Reduce use of Plastic

This is the theme of this year’s Environment Day (observed on June 5). A study published in Nature has revealed that India has become the world’s largest contributor to plastic pollution, accounting for nearly 20% of the total global plastic waste. With 9.3 million tonnes of plastic waste generated annually, India's contribution to this environmental catastrophe is larger than that of entire regions.

Of this staggering figure, 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste are mismanaged and leak into the environment each year, significantly exceeding other major polluters such as Nigeria (3.5 mt), Indonesia (3.4 mt), and China (2.8 mt).

We have to reduce plastic waste. At personal level let us reduce the use of plastic carry bags and water bottles. At societal level, let us not use plastic bottle at festivals, functions and community fests. At the policy level, let us have strict rules on disposal of plastic wastes.

 (Cartoon by Radhupati Shringeri. This cartoon won the first prize at Cartoon Watch National Cartoon Contest 2025.)

Bangalore Stampede

The recent stampede in Bangalore stands as a grim reminder of the fragile nature of public safety in India’s rapidly urbanizing spaces. What began as a joyous event tragically ended with the loss of innocent lives—mostly women and the elderly. This incident is not merely a result of crowd mismanagement, but a larger systemic failure that intertwines poor planning and lack of foresight.

Stampedes in India have historically been linked to religious festivals or political rallies, but this one—at a civic event—underscores a new kind of vulnerability.

Reflecting on this tragedy calls for more than mourning. Accountability must be established—not as a one-time reprimand but as a catalyst for structural change. Public gatherings, especially those offering essential services, must prioritize safety, communication, and human dignity. Only then can we prevent such tragic events from becoming recurring chapters in our collective memory.

Shikha extinguished

Bangladesh based cartoonist Shahanara Nargis Shikha succumbed to cancer this morning at a Dacca hospital.

Born in January 1979, Shikha was an alumnus of the Department of Statistics at the University of Dhaka. She started drawing cartoons as a student.

One of the few women cartoonists of Bangladesh, she was involved with daily newspaper 'ProthomAlo', its humour supplement ‘Rosh+Alo’ and the satire magazine ‘Unmad’ for many years. Shikha also worked as a book illustrator and cover designer.

Side Effect of Social Media

News published in 12 June 2025, Times of India: 17 year old nearly strangulated after 'suicide-theme' reel goes wrong in Maharashtra. The boy, who suffered a serious neck injury is recuperating at hospital.

This incident foregrounds a serious side-effect of social media- it has become a platform to draw attention to oneself.

The desire to do something adventurous and thrilling is so strong among the youth that they do not pay attention to the possible dangers involved in it. The same desire drives many young women to wear silly and revealing dresses and flaunt their assets on camera.

The urge to draw attention has probably always been there. Social media has made it easy to do on an unprecedented scale.

A piece of good news

Here is a piece of good news.

The number of girls aborted for being girls has dramatically fallen across the world, more so in Asia.

In 2000 an estimated 1.6m baby girls were “missing”, if you compare the sex ratio at birth with what would occur naturally; this year that number is expected to be 200,000.

In much of Asia, the spread of ultrasound scans and a strong traditional preference for baby boys resulted in the widespread termination of girls. This led, years later, to a big surplus of young men who could not get married. The glut of frustrated bachelors was socially destabilising, leading to an increase in violent crime.

Happily, the prejudices underpinning sex-selective abortion appear to have ebbed, even if they have not disappeared. Meanwhile, a preference for girls is emerging, especially in rich countries.

Tailpiece

I wanted to take a bath.

But then decided to leave it where it is.