in this regard. He deplored that animals were given less food, less water and were subjected to cruelty in society and stressed that animals should be used for research, experiments and other work in a humane way. He said the UVAS had extended its academic scope to other fields besides the veterinary and animal sciences and it was encouraging that even medical doctors and pharmacists were getting postgraduate degrees from the veterinary university.
Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry spoke about the set-up and functioning of the SPCA. He said the SPCA had its centres in 17 districts in the province, which had been working for prevention of cruelty to animals. He suggested that society’s scope should be enhanced by including welfare of animals in its functioning.
A case against arsenic-based pesticides
North America now has restrictions on harmful arsenic-based pesticides, thanks in part to four years of intensive research by a team led by Environment Canada.
The effects of these chemicals on human health, birds and insects only started to come to light after they were used to fight off an epidemic of mountain pine beetles in British Columbia’s forests.
The team was led by Dr. John Elliott, an EC research scientist who focuses on the study of ecotoxicology. Other members of the team included Dr. Christy Morrissey, a post-doctoral fellow, Dr. Bill Cullen, an international expert on the chemistry of arsenic, and other highly qualified biologists, chemists, summer students and interns from the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University.
The use of Monosodium Methanearsonate in BC
Monosodium Methanearsonate (MSMA) is an arsenic-based pesticide that was applied to treat trees affected by the worsening mountain pine beetle (MPB) epidemic in 2001. Frills were cut into the tree bark, and MSMA was injected underneath the bark to target the beetles. With this form of treatment, the beetles are killed — but so are the trees. The fatally infested tree is sacrificed in order to prevent further spread of beetles.
The pine forests of British Columbia’s central and southern interior have been devastated by the mountain pine beetle epidemic. To date, the area of pine trees that have been affected stands at 13.5 million hectares — about four times the size of Vancouver Island. The B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range projects that by 2013, 80 per cent of the pine trees in the affected area could be dead.
It is estimated that in B.C., during a 10-year period from 1995 to 2004, approximately 5080 kilograms of MSMA was applied to some 500,000 trees.
Investigating the impact of MSMA
In a research first, Dr. Elliott’s team found that woodpeckers feeding on the beetles had a significantly higher concentration of arsenic in their bloodstream. Prior to this project, a database allowing scientists to compare their findings did not exist.
The research took place during the 2004-2005 breeding seasons (April to July). The study evaluated the exposure of MSMA to woodpeckers, such as the Three-Toed and Hairy woodpeckers and other forest birds that lived within one linear kilometre of trees that had been treated with MSMA within the previous two years. The research team captured a total of 23 birds whose diets included a large component of beetles.
All beetles and bird blood samples were tested for arsenic. Beetle samples from MSMA treated trees contained high concentrations of arsenic. The blood samples collected revealed moderate but widespread exposure to MSMA.
The team concluded that under current environmental conditions, woodpeckers and other insect-eating species were being exposed to arsenic was occurring with the potential for significant consequences, such as weight loss and higher mortality rates.
While it was initially believed that MSMA was over 90 per cent effective at killing the beetles, the Environment Canada-led team found the success rate to be only about 60 per cent. Some beetles and larvae were still alive despite the application of the pesticide.
MSMA use in B.C. during the mountain pine beetle epidemic can be far-reaching. For example, carpenter ants feeding on dead trees can also serve as food for other species. As a result, the policy calls for ongoing research to determine the presence of arsenic in secondary insects.
Current status of the ozone layer
A NASA image of the ozone hole over the Antarctic in September 1987.
Photo: © NASA, 2007.
Canada had a lead role in the international efforts to address what was perhaps the most pressing environmental issue at the time. Montreal hosted the 1987 United Nations environmental conference that gave birth to the Montreal Protocol — the international agreement which prompted action against the depletion of the ozone layer and is now ratified by 191 countries.
Thanks to controls imposed under the Montreal Protocol, levels of the most damaging chemicals contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer have decreased. The atmospheric concentration of the principal chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) contributing to ozone decline began to drop approximately 15 years ago. However, damaging concentrations of ozone‑depleting chemicals remain in the atmosphere and are expected to stay there through much of the 21st century.
Currently, over southern Canada, the ozone layer remains about 3 percent thinner than normal, and drops to about 4 percent lower in the spring. Ozone thinning is most severe in the Arctic during winter and early spring, with depletions of up to 30 percent.
Awareness drive against breast cancer from 25th
By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: PAKISTAN has the highest incidence of breast cancer in Asia and it is the most common cancer in women around the world. The breast cancer continues to be the highest malignancy reported and currently being treated at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) over the years.
According to a press release here on Monday, it was noted that the causes of breast cancer are not yet known with certainty and research into this continues. Nevertheless, studies have shown that early detection of breast cancer can result in a survival rate of over 90 per cent.
The SKMCH&RC spokesman said that the hospital remains dedicated to raise awareness about breast cancer and how early detection can help save our life and the lives of the women by launching its breast cancer awareness campaign on October 25, at the hospital. Faryal Gohar will be the chief guest on this occasion while several women from colleges and different walks of life are also participating in this function specially organised by the hospital.
In line with the commitment towards the welfare of women, Atiqa Odho has come forth to help SKMCH&RC in the fight against breast cancer in Pakistan. She along with her mother and daughter has lent themselves as the breast cancer campaign ambassadors of SKMCH&RC this year.
Furthermore, Odho Productions has produced a long play ‘Chalo Phir Say Gee Lain’ starring Atiqa Odho as the breast cancer patient being treated at SKMCH&RC along with Humayun Saeed playing the role of her husband. The play has been directed by Sarmad Khoosat.
‘Carbonated soft drinks, junk food cause osteoporosis at an early age’
Irfan Aligi
KARACHI: Dow University of Health Sciences Prof. of Anatomy and research scholar on osteoporosis Dr Amanullah Mangi told Daily Times in an exclusive interview that osteoporosis is a disease that should be treated with food, not drugs.
The youth of Pakistan from age groups of 15 to 25 are at the brink of ruin and they are at a risk of many health problems especially osteoporosis after the age of 35 because of an unhealthy diet consisting mostly of carbonated soft drinks and fast food “I can say on the basis of my research that carbonated beverages and fast food destroy bones. I have data on side effects of cold drinks and fast food, which I collected after a study on a group of 10 boys from the age group of 18 to 25, who drank carbonated drinks and ate burgers,” claimed Mangi. The BMD results were below the normal limit in all volunteers.
The use of carbonated drinks and fast food makes the bones fragile. I strongly recommend that the fast food and soft drink culture should be eliminated from our society so that we can save our youth, added Mangi.
Efforts for the creation of awareness about osteoporosis can only be successful if common and easy-to-understand terminology is used, said Mangi. It is in line of directives of the World Health Organization (WHO) that doctors should treat the root causes of the diseases rather than focusing on the symptoms. Those who treat the symptoms are quacks, commented Mangi.
It is pertinent to mention that World Osteoporosis Day is celebrated on October 20 across the globe every year. This day serves as a focal point for the international community to inform and educate the public and policy makers about the importance of osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Osteoporosis affects around one in three women and one in five men around the world. Pakistan has a high prevalence of osteoporosis, with 97 percent of women, aged 75 to 84 years, and 55 percent of women aged 45 to 54 years suffering from it.
earthPoems 