MOBILE PHONES:  A BOON OR A CURSE

Mobile phones, that has altered our way of living to an unbelievable degree, is the most advanced technological product which has become a staple of our society and has started a new era uprooting the old modes of communication like beepers, postal letters, trunk calls and telegrams etc. totally. These phones are of great influence in our lives, also used by almost people off all ages, with everyone from elementary school kid to senior citizens, owning at least one and is a resource with great advantages and excessive utility. Previously cell-phones used to be a craze, symbol of money, success and status etc., but today it is a necessity and has become such a fixture in our day-to-day activities that we feel deserted and helpless without it.  

Certainly, cell phones have made our lives easier and comfortable, as we can effortlessly communicate to anyone residing in any other part of the world very conveniently. Apart from this, more than half of the average individual calls and texts to different people are connected through this wider social network. People can connect with others their co-workers, friends of family members any business query and can share any news or information immediately. Mobile phones significantly also help to maintain physical and psychological health. This enable any career woman to maintain their roles within the household, simultaneously as being wives, mothers and wage earners.

 Secondly, it is the most multifunction tool nowadays for it is not only an instrument to call but also works as a calculator, calendar, notebook, MP3 player, a handheld computer etc. and people can also surf on the Internet, check email…and so on. This technologies has accelerated the development all around us and due to its fast and effective services, it has become a resource that gives us countless advantages making each one of us completely dependent on it. 

Increased levels of mobile phone subscriptions are linked with improvements in education, gender equality and political participation, predominantly in developing countries. They are also associated with higher economic growth. The studies show that mobile technologies has influenced economics, society and people’s private lives across many countries e.g. the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, China, India, Turkey, Egypt, Kenya and South Africa etc.  More mobile phone subscriptions are correlated with more democratic participation, less gender inequality and longer time spent in education. In all three areas, the impact of mobiles on social development indicators is stronger in developing countries. In developed countries, there are smaller effects for mobile phone subscriptions on growth.  Some of the most prominent features included on most cell phones today, are: web and e-mail access, navigation and global map access, digital tasks and calendars, games, music and download applications, a built-in camera, instant messaging, talking and the most popular of all, text messaging etc.

Cell phones contain multiple features that allow people to conveniently access information and connect to conversations faster and easier. Mobile phones enable new services and applications that provide opportunities to generate income. Furthermore, the access to information and increased communication through mobile communication facilitates coordination resulting in productivity gains. Mobiles also enable immediate responses to crises and shocks that without them may lead to destruction of crops or machinery. In practice, mobiles fill the gap that other poor or non-existent infrastructure in these countries leave wide open. Mobiles are also often the first and only way of communication without having to travel under difficult circumstances.

Mobile devices even are means to provide safety and security to people, because of the fast retrieval and direct connect. They make people and services readily available in case of emergencies and other social and economic activities. Parents, too, feel a sense of relief when they know their child can pick up the phone and call in any such circumstances. Today, College campuses are filled with students who keep their cell phone with them at all times, especially girls who can ascertain her safety by keeping her cell phone with her while traveling alone. These days phones are a life source to some people   because when we look around in a crowded public place, it seems that everyone is either talking or tapping a message on a cell phone or busy playing games and many have ear plugs into their ears, deeply engrossed in listening to music. Apart from being used as regular phone, some phones are basically miniature of computers and you can do your entire work on it thus reducing the need for computers.

Services to Mankind:

·         Emergency: If you were on the highway and your vehicle broke down, the cell phone would be great to call for help.

·         Texting: You can get text your conversation when in public, especially in a crowded restaurant or in a store as this is a great way to keep in touch with relatives and friends all over the world also.

·         Pictures & Videos & Games: You can instantly use your cell phone to take photos or videos of any event, function or occasion without carrying a camera.  Apart from playing games on your cell phone, you can also watch movies on your cell phone.

·         Connect to your favourite social networking site: It is so simple to upload the pictures to your computer or favourite social networking site such as Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, or You tube etc..

·         Flexible Plans: Some companies are much more flexible with the best cell phone plans for families with some price comparisons. There are companies that require no contract, no credit check, and give unlimited calling and texting for one flat rate per month including taxes. There are cheap cell phones plans available to fit any budget. Some have unlimited web access, GPS capabilities, instant messaging, and even free directory assistance. This serves as an all in one product.

·         It can be a communication tutorial: Nothing more than a cell phone comes to great help in emergency. You are driving by the freeway and the vehicle jams and cell phone comes to your rescue. You are stuck in a lone place, again call somebody and ask for directions. Parents can be a little less worried about their kids by being in constant touch with them. 

·         Internet handy: If you’re a net-savvy, you can have Internet handy all the time and anywhere the signal of your cell phone provider can reach. 
Trendy and stylish cell phones can be used as a bait to receive attention. It can be part of fashion and styling. 

·         A good mode for marketing/ advertising: From the industry and economy point of view, cell phone companies (communication industry) is flourishing with market capital in billions. This is a good thing for the economy to be smooth and healthy. Companies find it yet another medium to advertise their products; so another medium to reach the consumers. Nowadays, cell phones are not just phone calls; they’re about messaging, video, songs, games, alarm clock, notes, calendar, reminder, etc. So one equipment, lots’ of uses! Although cell phone use can be dangerous while driving but sometimes it can be a time-saver - you are driving and simultaneously discussing some urgent matter as well. A sensible and only urgent usage during driving can be a great help at times. 

Today mobile phone is one the major necessity of life and its numerous advantages, its use is increasing day by day. On one side where this technologies is a blessing in disguise for us, there it too has an adverse effect on us also. If we consider the advantages towards the disadvantages, it shall be easy to obtain an accurate understanding of the most destructive effects of mobile phone use in our society.

Adverse effects of a mobile:

1.    Wastage of Time and Money: A lot of people are addicted to their cell phones when they are not doing anything and then they tend to interact with their phones to distract or entertain themselves. This constant reliance on mobile phones is having a negative impact on people’s interpersonal skills. People are wasting lot of their time in sending unnecessary sms (messages) to one another through their mobile phones. This is totally wastage of energy, time and money.

The youth of today dream high but have no plans to achieve them as they are not focused at all. Self-evaluation is lacking in them due to which they themselves not aware of their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to create the best possible task to accomplish. Most of the time they are either busy in mobiles or hearing to music with earphone plugged into them the use of this self-evaluation instrument not only leads to significant changes but also contributes to the professional development any child. The art of conversing, discussions or debating is fading away amongst the youngsters. They should realise that when you interact amongst each other, your mind set is developed and great awareness is awakened within. Many a times when I have had a conversation with some of the youngsters, it is indeed astonishing to know their thoughts: I realized that they are not looking forward to anything at all, instead all they hope for is to settle and lead a comfortable life but to what purpose? Most of them look forward to getting married, buy a house, buy a car, have children, have a career but none of those things seem to have importance to them. Is this what is expected of them?

2.    Negative Effects on Students: Students do not give proper time to their studies and waste their time in playing games, listening music, watching videos and reading messages on their mobile phones. They are huge distraction in learning institutions, meetings and other gatherings especially with the invention of hi-tech phones those that can easily access the internet and support games and multimedia applications. Children are becoming distant from their parents because they are always on their phones focused on other less important things. Many people today, mainly teenagers, admit that having their cell phone by their side always is necessary. If the cell phone is left at home or elsewhere by mistake, the feelings of anxiety, frustration and “paranoia of missing a text message” occurs, which affect their mood. Cell phones are interfering with personal relationships.

 

3.    Negative Effects on Teenagers: Teenagers today, allow cell phones to consume their lives, and distract them from tasks and responsibilities. Parents are not aware about the activities of their children. Teenagers’ boys and girls communicate each other through their mobile phones and do negative kind of activities. This is very dangerous and major negative impact of mobile phone on your society. Our new generation is totally destroyed by this negative aspect of mobile phones. Nothing more can be a distraction for a teacher in the classroom, when a student’s phone rings as these cell phones are increasingly becoming a problem for the schools during classroom hours and are becoming a means of cheating during examinations and other kinds of ability tests. All this is really bad and does hurt the future of the student, who doesn’t realize that he/she is him/her-self responsible for it. Some students are even texting during school or using the phones camera ability to cheat. The phones camera also allows them to send pictures to one another which may be inappropriate and can get them in a lot of trouble. The phones internet capability allows Facebook addicts to go on anywhere, anytime. This can lead to other life problems in relationship, family matters, or in the workplace.

Due to all this the children are getting matured much beyond their age which does not let them enjoy their childhood else enter into wrongful practices.

4.    Negative Effects on Adults: There are the people who text and drive, where some surf on the internet while driving, which is even more distracting. This is rather very dangerous and adds to the chances of meeting with serious accidents. This critically increases the problems for the safety of lives, as well as other fellow passengers. Even pedestrians who are too engrossed on their phones and wander off into the road without looking here and there. Not only does it cause problems on the roads, but also many other places including in schools and at home.

5.    A Communication Tool for Criminal Purposes: Mobile phones now becoming a major communication tool for criminal’s activities. People are using this fastest communication for terrorism and other kind of criminal activities. We must overcome these negative impacts of mobile phone use on our society otherwise our society and new generations will be completely destroyed. And, their own crime strategies are invented by using this technologies in the majority of cases. Mobile phones also have increased up street offences and breach of moral ideals. Lots of immoral and so-called love tales discover their existence through the misuse of this technology.

6.    Negative Effects of Mobile Phone Use on Our Health: American Cancer Society has proved that cell phones emit electromagnetic radiations (EMR), called radio-frequency energy (RF) which are radio waves and can cause cancer. These EMR also has bad influence to our health for people using cell phone frequently have more risk to get ear and finger diseases. In addition, electro-magnetic wave from cell phone can cause more diseases like epilepsy, childless male and especially brain cancer. A worrying fact is that a large number of people using cell phone are unaware of the bad effects from cell phones. According to a new research, mobile phones are greatly contaminated with different types of microorganisms especially bacteria which cause a lot of diseases. A few apparent hearing and brain diseases possess appeared because of to the excessive use of these devices. Furthermore, eyesight problems are also observed among many crazy mobile users.

 

7.    Negative Effects of Mobile Phone Use on Our Environment: Mobile phones use has a dangerous effects on our environment including birds, mammals and pet animals. The animals which are more exposed to radiations emerging from these mobile phones or towers have many abnormalities as compared to those who are not exposed to these types of radiations.

8.    Nomophobia: It is a sort of disease in which one fears of being out of mobile phone contact. Mobiles become an addiction. Unlike addictions to alcohol, drugs or even gambling, it can be hard to pinpoint problematic cell phone use. Almost everyone has a cell phone and uses it regularly. Men and women suffer from the phobia and feel stressed when their mobile phones are either off or not with them. When there is a moment when you’re not feeling complete or when somewhere inside you’re missing something, a sense of insecurity sometimes prevails… welcome to the world of cell phone addiction! But if someone can’t get through dinner without sending text messages or furiously typing on a personal digital assistant during a meeting, it may be time to take a step back.

Majority of young students are prone to be showing emotional instability throughout their transaction to adulthood towards mobile phones and this situation causes anxiety, restlessness, sleeplessness and depression. The excessive users of mobile phone also become a victim to various mental, physical and psychological diseases. Some people (especially teens) get so much addicted to cell phones for talking, video, messaging, games, etc. that they forget the real purpose of the phone and waste large part of their time in unnecessary interaction over their cell phones.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of cell phone dependency has been alarming for years now, but it’s become even worse recently with the introduction of smart phones. These phones let you do just about anything – make calls, text, browse the web, play music, watch videos, send and receive emails, take pictures, lookup directions to anywhere in the world, check the weather forecast, choose from hundreds of different games, and more. There’s nothing wrong with owning and enjoying a cell phone, but it becomes problematic when cell phone usage interferes with your day-to-day activities and relationships.

Therefore, we can clearly observe that apart from being helpful, mobile phones however are also very dangerous. In retrospect, today’s cellular devices can be very negative at times and may even cause some serious problems, but when used properly they can be a very wonderful thing. Any and all cell phone users need to learn to use them at the correct times and when necessary. We have to consider the advantages and keep in mind the disadvantages, then, we can use it in a right way. There is nothing too bad, just the way we use it make it worse. It shall be wrong to say that any technology is harmful by nature, this depends on us whether we utilize it. Favourably or Adversely?

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THE FILTHY GAME OF DIRTY POLITICS

"The service of India means the service of the millions who suffer. It means the ending of poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity. The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe out every tear from every eye. This may be beyond us but as long as there are tears and suffering, so long our work will not be over".

(From a speech to the Constituent Assembly, August 14/15, 1947)

Our country had been under the British rule for about two hundred years suppressing India and its people ruthlessly and it seemed that she (India) would never ever rise. But, at the dawn of independence and with speech of famous front runner Pandit Nehru in 1947, the leaders took the oath to dedicate themselves to the service of people and prosperity of the country, the leaders and the politicians have done their best to improve the condition of the masses and there was a discernible change in the quality of life that the people led. The improvements were not merely in the realm of economic indicators but also in the political sense as the welfare of the state seemed to work. Those were times when the men who presided over the political establishment inspired those in the bureaucracy into building a respectable democratic edifice. The legacy of the freedom struggle always inspired the nation even today towards progress. Many achievements have already been made and still there are many more to achieve for the development of India.

Since Independence, our country has made a great progress in various fields of agriculture, education, defence, economy, science and technology etc. Though our country has achieved much heights, but still it is still lagging behind in many aspects. No doubt, it has solved many problems but at the same time many other hurdles have developed. The biggest of them is ‘THE FILTHY GAME OF DIRTY POLITICS’ that has spread like a plague in our country. This particular problem has rocked the country all over and is sturdily responsible for our continuous downfall. These sheer selfish leaders, who call themselves as the saviour of our country, are worsening its condition progressively.

The scenario began to go erroneous, within the political establishment from late 1960 onwards, when the participation in political activities turned into means of living from common workers to riches in case of most of the leaders. The money meant for poverty alleviation and other development schemes started being siphoned out for their own personal interests and the welfare state model was being distorted. But then, it was a period when there were instances of mobilisation against this distortion, thus ensuring that the system kept working however the fragmentation in the political realm and the emergence of the regional political formations also witnessed a widening of the scope of the welfare model and this went on until the 80s.

The couple of decades since then, instead of experiencing growth, our country is continuously declining to be considered as retreat of the welfare state. This has made individual efforts and initiatives most necessary for the ordinary people and the political establishment which has turned insensitive to the task of making the welfare state to work. Due to this, the civil administration too is no longer concerned for ensuring, that the concepts which worked in the past should be made in order to work even today maintaining its status quo at least.

We are witnessing a history moving towards a decline in the standards of political behaviour thus proving that were much better standards in the olden days. The most important flaw of the incoming governments is that it doesn’t delve into the affairs of their old predecessor. At times the files and the missing documents of the old government are not even made available to the new regime to thoroughly investigate, rectify and punish for the serious mistakes committed during their governance.

"The apathy of truth for most politicians consist the moral compass of a simple question within us asking: What is everyone else doing?" because they all are same and sailing in the game of dirty politics.

The real pity is that a long standing convention seeking to limit political vindictiveness has been cast aside. One thing we have to be sure of is that, if we still do not awaken and act accordingly, then the future of each and every citizen is in the dark due to those leaders who set new lows in negativity and obstructionism heading us towards further decline in the present  government scenario hampering the progression of our country. There is no barrier to their temptation as they can sink to any level of misbehaviour set by them thus giving substance to its repeated false claims of moral superiority, but intense competition between the parties always seems unlikely.

Presently our politics is extremely infected by low human values because as we’ve all heard the old saying “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely!”  We have witnessed plenty of examples during the recent years with their lies and deceptions in their own words.  The real push for power is ego and ambition driven, although it is an over-representation of “Small man’s Syndrome” reflecting their true personality. Of course this should be seen in the context of their hunger for power makes them stoop down so low that the negativities like lying, cheating, personal attacks, disrespecting, back stabbing along with various others has invaded their mind and soul enwrapping them towards cheap dirty politics. This, sadly, is the nature of politics, but this game is not only played by politicians but even by those who use their power through gratification and influence to buy politicians for their own personal gains.

According to research published, almost one fifth of the candidates in upcoming elections are facing heinous criminal charges including rape, murder, dacoity, arms act and extortion etc. The analysis of the records even shows a deep concern in the “criminalisation" of politics in the world’s biggest democracy as this study covers more than half of India's 35 states and union territories. Some of them are even accused of serious crimes that carry a conviction of more than seven years. Almost one third of members of parliament have criminal cases pending against them and dozens of male candidates are facing serious criminal investigations for assault and rape “outraging the modesty of a woman".

Surprisingly, bureaucracy that ready to part with information to the citizens is condoned and thoroughly harassed by the political establishment. The fact within the right perspective is yet to sink in and this is a tough task before the civil society, while the civil administration will have to wake up to the need to protect the whistle blower within. We have seen some of them being killed with impunity and the contractor-politician-criminal nexus has ensured that poverty, bad roads and dilapidated primary health centres survive even the best of schemes to set things right by way of bumping off the whistle blower by any means.

According to Milan Vaishnav, a specialist in Indian politics at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, voters often support politicians with criminal records, rather than shunning them.

The real shift from conventional politics to modern politics will be to put scepticism aside and the fact that a public debate regarding constructive view of political parties for the education, unemployment, foreign policies, poverty, public health, sanitation, infrastructure and development etc. should be organised making a huge step in modernizing Indian politics. Such public debates are more common in the United States of America and the United Kingdom, and are in fact a very important medium for reaching out to the masses.

Recent example of such a cheap and dirty politics is the washing the statue of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya on the BHU campus with 'Gangajal' (water of the sacred holy river “The Ganges”), claiming that it had been “desecrated” as it was touched by another politician was indeed a very shameful act. No excuse can justify this act because Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, himself, was strongly against untouchability and even after so many years of Independence we are moving backwards only due to mere intention for the personal gains of such politicians to divide the vote bank on caste basis  highlighting the untouchability factor.

India, being the largest democratic country is known all over for its hospitality, heritage and culture is being maligned by such bad politicians.  The way these leaders address each other is extremely shameful and unacceptable as it clearly shows that they have no respect for each other or politics.

All these politicians have now pulled their socks up, and started campaigning in full swing, social media, public interactions, rallies, radio broadcasts and recorded phone calls etc. alleging each other as highly corrupt and dishonest. Though social media comes across as an important medium for electoral campaigns, it cannot influence upcoming elections or its results as today every common man is well aware to whom to cast his valuable vote. However, we all should be hopeful that a day will certainly come when India will be a developed and powerful country in the world. This does not lie in the hands of the legislative class but in the hands of the people who have been given the supreme status by the Indian Constitution. We have to keep a check on them as they all are public servants and we are the public. The fund used by them and the various schemes prepared are no one’s but ours which gives us right to make them transparent an accountable to us. “BECAUSE IF NOT TODAY THEN NEVER.”

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An Epoch to Remember

This story may seem to be very common and simple but this was the bitter truth that awakened my thoughts.

This in the incident when I was in third standard i.e. approx. eight years old, blessed with full comforts and luxuries of life. I used to go to school with my school teacher on a rickshaw. One day after school time on my way back home, my teacher asked Munshi ji, the Rickshaw puller to stop in front of a huge building as she had some work there. While she had gone inside, I was sitting outside on the rickshaw, looking here and there, passing my time.

My eyes stopped for a fraction of a second at a point where an ill clad man, who appeared to be a beggar was picking up something and putting it in his mouth from a water drain pipe oozing out from a wall of another official building across the road. Those days there were no proper drainage system as today. Small outlets were constructed manually with an opening passing through the wall, outside into the streets. At the first glimpse I did not bother about it, but within a fraction of a second, I looked at him again as my small inquisitive brain tempted me to see as to what he was doing.  

He must have been hungry from days and so the sight of food must have heightened his hunger for he was speedily picking up the food from a drain and eating it up without wasting any time. It was a very upsetting. Various questions flashed across my mind. Why was he doing this? How can anyone eat from such a place? Someone who did not want to eat it must have thrown it to wash his lunch box.  My small brain got confused and I was unable to find any answer to it. Was the need and hunger of a man so strong that he had compromised with such a pathetic situation? He was so busy eating that he did not even care for the quality or hygiene of the food.

It was the first time when I had seen such a heart rending sight of extreme poverty and this incident which was now engraved in my mind left me disturbed with lots of emotions and feelings unknown as my tiny innocent brain could not believe this hard core truth even when I had visualised it with my own eyes. I kept thinking about him whereas the image of him eating from such a pathetic place had left me disturbed.

Even at dinner with my family, I could only peck at the food as that particular scene of the beggar kept haunting me. My mother who was already perturbed with my attitude since afternoon showed her concern and came near me. She compelled me to confide in her and tell her what was wrong and, her warm affectionate tone of love and concern made me burst out in tears and then I cried my heart out while narrating the entire incident. She sweetly smiled and patted me on my back.

It was then, when she explained why we are scolded when we leave food in our plates. She then placed one empty plate and bowl in the centre of the table and asked all five of us to put just one spoon of daal (curry), each, into that bowl. She put her share in the last. That bowl was full with those six spoons whereas our bowls were not even an inch lowered. She then, explained that if we share with others, we do not lose anything, instead we share it with someone who is much needier than us. This is why we should only take as much as we require and never waste anything because the thing that is a waste for us can be very useful for someone.

I am now forty eight years old and yet this particular incident is still engraved in my mind. I have narrated this a number of times to my children to make them realise the value of what we have and be contented with it. Poverty, still is a major topic of concern in the society. Poverty is the main cause of chronic hunger, and the inverse is also true - hunger traps people in poverty. When people are hungry, they are often in bad health, their children cannot concentrate in school and they lack the energy to lead productive lives.

Still I can see people throwing away food on to the streets, waste etc. Travellers who do not wish to eat food throw away packed food also. I have seen many picking them up to eat. Why this can’t be kept and given away to someone to eat. The same way Hotels, restaurants, be it big or small throw an exorbitant amount of food on daily basis. Is this what we call Humanity? This is a shame to our society where we are so selfish and uncaring.

We see the whole world through the lens of our own wants and desires.  Giving something up because it makes someone else happy requires a very big mental leap.  This means that we have to gently teach ourselves over and over to recognize and value the feelings of others. So, we must all consider our own actions and understand the value of sharing which is a boon in the society towards humanity and we all should be inextricably involved into it.

God has given us everything. He is so generous then how can we be so selfish to waste or throw anything that is not required by us. Why not give it to someone who might make the best use of it. Had the man not thrown that food into the drain, instead given it to that beggar to eat? Wouldn’t that have been a better preference to throwing it away?

Life is a lot better... a new start

A global shame

Where the world’s population is growing day by day, there agriculture is facing multiple challenges even today in the twenty first century: it has to produce more food and fibre to feed a growing population with a smaller rural labour force, despite of which people in some of the countries are suffering from starvation and malnutrition. There are around eight hundred and forty two million hungry people in the world and the global population is expected to rise from seven billion to nine billion by 2050 resulting into increase in the demand for food accordingly, implying to a significant increase in the production of several key commodities. Under all these circumstances and studies we all can see how large quantity of crops, cereals and food is wasted and destroyed by our government due to their negligence and carelessness. If we all together do not understand and work unitedly for this, our future generations shall face severe crises.

We must remember that there is enough food in the world

, more than enough. Yet billions are still starving.

Developing and developed countries account roughly evenly for the 1.3 billion tonnes of global food waste each year – but the nature of that wastage is very different. In developed countries, food is wasted throughout the supply chain, including at the consumption stage. Studies reveal that approx. one third of all the food produced in the world ends up being wasted somewhere along the production and consumption line. According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation, , fifty percent of food waste occurs in the home: we throw away 7.2m tonnes of food and drink every year which means an average household is putting 217 kg into the dustbin, rising to 508 kg for families with children. The rest of the waste takes place back up the supply chain, mostly on farms, warehouses, cold storages, during transport and even in the stores.

We should keep it mind that the consequences of all this waste goes far beyond the burden on individual wallets – the land, water, fertilizers and labour that produces food is also wasted. Most waste occurs early in the production chain, affecting millions of smallholders. Due to poor harvesting facilities, storage, packaging, distribution and the lack of a stable infrastructure also causes significant losses, reducing income and exacerbating local food insecurity.

The bitter reality is that food waste is a global shame, especially in a world in which over a billion people are starving. And yet: everybody is waiting for somebody else to take action. We all are happy with ourselves, ignoring those who are a prey to our deeds. Can we send our leftovers to starving children in Africa where people are starving? The amount of food lost per year in sub-Saharan Africa could feed 48 million people.

Globally, the production is good enough food to feed 3 billion people but over thirty percent of the world's food supply is wasted. The annual food waste in Italy could feed 44 million people – all of Ethiopia's undernourished population. The annual food waste in France is enough to feed the entire population of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Just five per cent of United States' food waste could feed 4 million people for one day. In 2011, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon noted that there is enough food in the world, yet millions are still starving – and unless we all join hands to take action, we cannot reach to any consensus.

Who is to blame?
So, who should we point the finger at? Who is to blame? The industry? The politicians? The farmers? The retailers? No! We all are to blame as everybody is waiting for someone else to take action for it.

This global food waste scandal is a self-perpetuating system where we all have to awaken our minds and start acting accordingly.

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