Sacrilege at Paris Olympics
The Paris Olympic Committee has shocked the world by disrespecting the Christian religion and all the Catholics who are part of the biggest religion in the world.
The Paris Olympic Committee has not only shamed the Olympics, which is the biggest sporting event in the world, but brought shame on the people of France and also on the President of France, Emmanuel Macron whose wife was a teacher!
Matias Lobo, Tivim
Outrage over power outages
South Goa residents are reportedly up in arms over persistent power supply issues that have plagued them in recent days. Recently, a major breakdown at the Xeldem Power Station has led to prolonged outage lasting for several hours.
It must be said that power failures are synonymous with heavy rains. The erratic electricity supply disrupts daily life in many ways. Power outages occur because devices such as power outlets, plugs, etc, are not water tight. Heavy winds can cause significant damage to power lines. While wind can knock down power lines due to falling trees, heavy and continuous rain can damage insulations leading to blown fuses and power loss.
Disruption in power is a significant challenge for homeowners and businesses that rely on technology and power to create products and serve clients. Computers, TVs, and appliances can all experience an electrical surge once the power comes back on, damaging the equipment permanently.
Commercial businesses rely on power to run supply chains, manufacture critical products, and serve customers who need help. Lack of power hinders business from delivering a product or service and that’s a significant loss of revenue due to decreased productivity that may take a while to recover from, if recovery is possible. When maintenance work is being carried out as a pre-monsoon work by shutting down power for several hours, one wonders why there should be frequent power failures during the rains.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
SC’s timely order on undertrials
Some laws in India are indiscriminately employed by the law enforcers to willingly keep certain people inside the bars for a prolonged period. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) that deals with those threatening the sovereignty and integrity of the nation is one such Act.
Some days back, the Supreme Court granted bail to a person languishing as an undertrial for nine good years under the UAPA. From 69 per cent in 2019 to 77 per cent in 2022, the number of prisoners in jails waiting for their trials to reach a logical conclusion has increased steeply in India.
The latest data is more excruciating: there were 4,34,000 undertrials. Several past verdicts of higher courts have advised the subordinate courts to bear in mind that Article 21 of the Constitution speaks about protection of life and public liberty as fundamental rights of a citizen.
Though bail is a temporary privilege, non-uniformity in its application has led to chaos and overburdening of prisons. The top court has repeatedly said that bail should be a rule and jail only an exception. Besides, keeping an accused indefinitely in prisons is neither preventive or punitive.
However, the hierarchical system of India’s courts means inconsistent interpretation of laws. Under the circumstances, the latest SC order comes as a whiff of fresh air for lakhs of languishing undertrials.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
Improve daily habits
In a fast-paced and ever-changing world, the path to personal growth and success in one’s life lies not in momentary bursts of motivation or in some occasional achievements, but importantly in the daily habits and routines that we cultivate.
The seemingly small actions done every day with precision and meticulousness have the power to shape our behaviour, mindset, and ultimately our lives.
Improving our daily habits is a continuous process, requiring patience, consistency and self-reflection. It is not just about striving for perfection, but for progress as well. Small steps taken consistently over time can lead to significant transformations. Needless to say that incorporating positive daily habits into our lives is a powerful way to create a positive change.
Additionally, it can be beneficial to seek inspiration and guidance from others who have achieved success through their daily habits. It is universally acknowledged that the establishment of daily routines is a cornerstone to prosperity and success. The subtle art of weaving discipline into the fabric of everyday life does not come without its challenges.
However, the rewards are manifold and long-lasting. It is through the meticulous crafting of these daily rituals that one can begin to see the transformative power of consistency.
Ranganathan Sivakumar, Chennai