Organizational initiatives for addressing climate change challenge -Winter School on Impact of Climate Change on Indian Marine Fisheries held at CMFRI, Cochin 18.1.2008 to 7.2.2008

Climate change, resulting from global warming, has been moving to the main stream administrative and political initiatives in the last two decades. To address humanity’s biggest test, several organisations, institutions, panels, networks, universities and non-governmental organisations have turned the spotlight on the man made problem of climate change

Critical Thinking

Women are the foundation of society and breeders and teachers of the next generation. We comprise half of the population of the world, and thus should be equals in every step with men. In order to do so, logical, analytical thinking (devoid of emotional drivers and personal pride) is crucial for a society to function healthily. To incline women to realize the benefits being more curious and analytical about the decisions that is made for them by men in their lives. If women remain as a mass of silent sufferers instead of individual thinkers who challenge status quo, then lack of societal respect for and protection of women’s personal decision-making in regard to unwanted pregnancies, style of dress, a their right to choose their partners, etc. will continue. Here lies the relevance of critical thinking that will allow them to become the experts in all fields

Climate change impacts : Implications on marine resources and resource users

The warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global mean sea level. The Earth’s average surface temperature has risen by 0.76° C since 1850. Most of the warming that has occurred over the last 50 years is very likely to have been caused by human activities. In its Fourth Assessment Report projects that, without further action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the global average surface temperature is likely to rise by a further 1.8-4.0°C this century, and by up to 6.4°C in the worst case scenario. Even the lower end of this range would take the temperature increase since pre-industrial times above 2°C – the threshold beyond which irreversible and possibly catastrophic changes become far more likely

How to Handle Criticism?

Compared to all other nations Constitution of India guarantees to all its citizens the right to freedom of speech and expression. People's everyday lives are shaped through language and communication. They choose what to do with their time based on opinions and ideals formed through the discourse they are exposed to and Criticism is an inevitable part of the environment that surrounds us. Criticism is painful and praise feels good for both men and women. What other people think affects women more dramatically though. Women are relationship oriented. When people don’t like what they are up to, it can feel like disharmony or a break in their relationships, which they deeply value. Women pick up more information about what others think. A host of studies show women are more adept at reading facial expressions and body language than men. For most of history, women couldn’t protect themselves through legal, political, or financial means. Research shows that when women get negative feedback, it tends to be more personal than the feedback men get. It can also be more angry and even violent or vulgar, especially in our internet age

Know Your Warming Planet-ClimEd Series:1

This instructional material "Know Your Warming Planet" has been developed as a part of the Belmont funded project titled "Global Understanding and Learning for Local solutions: Reducing Vulnerability of marine dependent coastal communities" as a means to create awareness and impart climate change knowledge across the target populace

Conservation of mangrove forest covers in Kochi coast

Mangroves are salt-tolerant plants of tropical and subtropical intertidal regions of the world. The specific regions where these plants occur are called mangrove ecosystems. They are breeding, feeding and nursery grounds for many estuarine and marine organisms, including finfish and shell fish. India has only 2.66% of the world’s mangroves, covering an estimated area of 4,827 sq. k

Puducherry mangroves under sewage pollution threat need conservation

Indian mangroves have a rich diversity of soil-dwelling organisms which include micro, meio and macro forms. Mangrove ecosystem provides an ideal nursery and breeding ground for most of the marine and brackish water fish and shellfish. India has only 2.66% of the world’s mangroves1, covering an estimated area of 4827 sq. km. The present study area lies within the margins of lat. 11°90′107″– 11°90′703″N and long. 79°80′547″– 79°81′851″E. Mangrove exists as fringing vegetation over 168 ha distributed along the sides of Ariankuppam estuary, which empties into the Bay of Bengal (Coromandal coast) at Veerampatinam on the southeastern coast of Indi

ऊष्णीत गृह के बारे में जानें (Know Your Warming Planet-ClimEd Series:1B)

This instructional material "Know Your Warming Planet" has been developed as a part of the Belmont funded project titled "Global Understanding and Learning for Local solutions: Reducing Vulnerability of marine dependent coastal communities" as a means to create awareness and impart climate change knowledge across the target populace

Appraisal of the socio-economic status of fishers among the different sectors in Kerala, south-west coast of India

The present study assessed the levels of literacy, health, income and livelihood security of fisher households across different fisheries sectors in Kerala. Primary data collected across 567 households during January to December, 2011were used for the study. The general trend in Kerala shows that majority of the fisherfolk were of the age group 36-55, with a small family norm and high literacy rate. The marine capture sector has the highest annual income in comparison with other sectors but registered higher indebtedness. While the highest income from non-fishery activity was from labour  followed by business, other sectors and agriculture. The study revealed that the fishers spend their major share of income towards food expenditure. Inspite of the income from various sources, majority of the households are swamped with debts which make them to rely on private money lenders for sustaining their living standards. The study is a cross sectoral analysis of the fisher households in Kerala and provides a base for implementing developmental plans for the betterment of the fishing community