Stuti The Activist

  Helpful Hobbies - Stuti Viral Dave Oh! Sorry I'm late. I was attending my peaceful yoga classes, and they were perfect for relaxing after that long, hard game of badminton. After this, I'm heading to the library for a quiet reading moment, and then (attempting to) paint the gorgeous sunset outside! Finally, for dinner, I'm going to help my mum cook parathaas, cut vegetables, assist my dad while he tries his very best to watch a tutorial and make a Bombay Toast Sandwich, and prepare delicious- and healthy- potato wedges, myself!  Photo by Ashwini Chaudhary(Monty) on Unsplash "Why do I do so much?" you ask? Well, because they're all my hobbies and they benefit me so much in their own ways! Exercising and doing sports release endorphins; relaxing activities like yoga help release serotonin; spending time with your family and friends releases oxytocin; performing fun tasks like cooking or painting releases dopamine- the list goes on! Photo by Count Chris on U...

  Greenwashing... By: Stuti Viral Dave Imagine you walk into a fancy hotel. Ooh! What's that? They're selling an eco-chic handbag? Now you can look cool while also saving the planet! But what's that, Stuti? They're just greenwashing everything? According to the Collins Dictionary, 'greenwashing' is the behaviour or activities that make people believe that a company is doing more to protect the environment than it really is. This basically just means that a company is misleading customers into thinking that they are helping to save the world, and it is not right!  Here are the problems of greenwashing: Firstly, most companies are hiding even bigger environmental issues by diverting attention with false claims of sustainability. For example, an oil and gas company may be hiding years and years worth of damage to marine life by promoting campaigns to go electric. Secondly, funds that could actually help actually create a sustainable future end up hurting Mother Nat...

  What's   With   Water? - Stuti Viral Dave Let's take a moment to stop what we're doing and reflect on our pasts. Done? Now, think about your ancestors. What did they have that we don't, which made them way more healthy overall? Many things, actually. Their diets, their exercising, their lack of screen time, and many more things gave older Indians significantly better lifestyles than we. A key factor in this was water-drinking habits... Which water-drinking habits do we follow? Most Indians usually do not drink enough water, leading to dehydration, which is even worse in parts closer to the equator, with hotter climates, such as Tamil Nadu. Now, plastic bottle packaging has become very common, but leaving these plastic bottles in the heat for too long can melt them, and the BPA and phthalates seep into the water, making it contaminated and unhealthy to drink. Also, many people now prefer sugary and carbonated drinks, rather than water, to quench their thirst, but it is...

Microplastic Mayhem! -Stuti Viral Dave Would you be ready to buy a plastic bottle full of delicious, cold water on a hot, sunny day? Yes? I definitely would have! However, excessively drinking from the same plastic bottle over and over has umpteen health risks associated with accidentally consuming microplastics. These small particles can cause big harm! Let's start by understanding what exactly a microplastic is. Microplastics are tiny plastic particles less than 5 millimetres in size. They can come from bigger plastic items or from microbeads in personal care products or toothpaste. These particles can easily contaminate water sources and pose a threat to marine life and human health. Why are such tiny particles so evil towards life and the environment? Well, they pose the same threats as regular plastic, just worse, as microplastics can easily spread due to their minuscule size and can be inhaled/ingested without being noticed. This makes them a significant concern for both mar...

The   Truth   Behind   Exams! - Stuti Viral Dave Picture this: it’s exam season, and you have a physics test on a concept you barely understood. Most people that find themselves in this situation would do the obvious thing – study! Pens, books, highlighters, sticky notes, and so much more would be found in a massive mess in their bedrooms, with the kids stuffing their brains with far too much information at once. But what if I told you that was all wrong? In fact, it’s totally against the purpose of exams! To learn more about this controversy, first we need to find the exact definition of an exam. According to the  Collins Dictionary , an exam is a formal test taken to demonstrate knowledge or ability in a specific subject or to obtain a qualification.  How does a student demonstrate what they know and understand? Well, I can say for sure that the answer is NOT by memorising at the last minute. Most schools tell the students in advance whe...

The Silent Secret Noisy Fireworks Are Hiding! -Stuti Viral Dave The skies throughout India explode with colour and noise every year when the festivals start. People think that fireworks bring happiness and light, so they celebrate with them. However, the bright flashes have a detrimental impact on the environment, animals, and human health. Fireworks make clouds of toxic smoke that stay in the air long after the party is over. They don’t represent happiness anymore; instead, they quietly ruin air quality and peace. The happy sparkle only lasts a few seconds, but the pollution it leaves behind can last for days. This short-lived excitement makes an already hazardous environmental situation worse in cities that are already having trouble with smog. It threatens everyone’s right to breathe clean air. Firecrackers are bad for the environment because they release poisonous gases and tiny particles. Some of these are sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and tiny dust particles ...