Down To Earth - May 01, 2024

In this issue

HOW HOT IS TOO HOT - What’s the human tolerance level for heat? Concrete landscapes and diminishing greens make cities a perfect testing ground

Weaving dreams

Tribal communities in West Bengal slowly embrace traditional weaving to ensure sustainable livelihood

2 mins

'Protection from climate change part of right to life'

The Supreme Court of India, on April 5, recognised that citizens have a right to be free from the adverse effects of climate change, saying it is intertwined with the fundamental rights to life and equality. Here are the key arguments articulated by the three-judge bench of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra in their judgement

4 mins

Locked out

Two years after becoming the only state to be excluded from the Centre's ruralemployment guarantee scheme, villages in West Bengal grapple with distress migration and debt traps

5 mins

A PSYCHEDELIC HIGH

Driven by surge in global trials and low success rate of current medications in treating mental health problems, researchers call for home-grown clinical trials of psychedelic drugs

8 mins

"H5N1 may be more severe than COVID-19"

In early April, the US confirmed the first case of avian influenza in livestock, along with cow-to-human transmission of the virus disease.

3 mins

BLAZING SUN IS ON

Rising temperatures are testing the limits of human tolerance to heat. With their predominantly built-up landscape, urban areas offer no respite. A study by the Centre for Science and Environment on the morphology and heat patterns of nine Indian cities over the past decade shows how these urban centres are turning into heat islands with a potentially serious impact on human health. An analysis by Rajneesh Sareen, Mitashi Singh and Nimish Gupta, with Shagun in Haryana and Kiran Pandey

5 mins

URBAN DISCOMFORT

Poorly planned, heat-trapping infrastructure, along with dwindling natural spaces, turn up the temperatures in major Indian cities

10+ mins

India's unhealthy patent amendments

Despite strong pleas, the Modi regime has changed the rules to impose a cost on those who challenge faulty patents

4 mins

Feeding off each other

VEGETARIAN MOVEMENTS IN SOUTH ASIA AND THE WEST GREW WITH MUTUAL SUPPORT AND VALIDATION

3 mins

INVISIBLE THREAT

Significant presence of microplastics in Puducherry’s agricultural soil raises concerns for soil and crop health

3 mins

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Down To Earth Magazine Description:

Down To Earth is a fortnightly magazine published by the Society for Environmental Comm, a non-profit research and advocacy organization based in New Delhi, India. It is one of the most respected environmental magazines in the country.

The magazine covers a wide range of topics related to the environment and sustainable development, including:

* Climate change: DTE provides in-depth coverage of climate change, including its causes, impacts, and mitigation and adaptation strategies.
* Energy: DTE covers a variety of energy topics, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and fossil fuels.
* Water: DTE covers a variety of water topics, including water pollution, water scarcity, and water management.
* Pollution: DTE covers a variety of pollution topics, including air pollution, water pollution, and soil pollution.
* Biodiversity: DTE covers a variety of biodiversity topics, including forests, wildlife, and conservation.
* Sustainable development: DTE covers a variety of sustainable development topics, including green economy, sustainable agriculture, and sustainable transportation.

Down To Earth magazine is known for its high-quality journalism and its commitment to environmental protection. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the environment and sustainable development in India and around the world.