Why Homework is Bad for Mental Health?

All students have to do their homework tasks. It is a common practice, which is very important. It helps students to become self-reliant, independent, inventive, creative, and disciplined. They obtain important experience and boost all kinds of academic skills. On the other hand, too many tasks and duties may lead to serious mental issues. They grow desperate and constantly ask: “How can I do all my homework tasks when there is no time for me and my goals?”

This matter must be taken seriously! Not all students can withstand this challenge. Luckily, they can use various sources of information and support on the right websites. For example, they may get professional homework help from CWAssignments. It is a reliable online custom writing, which has only certified and skilled writers. Each writer knows how to help with the accomplishment of any homework assignment.

We will discuss this solution later. In the meanwhile, we would like to pay your attention to the negative effects on the mental health of students when they have too many academic tasks and duties.

why homework is bad for mental health

Mental Issues

One of the worst manifestations of too many homework assignments is triggering various mental ailments and deviations. Some of them are very dangerous and may remain for long, if not for the entire life! Youngsters may take their academic liabilities too close to the heart. As they are worried about their results, it leads to various mental ailments and deviations.

The Burnout

Too many tasks and great mental pressure make students “burn out”. Children and young adults cannot withstand the constant flow of academic tasks and duties. They get exhausted as they are stressed and deprived of sleep. All they do is think about their learning. It leads to burnout.

Bullying

Unfortunately, buying is pretty common for all schools, colleges, and universities in the USA.  Other students crack jokes about the so-called nerds. It is an ugly behavior and when children grow up, they understand that and become ashamed. Nonetheless, the damage will be already done. Clever and diligent |nerds” will suffer from it, and the negative consequences may remain with them until the last day of their lives.

Some of them will surely want to become “normal” and so may stop doing their homework. They will not be that diligent to try not to stand out of the crowd. It is also a huge mistake, but due to their inexperience, they don’t realize it.

No Time for Private Affairs

Too many homework tasks deprive students of time for themselves. They cannot have enough fun. There is little time for personal relationships, communication with their peers, having hobbies, and so on. This shortage of time makes many students oppose their homework duties. They start to hate it, and so may top learning. At any rate, it is a serious drawback for their mental health.

Tips to Getting Rid of Homework Stress

We want to help all students. We have gathered several great tips and tricks that may help to handle your homework tasks faster and easier. Make allowance for the next points:

  • Plan your time reasonably;
  • Set realistic deadlines and goals;
  • Prioritize your goal;
  • Always have time to rest;
  • Sleep enough;
  • Understand when help is required.

Follow these tips and your academic life will become much easier!

Consider Using a Custom Writing Service

One of the most effective ways to put off your academic load is to use the help of a good custom writing platform. If you find a trustworthy writing service, you may solve almost any learning issue. It hires only certified and skilled experts who specialize in various disciplines and assignment types.

Such services have hundreds of educated writers who can easily handle any assignment in programming, java, management, statistics, accounting, law, Matlab, history, etc. You may freely count on help with your:

  • Essay;
  • Resume;
  • Speech;
  • Term paper;
  • Lab report;
  • Book review;
  • PowerPoint presentation;
  • Dissertation and so on.

As every order is 100% customizable, you may get any kind of academic help. Discuss all the terms with your solver and tell how your paper must be tackled. You may request:

  • Writing and rewriting;
  • Editing and proofreading;
  • Researching and analyzing;
  • Citing and referencing;
  • Generating topics;
  • Outlining;
  • Calculating, etc.

You may not worry about the price you will surely have to pay. If you find a highly reputed platform, it will not charge a lot. Such services set pretty cheap prices to make affordable their help. Every ordinary student will be able to buy the required type of help. Just set the demands and regulate the total cost until it suits your financial possibilities. Moreover, these services offer great discounts for students to save up more of their money.

Research Paper Tips for College Students

The help is very fast. Everything depends on the demands you set. Make sure they are realistic. For example, a simple essay can be completed in 2-4 hours. A case study or coursework will take much more time. Place a complicated assignment beforehand and your helper will surely accomplish it on time. You are expected to provide the next details:

  • Deadline;
  • Quality;
  • Type of skills;
  • Length;
  • Type of the paper.

The price of pro help isn’t that high if you choose a highly reputed platform. It also depends on the demands you set. Change the value of quality, length, or urgency to make the price cheaper. Most assignment types have the same cost. However, such a complex paper as a dissertation will surely cost more. Nonetheless, the prices are pretty affordable and fair.

Among other dividends you will enjoy are:

  • Authentic papers;
  • Inserting citations and bibliography of all formats;
  • Protection of your private data;
  • Availability and support 24 hours round the clock.

Wrapping Up

As you can see, doing homework may be harmful to youngsters. Educators should finally realize that they assign too many tasks. Youngsters need more time for themselves to escape mental complications. Follow our useful tips and tricks to get rid of at least some part of your academic load.

Impacts of Environmental Crisis on Mental Health

Our environment is deteriorating at a rapid pace which is impacting our daily lives in more ways than one. Environmental degradation is associated with many outcomes that may have direct as well as indirect impact on physical health as well as mental health of human beings. In recent years, the deterioration of the environment has emerged as a key contributor to increases cases of psychological ill-health across the world.

Environmental change–triggered extreme weather conditions, loss of natural environments, changing climate patterns, contaminated food, water and air are now acknowledged as major contributors to PTSD, anxiety, aggression, depression and breakdown of relationships.

What is Mental Health?

Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, behavioral, and social well-being of an individual. It decides how a human being adapts to stress of life and impacts how we think, feel, and act. Mental health also determines how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. If you are stressed by academic worries, make a Google search on ‘do my homework‘ and get online academic assistance.

Environmental deterioration can cause and heighten pressure and uneasiness, thus unfavorably affecting psychological wellness and forcing people to seek help of mental therapists and psychologists. For example, hurricanes or severe droughts can cause depression, anger, and provoke sadistic attitude.

Everybody is in danger, yet not every person is influenced similarly. People who are more prone to mental health impacts of environmental changes include children, elderly and women. Among disadvantaged and marginalized groups, those with close bonding to the land, such as farmers and tribal communities, are more at risk.

How Environmental Degradation is Aggravating Mental Health?

Each aspect of the environment has an interrelated impact on mental health of human being. For example, children are more prone than young people to changes in their environment. The nascent mind is most delicate in the womb while early adolescence is sensitive to toxic physical, chemical and biological exposures. The harmful emissions from the transportation sector and industries coupled with waste generation from domestic and commercial sectors are the major contributors to modern-day pollution problem.

Social components, including poverty, education, employment, income, security, social support and housing are also determinants of mental health that likewise alter or overstate the impacts of exposures to physical factors in the environment. The total impacts of toxic environmental exposures over the existence course can cause physiological interruptions that persevere in future, and lead to deep rooted hindrances of physical or mental well-being.

Children can be exposed to toxins prenatally, and when they inhale poor air, drink contaminated water, breastfeed, ingest food and contact polluted soil and items. The major harmful compounds in the natural and built environments that influence neuro-development and the mental health include Lead, Manganese, Cadmium, Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons and Organochlorine and Organophosphate Pesticides.

People living in rural agricultural areas are more exposed to pesticides. Overwhelming metal contaminants and pesticides have been found to be agents that help develop Hyperactivity Behavior, including Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Noise and traffic-related exposures in the built environment have been related with poor mental health results.

Major acute mental health effects include trauma and shock, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compounded stress, anxiety, substance abuse, and depression. Major chronic mental health effects incorporate higher paces of aggression and violence, mental health emergencies, an exaggerated feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, or fatalism, fear, and loss of emotions. Thus, the prevalent environmental crisis can intensify chronic symptoms and lead to more serious mental health issues in all parts of the world.

BetterHelp.com offers access to licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited psychologists (PhD/PsyD), marriage and family therapists (LMFT), clinical social workers (LCSW / LMSW), and board licensed professional counselors (LPC).

Final Words

The mental health consequences of the environmental crisis transcend countries, income-groups, race, religion and culture. The psychological wellness of the entire humanity has been negatively affected by rapid changes in the natural and built environments during the last 50 years or so. The urgent need of the hour it to address the wide array of environmental issues and their interconnected mental health effects through broader international and multi-sectoral cooperation, political struggle and a mass movement for environmental stability.

How To Pick An Environmentally-Friendly Crystal?

Some stores may try to sell you a variety of healing crystals, but you must conduct your study to know what you’re buying. Not all crystals are created equal, and without more examination, you’ll never know for sure if they do what they promise to do.

Most healing crystals claim to come from trustworthy sources; however, they all come from mines, and not all mines are created equal. Many smaller family-owned miners are excavating and distributing the crystals. There is no illegal labor in such mines; thus, you can rely on crystals for love and healing crystal supplies.

how to choose eco friendly healing crystals

Inquire at the Crystals Shop

Inquire with the seller or owner about the origins of the crystals. Inquire about the crystals’ polishing, transformation into jewelry, and so on. Crystals have a higher carbon footprint than other highly processed meals.

It’s possible, however, that they don’t want to provide the information.

Quality is More Important than Quantity

Do you need ten of each if you can get the same effect with just one excellent crystal? If you don’t want to spread each of the ten crystals across your home for your convenience, you could settle for a high-quality crystal.

Look for Trustworthy Sources

The bulk of crystals is sourced from impoverished countries where people are compelled to work in hazardous and life-threatening conditions. If they originate from a family-owned mine, it’s probably fine to buy them. Rose quartz, for example, is supposed to provide affection, self-love, and healing.

Long-Lasting Crystals You Can Rely On

Our mind, body, and soul will need to commune with nature on occasion to heal and refresh, and here is where crystals and gems may help. This is why it is vital to buy crystals and gems used for their original purpose.

Here’s a quick review of the most popular crystals and jewels on the market, as well as when they can be helpful:

  • Auralite – for stress alleviation, happiness, and relaxation.
  • Calcite – increases energy and promotes health.
  • Fluorite – improves one’s mood and reduces stress.
  • Himalayan Quartz – help with personal development and healing
  • Rose Quartz – emotional healing and love

Carnelian

This semi-precious quartz stone is one of the most popular orange stones. If you do the research on what is carnelian good for, you’ll find a lot of good properties of it. But most commonly, this stone is known as a stone of courage, endurance, energy, leadership, and motivation.

The healing crystals industry has increased in popularity during the last five years. Nobody expected it, yet more and more individuals seek help from healing crystals.

How To Pick An Environmentally Friendly Crystal

They utilized them for everything from personal healing to energy purification to home decoration to attract positive energy and repel negative energy.

If you appreciate crystals and care about the environment, you should be cautious when purchasing them. We all know that crystals do not grow on trees and that getting them from the earth is a time-consuming and even dangerous operation.

The best everyone you can do is learn about the origins of the crystals you want to buy for personal healing. There are environmentally friendly mines owned by ordinary people rather than giant corporations that collect crystals in the safest possible way.

So, do your research, ask around, and shop wisely. Keep in mind that your efforts will be rewarded in the end. Good luck in your search for the best eco-friendly healing crystals.

5 Clever Ways To Boost Employee Wellbeing This 2022

As an employer, you know all too well how the majority of your employees’ waking hours are dedicated to your company. Thus, prioritizing their wellbeing within the workplace is a necessity. While it’s true that you need to look after your company’s sales and revenue, you also need to remember that without your people, your company would be lifeless. Your workforce is your most valuable asset, and through their skills and talents, they’ll keep your company running and thriving for many years. Read this article to know how to make your workforce more efficient.

However, it may be challenging for them to stay productive when their health and wellbeing are compromised. Furthermore, employees with poor health and low morale are less likely to feel motivated or happy to work. Thankfully, there are a few steps you can take to promote the wellbeing of your employees, regardless of whether they’re working from home or back onsite, in your office.

To start, here are five clever ways you can boost your employees’ wellbeing this 2022.

Ways To Boost Employee Wellbeing

1. Institute Flexible Working Arrangements

One of the main reasons some employees struggle with their health and wellbeing is the lack of work-life balance. This can happen, especially if you’re too uptight with your employees’ working hours. Even if you think letting them work from home has given them the luxury to spend time with their family or avoid long commutes, remember that not all of them are in the same circumstances.

Some of your workers probably have to be in the living room just to look after their kids and work at the same time. Or perhaps, visit an internet café for a more stable internet connection. One way to boost their wellbeing and overall quality of life is by instituting flexible working. For example, allow them to work during their most flexible time (especially if they have family and kids) as long as they still deliver quality output before the deadline.

You may also want to consider partnering with an IT company Capetown based or other managed IT service providers within your area to provide you with 24/7 tech support. This way, your employees can choose to work at their most convenient time and have a smoother and safer technological experience from possible security breaches despite working remotely.

Overall, implementing flexible working arrangements will help your employees achieve work-life balance and boost their overall being while maintaining their productivity.

2. Promote Healthy Eating Habits

You’re probably wondering how you can promote healthy eating habits to your employees when you have little control over their lifestyles. But since they’re spending most of their hours working for you, you can use this as an advantage to promote healthy eating within your organization. For example, enforce a mandatory one-hour break, which they should strictly use for eating and refueling themselves and not use the time to run errands.

You also need to discourage them from eating meals on the office desk so they can devote their lunch break for eating and not be distracted to do additional work. If you have a company cafeteria or lunchroom, replace those unhealthy junk foods with fresh fruits, nuts, and other healthy snacks to encourage them to choose healthy foods. You can do the same for beverages by providing water, tea, and coffee instead of soda.

3. Organize Daily Or Weekly Fitness Challenges

One of the best ways to jumpstart your employees’ physical health and wellbeing is by organizing daily or weekly fitness challenges. Besides encouraging them to be physically active, this is also an excellent opportunity to start friendly competitions, promote interaction, and have fun in the office. Some daily or weekly fitness challenges you can try may include:

  • Thousand Steps Challenge: Encourage your team to walk and collect as many steps for a week via their fitness trackers. The person who has the highest number of steps gets a prize from the company.
  • Bike To Work Challenge: The team member who gets to bike the most miles will be awarded.

You can also insert a few minutes for stretching wherein you invite everyone to get up from their seats for five to ten minutes and perform basic stretches together.

4. Provide Personal Or Virtual Mental Health Therapy Or Counseling

Mental health issues are prevalent among many employees, yet some employers and even co-workers often overlook them. This is true, especially since the pandemic has brought plenty of changes to everyone’s lives and mental health. One way to help your employees boost their mental wellness is by providing personal or virtual mental health counseling for those who need them the most.

You can also conduct monthly mental health awareness programs to discuss further the importance of reaching out and availing help when needed. Meanwhile, you can also organize some daily or weekly mental health exercises to boost their mental health, like:

  • Providing time for meditation
  • Exploring mental health apps
  • Spreading positive and inspirational quotes every morning
  • Practicing stress management

5. Encourage Socialization and Interaction

Your employees’ relationship with you and their co-workers also plays a vital role in boosting their wellbeing. When they don’t feel a sense of unity and belongingness within your company, they’ll less likely feel motivated in coming to work, eventually affecting their work performance and productivity. So, keep your team members engaged and develop healthy relationships with one another by hosting group activities other than corporate meetings.

How to Boost Employee Wellbeing

Some fun and interactive activities you can try are:

  • Monthly or quarterly office parties
  • Virtual games
  • Company social traditions (e.g., Friday happy hours, monthly team lunches)

If time and budget allow, you can also organize an annual company field trip to promote interaction and, at the same time, expose them to new experiences.

Takeaway

Meeting your employees’ health and wellness needs is crucial to your company’s success. Once you’ve applied one or more of these tips, conduct a survey within your workforce and see if it’s working or necessary adjustments should be made. Let their feedback guide you in customizing your employees’ wellbeing program.

The Benefits of Indoor Plants and How to Keep Them Fresh

Having a natural ambiance around your house and workplace is not only aesthetically pleasing but has also proven to increase productivity and positively impact mood and behavior. No doubt that indoor plants trigger a feeling of happiness from inside. Setting up foliage in your environment reduces anxiety and stress since interaction with nature improves self-being.

self-watering-planters

Many studies and researches have proved promising impacts of having greenery in your surroundings. Here are but a few of the benefits of indoor plants:

1. Increased healing period

People are arranging more and more planters in hospitals, workplaces, and homes. Be it outdoor or indoor plants, they all contribute to making the environment a better place to breathe and survive. Furthermore, being surrounded by plants and flowers has proven to be an effective method of lowering blood pressure, reducing stress, improving sleep cycles, boosting immunity, and uplifting mood.

2. Enhanced energy and performance

Happiness leads to success and great performance in overall life. Giving a natural touch to your environment energizes and soothes the soul inside out. Incorporate a wide range of planters indoors and outdoors to naturally stimulate an active and refreshed mood.

3. Plants absorb noise

Did you know that big trees absorb the noise in highly populated and activated areas? Yes, plants, trees, foliage, and vegetation all act in part as sound absorbers. This is why in areas with generally a lot of greenery (such as suburbs) you are likely to hear a lot less noise. The same principle applies to indoor plants. They soak up sound making for a quiet, relaxed, and serene indoor atmosphere.

4. Greenery relaxes you

Connecting with nature is always an effective way to relax and unwind. No matter if it is sitting by the beach watching the waves crashing into the rocks, or feeling the fresh morning air blowing across your hair, being close to nature is just calming. This biophilic interaction relaxes the soul, body, and mind.

5. Improves focus leading to better memory

Isn’t it amazing to know that plants enable enhanced focus, concentration, and memory retention? Studies show that the arrangement of flowers and plants indoors has significantly improved the productivity of tasks at home and workplaces. Having a close connection with nature not only helps concentrate on the task but also improves the quality of the work. It is highly beneficial to include plants in your surroundings for improved cognitive skills and performance.

How to Take Care of Indoor Plants?

Taking care of plants is easier said than done. It is not enough to simply water them and provide them with sunlight. The right combination of the two is essential in order for a plant to grow and too much or too little of either water or sunlight can quickly see a plant wither and die.

Growing plants indoors requires an immense amount of love and sincere hard work. But what if you don’t have the time and energy to take care of indoor plants. Maybe you have a busy schedule or just don’t have much experience with gardening. What do you do then?

safer-air-quality-in-home

Well, luckily for you, there are many tools available that allow one to grow plants indoors in a manner that is easy, convenient, and effective.

Here a few tips and tricks to make sure your indoor plants flourish and thrive.

  • Pick the right type of plant that best suits the location and environment. Humidity, temperature, and other external factors such as air quality, etc. can all impact the growth of indoor plants.
  • Make sure you water the plants regularly but never too much at once. Excess water is just as harmful as no water as if the soil gets too wet the plant is unable to get the oxygen it needs from the roots in order to grow and will wither and die. To make sure your plants get the right amount of water at the right time use a self-watering planter. See the best self watering planters here and choose one that best fits your indoor or outdoor gardening needs. This tool will help make your gardening tasks a lot easier and a lot less time-consuming.
  • Fertile soil is extremely essential. Add in compost and fertilizers to provide the plant with the nutrient it needs in order to grow.
  • Take care of cleanliness. Prune leaves and branches to give the plant shape.
  • Keep away pesticides and insecticides and allow benefiting insects to make the soil fertile.

Managing Occupational Risks in the Renewable Energy Sector

According to recent estimates, the renewable energy sector employs 12 million people worldwide. Keeping workers safe is vital in any industry but as the use of clean energies rapidly expands around the globe, more workers are putting themselves at risk climbing wind turbines, maintaining remote solar panels and dealing with flammable biofuels. By identifying and managing the risks involved, a range of safety interventions can be used to reduce the risk of injury to workers.

drone at a wind-farm

Reducing The Risks of Wind Turbine Maintenance

As more wind turbines are constructed, the number of accidents associated with their maintenance and repair has also risen. When a worker is injured on site, a personal injury lawyer will investigate the circumstances and potential causes of the accident. As well as helping to secure appropriate compensation for injured workers, the information gathered can be used to prevent similar accidents happening again. Thus, it is essential for all industry workers to know how does personal injury law work.

To further limit the risks to turbine workers, drones are regularly used to carry out hazardous and labor-intensive jobs including the inspection of turbine blades. Drones can now be equipped with extra tools such as AI which enables them to store, analyze and report the data they collect to wind farm managers. EcoOnline also has different safety softwares that can make monitoring your site’s safety easier.

Mitigating the Dangers of Solar Panel Installation

Due to their placement on high roofs and in remote locations, solar energy systems also pose a risk to workers when they are installing, maintaining and repairing solar panels. Taking into account the amount of power generated, working with solar energy is three times more hazardous than wind power and results in up to 150 deaths around the world each year. Risks include exposure to high temperatures, electric shocks and falls, all of which are increased if work has to be carried out in adverse weather conditions.

solar panels pigeon issue

To mitigate these risks, safety interventions to mitigate these risks can include the increased use of specially designed training modules, the automation of certain tasks and changes in shift patterns to avoid fatigue amongst workers.

Reducing Exposure to Hazards in BioFuel Production

While biofuels produced from renewable resources such as plant biomass and vegetable oils are safe to use, they can be dangerous to manufacture. They are highly flammable and can produce potentially hazardous chemical reactions.  These can result in burns and other  injuries caused by exposure to fire, chemicals or explosions. Manufacturers of biofuels should follow the standard safety guidelines for working with chemicals which include storing products correctly, providing adequate personal protection equipment to workers and training them to handle hazardous substances safely.

hazards of biofuel production

As many biofuel businesses are small, in the US they can access consultation services from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration which will give them advice on programs to protect workers and what to do in the event of an emergency.

Bottom Line

As more workers are employed by the renewable industry, the numbers of occupational accidents and injuries are likely to rise. By identifying and managing risks as they become known, safety interventions can be implemented promptly.

Black Soot, Unemployment, Environmental Degradation: Is Oil Discovery a Curse to Niger Delta Residents?

With a crude production capacity of 2.5 million barrels a day, Nigeria is Africa’s largest producer of oil and the 13th largest oil-producing country on the globe. Oil account for around 65 percent of government revenue.

Over its five decades of oil exploration, it has made tens of billions of dollars from crude oil proceeds. But despite the humongous revenue year in year out, the oil host communities reek of poverty and many other economic and humanitarian issues, including frequent occurrences of black soot, environmental degradation, high rate of unemployment/underemployment, gas flaring, and oil spill from pipelines.

Most of these problems are recurring issues they have suffered for years without any lasting solution. The health and economic effects of these plights have become a serious burden on residents, including the elderly and children.

environmental issues in niger delta

The Menace of Black Soot

Black soot, which is gradually becoming a persistent challenge in many Niger Delta communities, has been linked to the upsurge in adverse respiratory, skin, and reproductive health conditions. A 2019 report showed that black soot-related health disorders were responsible for about 25,000 deaths in the region.

In the past few months, the situation has become even much escalated, and soot pictures gathered from the communities are devastatingly worrisome. Unfortunately, pleas to the state and federal governments have seemingly fallen on deaf ears as residents continuously groan in discomfort and pain.

There has been rising concern among residents in Bayelsa, one of the states in the Niger Delta, over the noticeable black soot across the skyline.

According to a group known as Niger Delta Vigilante (NDV), the development is largely linked to the increase in ‘Kpo-fire,’ an illegal but booming oil bunkering activity in the Niger Delta region. Kpo-fire is a local oil production process of heating the crude oil in a fabricated oven to get petroleum products while its residual is indiscriminately released into the environment, with no regard for its effects on the ecosystem.

Some other factors said to be responsible include the burning of seized stolen crude by security operatives and setting ablaze crude oil sites by some oil contractors in the industry, all in the name of cleanup.

“Presently, as you walk with barefoot in your home, the sole of your foot becomes black, wash your clothes and hang same outside, they are stained with black particles, you wipe your face with a handkerchief, and it becomes black,” a Bayelsa resident, Oyinkuro Jones noted with concern.

A few months ago, towards the end of the rainy season, some residents in the state raised the alarm over what was described as black rain anytime there was a downpour but did not take their worry seriously until the soot started appearing in late November and turned the cloud to a hazy grey. The problem is reportedly more noticeable in the morning time when the thick blanket of black soot covers the landscape.

Immigration Advice Service (IAS) spoke with some residents in Port Harcourt, Rivers, another Niger Delta state, who lamented the health and environmental impacts of the soot.

“The black soot has been a big problem to the environment. In my home, we do not open our doors or windows because the place gets dirty almost immediately after we clean,” Mildred Alerechi, a health style coach, complained. “My nails are also dirty for no reason; the black soot finds its way into my fingernails.”

There has been a wide outcry on the sheer negligence by the government to the residents’ plight. Unfortunately, concerned authorities both from state and federal levels haven’t shown significant willpower to end the menace.

Another resident who spoke with an IAS correspondent said: “To the best of my knowledge, no concrete action has been taken; I’m sure they [the government] are aware of the underlying cause and can tackle the problem if they want to.”

Environmental degradation

The debilitating impacts of oil exploration on the ecosystem have been a great concern for decades. According to a report on the Niger Delta ecosystem, the advent of oil production in the region has also negatively affected the communities due to unprecedented oil spill, which has been happening “for the past five decades, making the region one of the most polluted in the world.” The reckless corruption in the government-established agencies that ought to be responsible for the welfare of the region has further contributed to the persisting ecocide.

An NNPC report back in 1983 noted that the slow poisoning of the waters and the destruction of agricultural land and good water source by oil spills usually occurred during petroleum operations. But since the beginning of the oil industry in Nigeria, there has been no effective and lasting effort made by the government and oil operators to control the environmental crisis associated with the industry.

Even to date, oil firms in the country still play the blame game on who should be responsible for these environmental problems. A Dutch Appeal Court recently found the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) culpable for some farmland and fishpond pollutions in the region.

Despite the court order asking SPDC to compensate the affected farmers, the oil company insisted that the damages were caused by sabotage and the firm should not be held responsible for the financial losses.

It took about a year before Shell began a mediation process with the farmers to settle the case out of court. Until now, the case is still ongoing, and it is left to be seen if both parties will reach a resolution soon.

Unemployment and Other Economic Problems

Economically, most oil-producing areas are poverty-stricken and plagued with a high unemployment rate. They also lack basic amenities such as stable electricity, potable water, hospitals, motorable roads, and a conducive learning environment in their schools.

As the communities suffer all these, paradoxically, local and foreign oil firms and politicians benefit handsomely from oil proceeds. Years of illegal bunkering, pollution from leaking pipelines, and other unwholesome activities have rendered several fishermen and farmers from the region jobless as their livelihood continues to be affected by oil exploration.

“The crude by-products are usually released into the rivers and on farmlands. Take Ogoni as a case study, oil spill has stopped fishing activities in that area, and it’s bad,” said Michael Ndukwu, a University of Port-Harcourt student.

Though unemployment is a nationwide issue in Nigeria, the challenge for Niger Delta residents is peculiar due to certain factors, such as environmental pollution resulting from oil exploration affecting farming, fishing, and other commercial activities in the region.

In a report that explored the root causes of unemployment and poverty rate in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, Dr. E.D Simon, a researcher at the Cross River University of Technology Calabar, reported that the “Oil and mineral extraction in the region promoted the looting tendency by various government in Nigeria and have linked with unusually high poverty rates, poor health care and high rate of mortality. This means that sustainable development can hardly be achieved under this unfavorable and in a secured environment”.

The cost of living is relatively high compared to most other places in the country, which makes salaries and wages of most employed residents insufficient, as they could best be described as underemployed.

While the huge cost of food importation/transportation usually increases feeding expenses among Nigerians, the burden is greater on Niger Delta residents, as they could barely source any food items locally due to the damage on farmlands and waters by oil exploration. They, therefore, depend more on food items imported and transported from other parts of the country. This, in turn, renders them underpaid even when placed on the same salary structure as people from other regions.

Gas Flaring and Oil Spills

The consequences of gas flaring are also one of the burdens that the people of the Niger Delta region have to endure. According to International Photography Magazine, “Nigeria flares more natural gas associated with oil extraction than any country. With an estimation of the 3.5 billion cubic feet (100,000,000 m³) of associated gas produced annually, 2.5 billion cubic feet (70,000,000 m³), or about 70%, is wasted by flaring.

The effects of this gas flaring affect not only the ecological system but also have adverse health effects on residents in those communities. The poisonous chemicals and carcinogenic substances released into the environment affect the respiratory system. They are also said to be one of the major causes of cancer and leukemia in the world.

Oil spill is another related challenge faced by the host communities. A United Nations Development Program (UNDP) report shows that 6,817 oil spills were recorded in Nigeria between 1976 and 2001. 69 percent of these spills were said to have occurred offshore, a quarter was in swamps, and 6 percent on land.

Some researchers from the University of Lagos found that certain factors are majorly responsible for the recurring oil spill in Nigeria.: About 50 percent occur due to pipeline or truck accidents, 28 percent are caused by sabotage, 21 percent are caused during oil production operations, and 1 percent occur due to inadequate or nonfunctional production equipment.

The “sabotage” part perfectly describes the situation in the Niger Delta, and it is perpetrated by unemployed youths in the region who have embraced illegal bunkering as a source of livelihood. This worsens environmental pollution in the region and reduces people’s life expectancy.

impact of gas flaring in niger delta

“The poverty rate in those places is high; hence the reason residents are involved in this illegal business. There are barely health facilities and educational facilities, says Alerechi.”

Outdated and faulty pumping equipment is another factor responsible for oil spills in the country. However, despite its associated disastrous effects like the disappearance of mangrove forests and the death of aqua life, no serious move has been made to reconstruct these outdated production facilities.

While other oil-producing nations like UAE and Saudi use their generated revenues to develop their countries, oil discovery and its related activities seem to be a curse to the host communities in Niger Delta.

There is also great concern that if no concerted and urgent action is taken, oil exploration could result in an ecological disaster, which could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe in Nigeria’s oil host communities.

What Are Forever Chemicals and Why Are They Dangerous?

Have you heard about forever chemicals? While they have beneficial uses, they can also be dangerous. So, let’s find out more.

What are Forever Chemicals?

Picture a chemical so clingy that it sticks around for what feels like an eternity. That’s your forever chemical in a nutshell. Also known as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), they’ve got this uncanny ability to resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. Because of this, industry folk love them for making all sorts of products non-stick and waterproof.

dangers of forever chemicals

However, there’s a downside. Forever chemicals mingle with soil and water and they don’t break down, which means they stick around in the environment and cause harm. They can also harm us human beings.

Types of Forever Chemicals

Now, let’s take a look at some of the different types of forever chemicals.

PFOA

First up on our PFAS all-star list is PFOA – or perfluorooctanoic acid. It used to be a big shot ingredient in making Teflon non-stick pans until it was discovered that the chemical can cause health concerns.

PFOS

PFOS – or perfluorooctanesulfonic acid – is the Don Juan of stain and water repellents. You would find it showing off in furniture, carpets, and even clothes, making spills afraid to stick around. But just like PFOA, PFOS was given the boot from manufacturing after scientists and health experts started doing a double-take on its safety credentials.

GenX

Then there is GenX (short for hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid), which is sort of like the sequel to PFOA. It hit the scene promising a better alternative with less baggage but guess what? It turns out that it may not be all that different when it comes to sticking around and causing a fuss health-wise.

PFNA

Cruise over to PFNA – or perfluorononanoic acid. This is like PFOA’s bigger cousin which is gradually taking up more space in our environment, especially as PFOA gets phased out.

Why Are Forever Chemicals Dangerous?

Alright, let’s cut to the chase—forever chemicals are a sneaky bunch and there’s a growing concern about their knack for causing trouble.

Here’s why these persistent little critters have scientists, environmentalists, and health-conscious folks up in arms.

1. Accumulation Anxieties

Forever chemicals do not just visit; they move in permanently. They accumulate in our bodies over time because we cannot easily break them down or excrete them.

This means the more we are exposed, the higher the levels get—which is like an unwanted chemical savings account that you never wanted to open.

2. Health Hazards Galore

Long-term exposure to PFAS has been linked to a laundry list of health issues. We are talking about increased cholesterol levels, thyroid problems, liver damage, immune system issues, and even fertility troubles – plus developmental delays in children.

Forever chemicals can be ingested in several ways. They can even end up in the body after using Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), which is the firefighting foam used by firefighters. It has been linked to health problems like kidney cancer, fertility issues, and ulcerative colitis – to name just a few.

As a result, firefighters who developed such health issues after being exposed to the forever chemicals that the foam contains are now filing AFFF foam lawsuits to seek compensation.

3. Environmental Persistence Perils

They weren’t kidding when they called these chemicals “forever” — they linger longer than an awkward silence after a bad joke. In other words, they contaminate soil and water supplies with the tenacity of glitter from a kid’s craft project — impossible to completely clean up.

Worse, this means they can travel through ecosystems, getting into plants and animals, messing with their health and our food supply in a domino effect that is about as welcome as a bull in a china shop.

Home Gym Equipment To Own Today

Your home is the only sanctuary that will stand strong even through challenges and struggles. Making space for personal fitness and health can be an essential tool for improving your quality of life. You can do this and save a huge amount of money on gym membership fees. But why do you have to spend your time and money on the gym when you can be fit at your home? With this, you will never have to deal with bad gym music again.

Having exercise gear will help you stay consistent with your routine. This is true whether you have the latest gym equipment or just a yoga mat. With this, you can turn your home bodyweight circuit into a full-fledged body conditioning plans.

Now, you can cancel your expensive gym membership and grab this gear so you will never have to leave your home. Here are some of the things you can’t miss for your personal space:

Battle Ropes

Challenge yourself to let your cardio workout be better with the use of these battle ropes. Do the waves, slams, and other exercises. However, you must have plenty of space at your home and have a stronger anchor. Grab this from home gym equipment Australia

Gym Rings

If you are thinking about old-school workouts, then you can take these gym rings. Hang on it the entire day and build your body. If you are thinking about adding a twist on nail kips or pull-ups, this can be a great addition.

Heavy Bags

If doing the cardio is not your thing, this heavy bag is a nice alternative for getting rid of those body fats. This can aid you to build your power and speed. With the wraps and gloves included, you will find yourself ready to rumble.

Kettlebells

If you are planning for an all-around activity, you must have one kettlebell. You can perform various exercises even with limited space with the use of a kettlebell.

Power Cage

If you have enough space at your home, then you must get a power cage. You can achieve lots of exercises with the classic power cage. With this, the execution of various conditioning and strength workouts are achievable. For example, barbell squat, bench press, deadlift, and a lot more exercise.

Power Tower

Meanwhile, if you don’t have enough space for full power equipment, you can try some compact options like the power tower. This can help you pull off chin-ups, pull-ups, dips, and a lot more exercises.

Small Barbell

If you don’t have enough space for the Olympic-sized barbell, you can have this smaller option instead. It weighs around 15 kg and it is 6 feet long. This will not consume much room, unlike the standard barbell size. However, the small barbell can hold 700 lbs of weight. Rest assured that your workout won’t be limited because of its stature. Have this small barbell from home gym equipment Australia.

Yoga Mat

You don’t need to perform the vinyasa to make the yoga mat useful at your home. You can use the yoga mat for basic stretching or abs exercises. Thus, try one today!

5 Reasons Why You Need a Water Softener for Your Home

Tap water that we use for in our daily purpose contains minerals like calcium, lime, chalk, and magnesium. The increased levels of these minerals in water make it hard. Hard water is unhealthy for consumption and for domestic use. Although many people use mineral water for drinking, excessive use of mineral water can result in health and domestic hazards. It’s essential to remove excess levels of minerals from water to make it suitable for drinking as well as for domestic use like bathing, washing, cleaning, etc. Water softeners are filters that convert hard water into softer water by filtering out the minerals.

Below are few important reasons why you should install a water softener in your home:

1. Easier Cleaning

When you wash dishes and clothes in hard water, they may end up with white spots, streaks, and soapy residue. Soft water helps to rinse off the soap residue more thoroughly, leaving your dishes and clothes cleaner. Moreover, water softening also reduce the amount you use for detergent or soap you need for cleaning, which helps to save your expenses for these products.

You will notice that house water softeners prevent the detergent curd and soap film buildup in bathtubs, showers, sinks, and other cleaning devices, and they stay cleaner and efficient.

2. Keep Your Skin Smooth and Well-Nourished

The calcium and magnesium present in hard water mix with anions in soaps resulting in soap scum on your body or sticky skin. This film does not dissolve even with rinsing and stays on your skin causing clogged pores, skin irritation, and dry or itchy skin.

Moreover, using dry water on the skin can also lead to acne. Therefore, install water softener in your home because bathing with soft water is better for your skin.

3. Extended Water Appliance Life

Minerals of hard water can buildup in washing machines, dishwashers, coffee makers and other water appliances. This can result in clogging of minerals within these devices which can cause them to burn out. It’s better to invest in a water softener that will prevent the minerals from building up within these appliances.

Therefore, use of soft water helps to extend the life of water appliances. You will end up saving money because these devices will last longer, and you will be replacing them less frequently.

4. Faster Heating of Water

Your water heaters can quickly heat soft water, while heating hard water requires comparatively more time. It is estimated that water softeners can improve the efficiency of electric water heaters by 22 percent and that of gas water heaters by 29 percent. If you are using a walk in tub, it will help in faster heating of water for bathing.

Hard water can also cause mineral buildup in the water heaters, decreasing their efficiency to heat water. Water softeners improve the efficiency of water heaters resulting in lower utility bills.

5. Reduce Pipe and Faucet Damage

Hard water causes scaly deposits in pipes and faucets. Your home plumbing system is severely affected as these deposits buildup over time, resulting in clogs and corrosion.

Moreover, hard water can also clog your showerheads and valves. Water softeners eliminate the mineral buildup in your plumbing system, extending its life and helping your fixtures to operate effectively.