Introductions to four IELTS Essays. jaypee

Introductions to four IELTS Essays. jaypee

1. Some people say that shopping festivals and similar promotional activities should be banned as they do great harm the society and environment. Some others say shopping festivals bring in a lot of benefits to the society.

· How do shopping festivals harm the society?
· Do you think they bring in some benefits? If yes, what are they?


Promotional arrangements like shopping festivals are very common now and they have many implications for the society. Banning it on the basis of its harms leads to problems as they are very much part of the economy and they bring in great benefits, too. On the other hand, the social impacts of such activities are so severe as well that we need to take them in a need based manner. 55 words.


Write your own answer based on the introduction.

2. Manufacturers, who produce products that generate non-degradable waste, should be asked to pay waste management tax.
· How far do you agree or disagree with this idea?


Waster management is a huge social issue and waste accumulation rising alarmingly due to consumerism. Since people have no other way out, they buy packaged things, and all these packages,both degradable and not, go to the open in the form of waste. We can solve this problem to some extent if manufactures are asked to pay waste management tax, and same could be used to establish infrastructure for wastemanagemen. This will discourage them from packing products in unfriendly materials. 55 words

Write your own answer based on the introduction.






3. Consumerism has become the order of the day and it has many advantages and disadvantages.

· What are the major ones?


Consumerism has become very much part of our life, and we cannot imagine a life without promoting consumerism in one way or the other. This situation arises because of globalization and the resultant open economy. As a coin has two sides, consumerism too has its own positive and negative implications. The major ones are detailed belllow. 55 words


Write your own answer based on the introduction.


4. Old age homes and child care facilities, which were once common in rich nations, are coming up in poor nations, too.

· What are the factors that lead to this?
· Do you think it is a positive development?


Developments in the world make the world faster and the people busier. This has been the reason why developed nations happen to promote old age homes and child care facilities. This development is now common in poor nations too. There are so many factors that lead to this, and it is hard to say it is a positive development. 55 words

Write your own answer based on the introduction.

Source: www.jpsukham.blogspot.com
Visit. www.merinews.com for detailed articles. Look for vaatupura
Google for: Jayaprakash A. Panicker or Vaatupura or kovilloor

Speaking tips for IELTS: Managing questions. Revised

Speaking tips for IELTS: Managing questions. I
Observe the question: the tense, size and the tone. Answer in the same tense.
Eg. Where did you work last at? I worked at… Where were you working? I was…
What are you going to do next? What do you want to do next? I want to.
My plan is to…. I want to do…. I am planning to…. i wish to.... I intent to ....
Understand the question thoroughly before answering it. Think and answer.
Take part of the question as your answer, with a positive or negative attitude.
For eg. Entertainment has become an industry. Why is it so?
Well, it is a fact that entertainment is a huge industry now.
There are many reasons. Firstly, secondly, thirdly.
Does this industry do any harm to the society?
Yes, it does. It spoils the importance of traditional ones.
4. Do not forget the question till you complete the answer. It is important to close the answer with a reference to the question. Do not leave the answer in the air.
Do not parade points to make your answer get weightage. Points are just tools. Only one point is enough to convince the examiner that you know English.
A point convincingly presented is better than ten points paraded with no room for the application of your language.
It is a language testing system. Concentrate on your language.
Singulars, plurals, negatives, double negatives, adjectives, adverbs, tense forms, gendres and groups, pauses and stops and stresses are important.
Since it is a one-to-one meet, be pleasant and forward looking. Speak to the speaker. Do not reproduce answers. Have your own answer to all questions. Remember, different people answer same question differently. That difference will be reflected in your score card too.
Compliment, acknowledge, smile and even agree to disagree in good language.
You are a person, you have feelings and thoughts and opinions. Express them in good language. The examiner wants you to speak; not to establish something or argue.
If you do not know much about a question. Just mention it.
Sorry, I do not know much about this question.
I don’t think I will be able to completely answer the question.
I am afraid I won’t be able to fully answer it.
I am going to tell you what (ever) I know about it.
Please try to get an acceptable or reasonable pronunciation; that is the listener has to understand you.
Do not try to imitate pronunciation. You may have your own pronunciation, a consistent one of course.
When you are asked to speak for two minutes, manage your answer and speak for two minutes. You can even over-speak if you want to. The examiner will control your time. Use personal phrases like: I think, I feel, I am under the impression that. My opinion on this is that…In my opinion, personally, yes, it is true, I too feel so.. I have felt it many times….There are occasions in my life too. Many people think so, but I think…..these phase can help you take you answer to cross 2 minutes. Fluency does not mean you speak non-stop. Think, pause, stop and even express your thought with your body language.
Always speak out complete meaningful sentences.


Another set of tips on problems with spoken language will follow. Good luck.

Source: www.jpsukham.blogspot.com
Visit. www.merinews.com for detailed articles. Look for vaatupura
Google for: Jayaprakash A. Panicker or Vaatupura or kovilloor

Speaking tips for IELTS I

Speaking tips for IELTS I

1. Observe the question: the tense, size and the tone. Answer in the same tense.
Eg. Where did you work last? I worked at…
What are you going to do next?
My plan is to…. I want to do…. I am planning to….
2. Understand the question thoroughly before answering it.
3. Take the question as your answer, with a positive or negative attitude.
For eg. Entertainment has become an industry. Why is it so?
Well, it is a fact that entertainment is a huge industry now.
There are many reasons. Firstly, secondly, thirdly.
Does this industry do any harm to the society?
Yes, it does. It spoils the importance of traditional ones.
4. Never forget the question till you complete the answer. It is important to close the answer with a reference to the question.
5. Do not parade points to make your answer get weightage.
6. Only one point is enough to convince the examiner that you know English.
7. a point convincingly presented is better than ten points paraded with not room for application of your language.
8. It is a language testing system. Concentrate on your language.
9. Since it is a one to one meet, be pleasant and forward looking. Speak to the speaker. Do not reproduce answers. Have your say.
10. Complement, acknowledge, smile and even agree to disagree in good language.
11. If you do not know much about a question. Say that. Sorry, I do know much about this question. I don’t think I will be able to completely answer the question. I am going to tell you what I know about it.
12. please try to get an acceptable pronunciation, that is the listener has to understand you. Do not try to imitate pronunciation. You may have your won pronunciation, a consistent one.

Other tips on problems with language will follow. Good luck.

www.jpsukham.blogspot.com
Visit. Vaatupura A Jayaprakash on www.merinews.com
Jayaprakash A Panicker or Vaatupura or kovilloor in google search engine.

Change is made more on people's attitude towards change than on othe factors like law and order, legal system.....an IELTS essay

Change in any society is decided more by the people’s attitude towards change than by any other agencies like law and order, justice system and administration.
How far do you agree or disagree with this statement? Jaypee.11/12/08

Change in general terms means a shift from one system or order to the other. It is mainly effected by the people involved in the process of change. However, mere participation in the process of change may not be enough to carry out certain changes. Still, change as such is decided more by the people’s attitude towards change than by anything else. 50 words

This can be proved by looking at the following example. The system called state, including its law and order machinery, justice system and administration, may expect its citizens to abstain from accepting dowry or discouraging child labour as they are social evils. The government can enact rules and regulations to effect this change. But, unfortunately, such rules and regulations cannot bring about any change unless the individuals decide that it is their responsibility not to take dowry or promote child labour. Therefore, it is right to say that any change is possible only if the people take it seriously. 100 words

If we look at it from a different angle, we can understand that in a society, rules, regulations, regular administration etc. are as important as people’s attitude. For example, giving security to the life and property of the citizens. Every country needs a system in place to safeguard the citizens’ liberties and rights. No matter whether the people cooperate or not, that system needs to be enforced. Here the state stands supreme with its power, and no individual is given any freedom to forgo the rules. So it is partly agreeable that law and order, justice system and administration too are needed to make changes in the society. 100 words

The above arguments make it clear that change is effected more by the people’s attitude towards change than by other factors. But this situation does not make the other agencies irrelevant either. Change as such is the result of collective initiative primarily of the people and secondly by other agencies. 50 words
300 words
11/12/08. 10.30 pm Always believe that every essay offers you a chance to test your writing skill. For more essays and answers. Visit: www.jpsukham.blogspot.com or search for: Vaatupura on google. Or write to jaypeescopies@yahoo.co.in visit. www.merinews.com

Seurity. whose responsibility. state's or individuals'. IELTS essay

There is a general argument that the The state is supposed to provide security to the life and property of its citizens. But there is another view that citizens too have the responsibility to look after his life and property.

How do you look at these two view points? Jaypee. 10/12/08

Everybody has a general impression that the state is the sole authority to provide security to people’s life and property. This belief is based on the fact that it is the people who constitute the state. However, security is a huge responsibility and individuals may be able to do many things substantially to the state with regard to security. 55 words

In general terms, the state is liable to provide security. But maintaining security requires a lot many things. Firstly, there needs to be rules and regulations, law and order machinery, defense and their implementation. This may demand people’s participation and cooperation. Here too the individual has to contribute his share of responsibility. Secondly, personal care is something personal and every individual can do many things to protect him and his property on the basis of the faith that the state is there to safeguard his rights. 85 words

But on the other hand, it is right to say there is no the state without people, and there is no populace without the state. They go hand in hand. Here we find the interplay of the state and its populace coexist contributing each other, not so equally though. Since every individual is weak and vulnerable when taken in isolation, the state has to have a say in his security. The same way, the individual has no power unless the state provides him the same. There is no security without the state. It is a common arrangement reached between the state and its population. 95 words

Therefore, it is right to say that security to life and property is a collective responsibility shared by the individual and the state. This is true because, there are certain things that the state must do its citizens. And there are certain things that the individuals should do to the state. 50 words. Totals words. 280.

10/12/08. 10.30 pm Always believe that every essay offers you a chance to test your writing skill. For more essays and answers. Visit: www.jpsukham.blogspot.com or search for: Vaatupura on google. Or writ e to jaypeescopies@yahoo.co.in.

AN IELTS ESSAY frame ON: Seurity of life and property: whose job, state's or individuals'

There is a general argument that State is supposed to provide security to the life and property of its citizens. But there is another view that citizens too have the responsibility to look after his life and property.

How do you look at these two view points? Jaypee. 10/12/08

· Providing security is huge responsibility
· Security is a feeling that gets generated by many factors.
· It includes the protection of life and property of the people.
· Since it’s a common system, the job needs to be shared.
· Citizens cannot sit assured that the state will provide him

Supposed is to provide.

In general terms, it is true, because:
Firstly, laws, rules, their implementation need a system
Secondly, the security of nation is in the hand of the defense.
Thirdly, every individual is weak when taken individually.
His concerns need to be taken care of by the state, especially when his personal freedom and safety is threatened.
This is more so in a democracy with huge population. He has a duty too.

Citizens have to share it.
One the other hand, every citizen is supposed to protect himself.
Primarily, personal care is personal and state has limitations.
Since population is huge, state may not be able to do
Secondly, everyone needs to cooperate with the state..when in need
Thirdly, there are so many things citizens themselves can do.
State is constituted by the people. State is people.
Concl:
· Freedom is responsibility. One has to show a sense responsibility
· State is collective identity constituted by the people.
· People cannot get themselves isolated from the state
· State is people. People have to have a share in everything, including security to the life and property.

10/12/08. 10.30 pm Always believe that every essay offers you a chance to test your writing skill. For more essays and answers. Visit: www.jpsukham.blogspot.com or search for: Vaatupura on google.

Right schooling key to succeess. an essay by my student.

Right schooling is corner stone of success in everyone’s life.

· How far is this true in your point of view?
· Do you think there are some other factors that help one succeed? If yes, what are they?

It is right to argue that right schooling is corner stone of success in everybody’s life. Education is the most powerful weapon to achieve success in this modern world. However, education alone cannot make a man succeed in life. If success is the ladder, education is the first step, but there are many other steps such as personal attitude, the environment society etc. 60 words

Proper education is the key because, it helps the person to identify and develop his/her academic skills. A person will be able to get appropriate qualifications which will make him fit in his profession. Secondly, good schooling provides provision to explore his extra-curricular skills. Arts and sports activities will help the student to recognize his talents. Besides, exams and competitions make a person strong enough to face failures and shortcomings and to improve accordingly. Thirdly, children will learn how to behave in a society. Interaction with the peer group enhances the communication and social skills. 90 words

However, it is hard to say that a person will succeed in his life only with his school education and qualifications. There are many other contributing factors like living environment, social and familial. For example, a student can become a nurse after completing three or four years’ nursing education. But that nursing certificate alone will not make one successful. To be successful, he or she should have some soft skills such as empathy, patience, mercy, presence of mind, willingness etc... One picks up these skills from his personal experience, family and society. 90 words

In conclusion, it is right to say that right schooling is the corner shot of success. However, there are other factors that contribute to one’s success; such as personal attitude, living environment, family and friends. Success is a collective process, and education is the key to that success. 45. Words.

An essay written by……………………………………285 words

Typeset by Jaypee. 3.15. 8/12/08

Always believe that every essay offers you a chance to test your writing skill. For more essays and answers. Visit: www.jpsukham.blogspot.com or search for: Vaatupura on google. for authentic articles: visi.www.merinews.com and look for contributor -vaatupura- at the right top search slot.

Helping others. a 9/9 ielts essay by jaypee.

Helping others is very much part of all cultures around the world, but these days there is a growing tendency among people to neither offer help nor receive it.

· Why is this change of attitude?
· Do you think it as a sign of progress?

Ever since man started living community life, he has been depending on his fellow beings for one thing or the other. As a result helping others have been part of all human societies. But people’s dependence on others has reduced over the years, and now some people do not help others or be helped by others. It has many reasons, and don’t think it is not a sign of progress. 55 words

The major reasons are: firstly, people have achieved financial and material independence due to developments. For example people these days make a lot of money and they live their life independently. Secondly, the material conveniences make them selfish, and so naturally they spare no time for helping others too. Every one is trying to make differences in their life. And thirdly, some people feel that it is unfair to receive help from others. This is because of their false pride. Any way this is not a good sign. 90 words

Primarily, human society is a mixture of people of different statuses and needs. So everyone cannot be independent. One has to take some help from others at some part of their life, because life is really unpredictable. Secondly, a great part of human happiness comes from helping others and being helped by others. This is very important for the harmonious and peaceful coexistence of the society. Of course, it is good to be independent, but it is not good to be denying helping or declining to help others. It is not human. 90 words.

Looking at the above points, it is right to conclude that helping others and be helped by others are social gestures which need to be promoted by all means. No man is an island, and everyone is likely to depend on and be depended by others. Ignoring help is no good. 50 words. 285 words

8/12/08. 12.30 pm Always believe that every essay offers you a chance to test your writing skill. For more essays and answers. Visit: www.jpsukham.blogspot.com or search for: Vaatupura on google.

write skeletons for any four of the following ielts essays.

Write essay skeletons for any four of the following questions.

1. Many people say that the advent of Television has diminished the importance of Newspaper as a means of information and entertainment.

Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

2. Poor nations become poorer because they depend too much on foreign products and services promoted by rich nations, and this consumer tendency, in turn, makes the rich nations richer.
· How far is this true in your state/country?
· And how does it affect the society.
3. Taking medicine without prescription is a common treatment practice followed more by people in the developing nations than by those in the developed nations.

· Why is this difference in poor and rich nations?
· What effects does it have on the people in general?

4. Gender based discrimination is the major reason why many third world nations around the world still remain poor in achievements and growth.

· How far is this true in your opinion? Prove you point with examples.
· Do you think gender parity will make changes in the society?

5. Helping others is very much part of all cultures around the world, but these days there is a growing tendency among people to neither offer help nor receive it.

· Why is this change of attitude?
· Do you think it as a sign of progress?
Some people argue that multi-national companies operating in poor nations reap huge profits; so they have to share their profit for the betterment of these nations.

· How far do you agree or disagree with this statement?
· In what all ways MNCs can help a poor nations?

For more essays and answers. Visit: www.jpsukham.blogspot.com or search for: Vaatupura on google.

Helping others: the whys and hows. ielts essay

YOu may find a lot many points in a skeleton. But you are supposed to take only 4 and they should be prioritised as to give the essay a logical look. Try to prove your points with examples taken from your life. Don't go to antarctica to find examples.
good luck. jaypeescopies@yahoo.co.in

Helping others is very much part of all cultures around the world, but these days there is a growing tendency among people to neither offer help nor receive it.

Why is this change of attitude towards?
How does it influence the society?

Intro:
All social institutions are meant for mutual benefit.
Society is a perfect blend of people, both rich and poor
life is unpredictable, and it is important to help and be helped.
Helping others is rewarding and denying help is unfair.
Human society cannot exist without help,


Why it is common
1. Societies have developed in all respects.
2. Socio economic status is on the rise.
3. People attach pride and prestige with their well being.
4. For some it is inferior and shame to be helped.
5. Modern parents independent and they make their kids so too.
6. Selfishness is on the rise and the mad rush for once needs
7. All are out for a better life for themselves.
8. Helping others brings problems too. Generosity excploited
9. People more worried about their well being than others’
10. Rising power of money, and popularity of materialism.
How does it affect:

Human society is impossible.
It is hard to predict when one needs help or what
Helping others will make the life of others better
No helping others is not a sign of civilization.
A great deal of change in the society is due to mutual help.
No help means, no harmonious life
Selfishness will lead to greed and greed to crimes.
The poor of the society will always be poor
Many may be deprived of a better life unless there is help.
All faiths promote helping others.

Conclude:

It is quite human to help others
Is it possible to live a good life without help
Society exits more out of helping others than out of anything
It is no good sigh that society goes away from the virtues of help
It is important that we help others and we accept it when we need it.


A candidate is supposed to take only 4 points from the effects and four from affects and one each from introduction and conclusion.
Jaypee. 8/12/08. always believe that an essay is an opportunity to test you

For more essays and answers. Visit: www.jpsukham.blogspot.com or search for: Vaatupura on google.

We need to impose waste tax by jaypeescopies@yhoo.co.in

We need to impose waste-tax
It is not civic to let any organization: Local, national, or multi-national, to come up and operate their businesses anywhere and go scot-free when it comes to the after-effects of their products' wastes. Waste-tax is the need of the hour..
CJ> Vaatupura A Jayaprakash 30 Jun 2008 Views:6662

WE NEED to impose a new tax on manufacturers who pack their products in non-degradable materials. It has become impossible these days to buy something without a little waste attached with it. Even a rupee’s sachet of shampoo comes with a strip of plastic and the same is enough to create waster-related problems. Therefore, I feel it is a good idea to impose some waste management tax on manufacturers.

Our life has come to a new phase, where waste has become a by-product of our comforts, and since there seems to be no U-turn from this state of affairs, we need to find ways and means to recycle or manage the wastes that get generated on a daily basis. Moving and managing waste has become a severe headache to the corporations, municipalities and local self government organs all over the country.
Also, there are innumerable instances of fund and infrastructure shortage to manage the waste. Coupled with these is the outbreak of contagions. All thanks to our modern consumer culture.

Who is to be held responsible for this? The consumer or the manufacturer? I think it is the duty of the manufacturer to chip in a share of his profit to raise a national fund on waste management. It is not civic to let any organisation: Local, national, or multi-national, to come up and operate their businesses anywhere and go scot-free when it comes to the after-effects of their products’ wastes.

There needs to be a new tax regime to earmark a sizeable share from the turnovers of all manufacturers, and allocate those funds for the wise management of wastes. This is primarily for the general well-being of the public. Secondly, it is to maintain a healthy environment, and thirdly it would help development and sustain a responsible business culture. Waste-tax is the need of the hour.

jaypees

some essay questions. ielts

People are spending a lot of money on entertainment over the years, and this tendency is much more common in poor nations than in the rich.

· Why is this rise in spending on entertainment?
· Why is it so common in poor nations?

Jaypee 29/06/11/12/08


Some people say that shopping festivals and similar promotional activities should be banned as they do great harm to the society and environment. Some others say shopping festivals bring in a lot of benefits to the society.

· How do shopping festivals harm the society?
· Do you think they bring in some benefits? If yes, what are they?


Manufacturers, who produce products that generate non-degradable waste, should be asked to pay waste management tax.

· How far do you agree or disagree with this idea?


Consumerism become the order of the day and it has many advantages and disadvantages.

· What are the major ones?






Old age homes and child care facilities which were common in rich nations are coming up in poor nations too.

· What are the factors that lead to this?
· Do you think it is positive development?



Though women have proved themselves to be as competent as men in almost all fields, proportionally, their number is nowhere near their male counterparts, and this gender imbalance is more common in developing nations.

· Why is this disparity common in developing nations?
· What effects does it have on a given society? 26/11/08


Some people say shifting careers frequently is an opportunity to grow differently, whereas some other say it creates so many difficulties to a person.

· What advantages people enjoy when they change their career frequently?
· Why is frequent shift in careers is very common today?










Some people say that investing in healthcare and education is much more importance than investing in industries, research and development. Some others hold a view the other way round.

Which view do you advocate, and why? Prove your points with examples.

2/12/08

Some people say that investing in healthcare and education is as important as investing in industries and infrastructure development.

How far do you agree or disagree with this statement?


In developed nations educational institutions are found to be promoting the concept called, “earn while you learn” and it helps students in many ways.

· What are the advantages students enjoy out of this?
· Why is it not so popular in poor nations?


Increasing private participation in the healthcare sector has made it into an industry involving huge investments.

In what all ways does it help the society in general?
What do you think are its major disadvantages?

WLB work life balance, an ielts essay skeleton

WLB, or what the social scientists call Work Life Balance, or is what is needed to maintain a healthy life in these days of stress and strain.

· How far is this true in your opinion?
· Do you think there certain other factors that help people lead a stress-free life?

Healthy life involves mainly four things: health, entertainment/recreation, job satisfaction/security and social/family life. It all involves time.
They have to be managed to have a balanced life. So Work Life Balance is much more needed in today’s life than ever before.

True to a great extent.

· People ignore the balance of life
· Demands of life make imbalances:
· Personal life suffers
· Health and relations weaken
· Entertainment gets last priority.
· Life becomes stressful.
· A balanced approach to health, profession, family and personal life will ensure a healthy life.

However, there are a few other factors too.
· Like faith in god
· Understanding on one’s strengths and weaknesses
· Love for simplicity and helping mentality
· Ability to mange time

Conclude:

So it is right to say WLB ensures stress-free life.
Need to understand that life is balanced blend of many things.
Profession/ambition/possession is part of life, not the other way round

an ielts essay skeleton on TIME POVERTY

Many people these days are found to be suffering from what the social scientists call, time poverty. But it is a fact that everybody has 24 hours a day.

What is time poverty, and why is it so common today?
Suggest your own ways to tide over this problem.


Time poverty

Introduction

What: insufficient time to meet or manage the affairs of daily life.
Or run short of time. This is both a personal and a social issue.Many reasons why it is common today

Today it is common
Fast paced life.
Rising cost of living
Multiple careers
Time and its rising monetary value
Poor time management skills.

Yesterday

Life was less complicated and demanding
Cost of living was not this high
Working environments were part of life
Limited opportunities and ambition

Suggestions:
Promote: follow: discourage:

Work life balance
Multi-tasking ability: Avoid procrastination.
Better time-management skills: prioritizing: sticking to time
Profession is part of life not the other way round.
Organizing, managing and minimizing time waste.

Conclude:

Time is beyond our control
Time does not wait
It is manageable if we are wiser
Time poverty is a personal and social development.
Jayp

mobile density table and model answer. ielts

The table is about mobile, landline, internet and laptop density
years
Mobiles
Landline
Internet
Laptops
2000
63
70
34
11
2002
67
65
39
31
2004
74
61
32
33
2006
89
59
45
39
2008
95
36
68
45

The table presents percentage-wise data on mobile, landline, internet and laptop density among the nuclear families living in a metropolitan city for five alternate years starting from 2000.

In 2000, 63% families had mobiles phones, and this figure kept on increasing over the years, and it was 67 and 74% in 2002 and 2004. During 2004-2006, mobile density recorded the highest with 89%, followed by 95% in 2008. In we compare these figures with landline, it can be seen that its density kept on reducing. It was 70% in 2000, and it got reduced to 36% in 2008. The biggest fall, 23%, was reported in 2006-2008.

Regarding internet, it was one of increase throughout the period. It was 34% in 2000 and it got doubled in 2008, (68%) but with a slight fall in the year 2004. And finally laptop density recorded very high percentages every alternate year. It was merely 11% in 2000, and it went up more than four times in 2008; 45%. The biggest surge was in 2000-2002 period, from 11% to 31%. It is almost three times increase.

When the density of mobile, internet and laptop kept on increasing, the landline had a downward trend over the years. 190 words



Follow the language used and apply it when you get similar data.
jaypeescopies@yahoo.com. Type in: vaatupura on google, or on search slot at: www.merinews.com

write four introductions to these questions.

1. Some people say that shopping festivals and similar promotional activities should be banned as they do great harm the society and environment. Some others say shopping festivals bring in a lot of benefits to the society.

· How do shopping festivals harm the society?
· Do you think they bring in some benefits? If yes, what are they?



2. Manufacturers, who produce products that generate non-degradable waste, should be asked to pay waste management tax.

· How far do you agree or disagree with this idea?



3. Consumerism become the order of the day and it has many advantages and disadvantages.

· What are the major ones?



4. Old age homes and child care facilities, which were once common in rich nations, are coming up in poor nations, too.

· What are the factors that lead to this?
· Do you think it is a positive development?

enght essay questions for ielts exams

1. As a result of the developments generated by globalization, many societies around the world are reported to be enjoying better quality of life. Still the distance between the rich and poor is increasing?

What do you think are the reasons for this divide?

2. Though globalization has brought in enormous opportunities in the society, a bigger section of the society is still suffering from unemployment?

Why is it so?

3. The private sector organizations are recruiting great number of fresh candidates from the campus itself through direct interviews?

What advantages do these recruiters enjoy?


4. Studies show that ground water levels around the world are falling alarmingly, and people are facing acute water shortage over the years.

What do you think are the causes for these falling water levels?


5. The elderly population is suffering from many more problems today than what the elderly in the past suffered.

· Why is it so? And what are the major problems they suffer from?

6. Some youngsters wait for years to get their dream job, and some others take up whatever the opportunity that comes up right after their studies.

What advantages do they both enjoy?

7. Some companies recruit experienced candidates, and some are going for fresh candidates.

What advantages does a company enjoy when it recruits experienced hands?

8. Educating the female is much better than educating a male child because when educated females become mothers, they will make their whole family educated?
How far is this true in your personal point of view? Prove your points.

Write introduction, no less than forty words, to any four of the above questions.
Jaypee. 30/10/08

educating the young whose responsibility. an ielts essay frame

Educating the young
Family’s job or state’s job

Introduction
Educating the young is of paramount importance.
Education is a social institution involving huge infrastructure and investment and planning. It is a huge responsibility shared by all.

First paragraph

As a matter of fact, every family has the primary responsibility.
Children need to get education of their choice
Parents alone can choose the right school and course
Every student is different the same way every family is.
The primary beneficiary is the family. Society and state follow

Second paragraph
jayp
On the other hand, the State too should share the job.
Future of the state is the hands of the young.
Educated generation is the wealth of the nation.
So ensuring education is the constitutional job of the Govt. too.
Educating a generation is a huge job involving:
finance, infrastructure, planning, curriculum formation, implementation.

To conclude

It is right to conclude that:
It is the collective obligation of the families and the State
Not all families are able to educate their children.
So, the state should ensure enough facilities:
Better standard of living: healthylearning atmosphere etc.

investing education a skeleton ielts essay

Some people say that investing in healthcare and education is much more importance than investing in industries, research and development. Some others hold a view the other way round.

Which view do you advocate, and why? Prove your points with examples.


Introductory phrases
· There is room for controversy
· Different people have different views on this.
· People differ in their opinion on this.
· There will be difference in opinion on this.
More important: Education and health
Or research and development.
· They are equally important.

First paragraph
Why equally important:

· Healthy population is the wealth of the nation
· Quality manpower is the strength of the nation.
· Poor health and poor education will spoil the nation.
Example:
Second paragraph

· Everything is based on these:
· Including industries, research and development.
· No industry, research and development is possible.
Example:
· It is crucial that they need to be treated equally.


Concluding phrases
· They are mutually contributory
· We cannot isolate one from the other
· It is foolish to separate them.
· It is good to be having a balanced approach.
2/12/08

Some people say that investing in healthcare and education is as important as investing in industries and infrastructure development.

How far do you agree or disagree with this statement?

essay and graph table questions ielts

1.Many people say that the advent of Television has diminished the importance of Newspaper as a means of information and entertainment.

· Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

The table is about mobile, landline, internet and laptop density (percentage wise) among the nuclear families of a metropolitan city for five alternate years starting from 2000..


years
Mobiles
Landline
Internet
Laptops
2000
63
70
34
11
2002
67
65
39
31
2004
74
61
32
33
2006
89
59
45
39
2008
95
36
68
45


2. Poor nations become poorer because they depend too much on foreign products and services promoted by rich nations, and this consumer tendency, in turn, makes the rich nations richer.· How far is this true in your state/country?
3. These days, certain disease conditions, which are normally found among the older population, are being diagnosed in children and teenagers.

What do you think are the causes and effects of this?

Jaypees 29/1008




Taking medicine without prescription is a common treatment practice followed more by people in the developing nations than by those in the developed nations.

· Why is this difference in poor and rich nations?
· What effects does it have on the people in general?
3/11/08. I and II batch

Some people say modern communication tools do many more harm than good. Some others say the problem is not with the tools but with the way we use it.

How far do you agree or disagree with these statements?

Some say educating the younger generation is the primary responsibility of the family whereas some others are of opinion that it is the constitutional obligation of the State.

Which view point do you share? And why?


Jaypee/5/11/08
Telephone density among the families staying in a 100 unit apartment building. Figures are in percentage

Years
Mobiles
2 mobiles
Landlines
No landline
2001
34
11
80
20
2002
38
16
70
30
2003
21
22
51
49
2005
34
37
31
69
2005
69
67
20
0



Gender based discrimination is the major reason why many third world nations around the world still remain poor in achievements and growth.

How far is this true in your opinion? Prove you point with examples. jaypee



Many people these days are found to be suffering from what the social scientists call, time poverty. But it is a fact that everybody has 24 hours a day.

· What is time poverty, and why is it so common today?
· Suggest your own ways to tide over this problem.

Many young professionals are found to be changing their career much more frequently today than before, and as a result they change their place of residence too.

What advantages and disadvantages do they enjoy when they switch careers and place of residence?









1. Children in the third world nations are reported to be suffering from much exploitation compared to the children in the rich nations.

· Why is this disparity very common today?
· What all ways children get exploited today?


2. Right schooling is corner stone of success in everyone’s life.

· How far is this true in your point of view?
· Do you think there are some other factors that help one succeed? If yes, what are they?


3. Change in any society is decided more by the people’s attitude towards change than by any other agencies like law and order, justice system and administration.

· Do you agree or disagree with this statement?


4. Some poor nations are investing hugely on space explorations and researches when they have millions of people suffering from poverty, lack of education and medical care.

· Do you think it is a good idea to do so?
· What suggestions can you make to reduce peoples’ problems? Jaype.11.10. 14.11.08
It is generally known that the world has all the resources to keep the whole population fed. Still a great number of people in different parts of the world are found to be starving.

· What do you think are the reasons?
· Make a few suggestions to make some improvements?


When it is believed that science helps people greatly, there is another view that science is doing great damage to humanity and the environment.

· What view do you support and why?

Jaypees.2.30. 14.11.08



Globalization brings in enormous changes to the society; both good and bad.

· What are the major changes you find in your society?
· How do some changes harm the society?









Theatre goers and their major irritants during the show

The horizontal bar chart made available presents the results of a poll conducted on threatre-goers to find out what disturbs them during the show. It is obvious that major irritants are rustling sweet papers, coughing arriving late and sneezing.

To begin with, 90% theater goers opine that rustling sweepers annoys them most followed by coughing and arriving late. Around 80% people have the same feeling. Whispering is reported to be an inconvenience for about 60%. When it comes to sneezing, bleeps and mobile phones, 50 to 60 percent people find them irritating.

Snoring is found to be troubling 30% theater goers. So is the case with the problems caused by tall-people. The figures of those who get disturbed by flash photography, big hairdos and armrest hogging stand between 20 and 30.

Overall, armrest-hogging is the least commonly felt annoyance whereas rustling sweet papers is the most common one. They are followed by coughing, arriving late and whispering. 155 words

Jayp. 18.11.08


Some people argue that multi-national companies operating in poor nations reap huge profits; so they have to share their profit for the betterment of these nations.

· How far do you agree or disagree with this statement?
· In what all ways MNCs can help a poor nations?

openings for ad dis ad questions in ielts

Advantage/disadvantage:

I

Generally speaking,
In general, there is a view that
As a matter of fact, now the common trend is that
The world we are living in is
As we are in a age of technological revolutions
As the time is one of opportunities and changes


II
However, interestingly, obviously,
There are many advantages: primarily: for example.
Secondly, to prove this point……..
And thirdly, there is a ………are some,……
This can be seen in…..this can be made clear by……..there examples


III

When it comes to disadvantages, their number is rather small/big.
First of all it is…………………….This can be seen in…….
Second disadvantage is ………………..this is more common today compared to the first. And finally there are a few minor ones. Like…..

IV

The above particulars make it right to conclude that
Therefore it may be concluded that
Advantages are more than disadvantages are more than
It is hard to claim that one is more advantageous or…
It is easy to strike a balance if we are wise enough

puhblic private sector ads and dis ads essay

Many young professionals are found to be changing their career much more frequently today than before, and as a result they change their place of residence too.

What advantages and disadvantages do they enjoy when they switch careers and place of residence?

When it comes to one’s career,
different people have different likes and dislikes.
Some prefer private
Some prefer public.
They have reasons too as there are ads and disads for both.

Private
Major
Ads Dis ads.
Huge salary and perks No job security
Great growth prospects No pension. Dependant benefit
Sophisticated environment Health risks, limited leaves
New challenges and rewards Pressures and stress
Needs many skillsets
Public
Ads Dis ads

Job security for life No change: boredom
Service award and Pension Frequent transfers
Social status and value Social responsibility
Family gets medical cover Poor promotion
Free environ: enough leaves Limited income

Conclude
The choice is individual
Depends on one’s attitude
Success in ones career is attitudinal
So, hard to say one is better than the other.

Jayp.12.12 pm. 11/11/08

changing careers an essay skeleton for ielts

Many young professionals are found to be changing their career much more frequently today than before, and as a result they change their place of residence too.

What advantages and disadvantages do they enjoy when they switch careers and place of residence?

Intro:

Professionals are living in a world of opportunities:
These opportunities are mostly from private sector.
Chance for growth is very high, and job satisfaction is relative
Ambitious professionals switch their career
Change is taking place much faster.


Career advantages and disadvantages

The enjoy many:
Better pay packages Rising cost of living
Better working environment Takes a little time every time to adjust
Opportunity to learn new things A Regular career may be difficult
Experience change and challenges. But more responsibilities


Change of residence advantages and disadvantages.

Young professions get many advantages and disadvantages:

Better quality life in a different place Packing and moving
New neighbours, new social life Adjusting with a new set up
Frequent changes make them smarter it’s hard to have regular social life


Conclude:
Change is always good.
Opportunities are challenges,
Living a different life, and doing a different job is interesting.
It is more advantageous. jaypee

Careeer change an essay for ielts

Some people say that shifting careers frequently is an opportunity to grow differently, whereas some others say it creates so many difficulties to a person.

What advantages people enjoy when they change their career frequently?
Why is frequent shift in careers very common today?


In the past, people were giving much importance to job security. But today, the situation has changed and people think that job satisfaction is more important than job security. So, the people are changing their careers frequently, especially youngsters. They argue that change is an opportunity to learn and grow differently. This essay discusses the benefits that people enjoy out this and the reasons for the same. 65 words.

There are so many advantages for this frequent shift in careers. Firstly, change itself is a learning experience. Each individual can learn about new working methods and new technologies. Secondly, better opportunities lead to better pay packs. In today’s world money is supreme. So, people will go for high paying jobs. Thirdly, everybody wants to stay in tough with the emerging trends. As we are living in a fast changing world, there is always change in people’s professional attitude. For example, before some ten years, people gave importance to medical field, but now it is IT and management. 95 words.

If we investigate the reasons for its prevalence today, we can see that the presence of global organizations in the third world nations is very high, and they compete each other for hiring productive employees. This can make employees leave one organization and go for another. Another reason is that today’s youngsters are highly ambitious and they always look for betterment in their career and life. This is more common when the cost of living rises much faster than ever before. 80 words

In conclusion, it is right to say that frequent career change is more common today, and it is contributed my many factors such as professional, social, individual and global. And this trend is likely to continue like this as the world is always on the move and is changing. 45 words
280 words
Written by Elizabeth Baby
Preparation. 6.12.08
Type et by jaypee.

Earn while you learn. an essay skeleton for IELTS

Earn while you learn is an in-built academic activity commonly seen only in rich nations, and students are found to be enjoying a lot many advantages out of this.
What advantages do students enjoy?
Why is this practice not seen in poor nations?
A skeleton for level 2. 5.12.08.
Intro: Min. 40 words
Academic expense is increasing
Earn while learn is an excellent idea. It helps students
Today, people give more importance to multi-tasking.
Spending many years purely for academics is no good.
Student life is the right time to foster attitude in children.
Doing something is learning something.

Adv: There are many
If look at the advantages…
Students enjoy many….
It helps students in many ways.
Major ones: Min. 90 words
Supports ones studies financially.
Helps utilize time excellently.
Students can support their family.
They identify their skills, talents
They know about their strengths much early
Develops soft skills and work culture
Offers hand-on experience
Boosts their morale and makes them confident
It prepares them to face the world.
Offers them great variety in life

Not common in poor nations: Min. 90 words

Earn while you learn is serious academic activity
It involves students.
Poornations are hugely populated.
Infrastructure is poor.
Students may be exploited
Case of abuse may be there
Limited rules and regulations to safeguard children.
Private participation in schooling does not promote it
Concl: Min. 40 words
It is a brilliant idea to allow students to…
If implemented, it would help….
The advantages show that it is good…..
Earn while you learn can be implemented in poor….
We must educate the parents about the….
Total 260 words
Visit. vaatupura on google for more. visit. www.merinews.com and look for vaatupura for more articles worth pursuing for IELTS.

Shortcut to shame: any takers?

Shortcut to shame: any takers?


You may have innumerable ways to be famous. A hundred more ways are there to be infamous too. Have you ever seen someone seeking a shortcut to shame? Has anyone tried to taste shame much faster than what it normally takes to be shameful? Is not shame something worth pursuing if it is achieved through some shortcut? Questions galore. Don’t forget it.

We are living in an environment where everything has some takers. Keep any service or product or dirt or dust, filth and waste for sale, you would be unpleasantly surprised if some doesn’t turn up bargaining for the same. Say, you are keeping a used toothbrush, used by Aiswarya Rai Bachan, for sale. You will be inundated by trade enquiries. On the contrary, a pen used by Rushdie, a pair of spectacles used by Einstein, a paintbrush used by Raja Ravi Varma, or something like that would normally invite some pleasant bids for purchase. We can understand the spirit behind such bids.

On the other hand, a bitten apple, a used towel, an over used bikini and even a tooth pick, if used by some erstwhile limelight personae, would grab the enthusiasm of some crazy ones and they would go to the extent of finding eternal peace by owning these filths. Here they are not going for fame by shelling out bales of hard currency, but they are desperately out trying to be shameful via shortcuts. Their means are shortcuts, their intentions are insidious, their happiness is despicable and finally the limelight they in turn come to hog is outright purchases.

What doesn’t go here? What doesn’t sell here? What is our place not a market for? Fame is out for sale, shame is out for sale, greatness is out for sale, successes and failures are out for sale. If lethal venom is served free, we WILL queue up and gobble up a little.

We are increasingly becoming immune to many of our innate qualities like decency, dignity and shame. Our ways are short. Our deeds do not last. Our thoughts do not transcend. Our life doesn’t trendset. We are marching past everything that is hard-earned. We look for shortcuts, even to shame. Pity.

The dogging insensitivity

The dogging insensitivity
Vaatupura A Jayaprakash

Night does not fall on us these days,
We fall prey to night.
So are our thoughts,
that they do not come of us
We simply are of them.

Rain and wind and sun and moon and mist
And whatever rest we have for free
Have been here for millennia
So are they going to be.
The change is in us,
that we do not want them to be.

A way to virtue now looks vile
All good ways are but for a while.
Once they are seen and understood
We know how and when
to hoodwink the ones who come to find,
the same thing we all had once come for.

It is our religion, and our psychology
That we should venture not into sense.
It is insensitivity that we all being fed
Not to be dogged down by the opposite.
We are well off when we are cruel.
Sorry to say, not the other way round.

Alcohol and tobacco: no longer slow killers

Alcohol and tobacco: no longer slow killers
A. Jayaprakash KOVILLOOR

The medical fraternity around the world and those advocates of human welfare and fitness keep us believe that alcohol and tobacco are slow killers. This is no longer true. It is really ironical and ridiculous to be under the impression that something that keeps you live longer is called something else and something that kills you much faster is a slow killer. I do not understand why people believe that these two are slow killers.

Who in this world is interested to die a faster death than what he or she is destined to live in this sphere? Is there someone who can say that ‘I do not want to live longer in this world, so I want to die faster than I would?’ In today’s world of sophistication and comforts, there will be hardly any one who would make a wish this way.

Eventually, I am prone to ask; need there not be a little reason when these advocates make a claim of this magnitude which is likely to affect the lives of millions of people around the world and a multi-billion industry which flourishes on the same? We need to. We need to have a strict regime of terminology in place to define and brand things as they actually are.

In my opinion it is our good eating habits, healthy life style practices, encouraging and rejuvenating hobbies, our sense of humour, medical awareness and above all our will to stay away from the temptations of drugs, tobacco and alcohol are the things that make us live longer, that is, they do not allow us to die faster. They are the real slow killers. Are they not so?

Is it not true that when we do follow a good diet and healthy lifestyle, we are likely to live to be octogenarians and nonagenarians? Such people do not face faster deaths the same way the ones who take alcohol, get addicted to drugs and take on tobacco do. They do die faster.

Therefore, it is unfair to call alcohol, tobacco and their allied products as slow killers. They are fast killers, or faster killers. We have people who get killed in their thirties and forties and fifties thanks to their association with these bad habits. So long live slow killers like healthy life styles, balanced diets, timely eating habits and similar health regime.

Healthcare watchdogs and advocates of human welfare, you may please take stock and brand alcohol and tobacco as fast killers, not the other way round. I am sure it would make great changes in the way people take on these habits. Let all people die slowly and slowly and slowly, living life to the full, or taking life to the dregs. Not taking their life by drugging and drinking.

Therefore, world Tobalccoholics, beware you are on a much faster way out. And all those ones who have a little love for life, may get chronically addicted to slow killers like good food and healthy life style practices. Anymore takers for a novel addiction???

Human callousness: we need to mend our ways

Human callousness: we need to mend our ways
Vaatupura A. Jayaprakash

We all naturally claim to be beings of good reason and most of our actions are supposed to be either governed or dictated by reason or in common parlance, common sense. But it is true in most of the cases too. But if we look around, we will be able to see innumerable actions we meticulously carry out thinking that they are ineffectual and the same are not going to have any impact on others. And there are occasions in our life where we feel complacent and conclude that it is OK to be not OK, and we go o0n doing things that are not at all alright or acceptable to others. Yes, it is very difficult to do all things confirming to the expectations of others. Let us see a few activities that, in my opinion, are nothing short of chronic callousness.

· A small gutter that gets formed in front of our painted compound wall is a threat to the wall. So we callously place a huge boulder on the gutter so that the automobiles would not splash water on your wall. How many of us take time off to fill that gutter properly? Do we ever think that an unsuspecting road user is likely to lose his life thanks to this indigenous ‘road rule’? Do you not think it is callousness?
· You are held up in a traffic jam. You have the clear idea that you cannot move your vehicle unless the one in front of you moves. Still you honk your horn continuously as if the person in front of you is the reason for the block. And if possible we will nose up our vehicle to the down line and try to overpass all the held up vehicles making the whole process an unmanageable mess. We do it.
· If you are on a two-wheeler, you have no road rules. If traffic is blocked, you will take the front wheel of your two-wheeler through any narrow divide that you find in between any two vehicles ahead. The picture is clear; you have done your little share to the mess.
· Let’s come back to our homes. Imagine that you unload a tipper full of sand in front of your house, right on the public road. Instead of removing the sand dune as early as possible, we keep it protected from being washed off by barricading it with either hollow bricks or the ball like boulders that we unload for construction. They will be there prepared to fell any road user or motorist or flatten tires of any make. Do we not do it? And if the unloaded boulders and sand happen to be a little more than what is needed, we simply abandon the remaining on the road itself, as if they had been there for ages.
· You are engaged in a cleaning spree, your room, back yard and surroundings. The spree leaves you with a heap of waste degradable, non-degradable, inflammable and bursting-if-heated things. What would you do with that? We simply abandon it on the roadside. Or we pack them in a gunny bag and along with the kitchen waste, we take it to a ‘no man’s land, some public place where we not find any public. This nasty waste management is prime sign of human callousness.
· Take this example. You are in a queue. You know you are supposed to follow the person right in front of you. How many times you wouldn’t lean or leap over the shoulders of the person in front of you? You know he cannot help you. You know this behaviour of yours does not help him either to speed up the process.
· Walking up two floors takes a few seconds. And it is good to avoiding lifts and elevators for your physique. But we find it alright to wait for minutes to get the lift to the third, second and even first floor.
· Shell we take a look at the way when we walk on the road? Roads are meant for pedestrians. It was true. But today, roads are meant for automobiles too. You blow your horn one or two times when you see a buffalo on the road, it will give you way. On the other hand, you sound your horn a hundred times seeing a man on the move; sorry you have to manage your way ahead on your own.
· You may have seen mothers taking their kids for a walk or letting the baby walk. Most probably these mothers let the baby walk on the tar and the mother would walk through the roadside. The kid with spring like behaviour is a potential threat to any road user. They skip or slip off their parent’s hands and fall prey to speeding vehicles. Have you not seen this callousness of mothers?
· Haven’t you seen cyclists taking the right side? Two wheelers overtake on the left. Auto-rickshaws plying crammed with scores of kids and their bulging school bags suspended all over the upholstery? And tell me what haven’t you seen? Still, do you not do it at times?

The above said are a few of our civilized callousness. Using mobiles while driving and riding two wheelers, indiscriminately eating things that kill us, making the world much more noisy instead of making it peaceful when you find some happiness in your life. Shouting, whistling, hauling, bursting crackers and so goes that list. Racing two wheelers much faster than the machine can do and ramming against speeding trucks, alter that two wheeler with all the noise making devices to make the people in the vicinity suffer from heart attacks, channeling our effluents and green water to the surroundings thereby threatening the neighbours and the society with communicable and water bourn diseases; and the list is endless.

We all need to be thinking minimum two times before we do any one of the above-mentioned callousness which we do presuming that they are not harmful, but they actually are. Because these behaviours have claimed many lives, made many crippled and a lot more better-dead-than-living. Shall we make amends in the ways we behave? For good of course.

Love at the times of life

Love at the times of life
Vaatupura A. Jayaprakash

By way of definition, it has been hard for people of all ages to come up with a complete one for love. It is one for one and another for another. Parents to their children, husband to wife, wife to husband, brother to sister and sister to brother, teacher to student, student to teacher, a friend to another and god to his devotees, devotees to their idols; and so goes the dimensions of love. And it is the only force that life has got to deal with whatever dimensions it takes in its course. It is so ubiquitous in the sense that it is found even in the severest of adversities and in the minds of the cruelest of adversaries, to be precise.

However, by way of definition, we have failed to come to a conclusion on what love actually is. This failure could be either our strength or our weakness. The interesting thing about this is that love is able to make us strong when we are weak, and it is at the same time able to make us weak when we are strong. It binds us together when we are at odds. It even makes us touch the extremes of our potential. It enables us to salvage ourselves from all depths. And there are instances to prove the fact that love is able to bring back people from the brinks of death, abysses of despair and deluge of utter doom.

Unfortunately, it is this same love or one or many of its dimensions that make people kill their fellow beings. A good number of murders are committed out of love; love for money, love for blood, love for pleasure, love for lust, love for dignity, status, social value, and there are murders committed just out of the love for seeing people suffer and die. If we take a cursory glance at the reasons for murders, we may understand that love down human history has killed much more than what hate, animosity or disputes have killed. It is the love for one’s country that makes a warrior kill and again it is the love for one’s nation that makes many soldiers face bullets with their bare breasts.

Jesus was a victim of love. It was his love for his Master or his disciples. Judas was a victim of love. Satan was a victim of love. God himself was, and so were Adam and Eve. And all their descendants are but the same. Father, mother, brother, sister, friends and foes, neighbours, both good and bad, lovers, male and female; and who else does not come under this labyrinthine fabrics of love that lie encompassing the whole cosmos?

Love, if thou art so unfathomable in these fleeting times of life, I would love to dwell deep in you so to know yet another dimension of your visage. It is in the prayers that Gods live, not in their answers. So is love. It is in its manifestations that love lives, not in its definitions. At these turbulent times of love, it is better to fear love than to fathom it.

The World E Day: Are we going to Pick Right?

The World E Day: Are we going to Pick Right?

Are you going to seriously pick something right to save the environment you live in? If yes, please start doing it from May 5, for it is the World Environment Day. All the national debates, seminars, symposiums and even the periodic ritualistic intentional summits on environmental protection like the last Bali conference notwithstanding, the real change is going to take place only when we think in terms of proactive lifestyle picks aimed at either saving the already harmed environment we live in or not harming it anymore in anyway.

It’s all fine to be concerned about the environment. But all the concerns get their due meaning only when they are translated into responsible actions that every thinking individual is capable of performing. However, our very attitude towards environment is more of words than of deeds. We hardly do anything on this line unless the so called environmental hazards start affecting our personal lives, the lives that flourish among the four cozy walls of our homes, to be precise, in our bed rooms. We claim that we are educated, civilized and advanced. Though it won’t be too far when we happen to have such a hazardous environmental scenario, we individually do precious little to save the planet.

On this day, May 5, let’s all reiterate that everyone is responsible for whatever environmental impacts we are suffering from and it is we who are going do our due shares so as to cut down on environmentally unfriendly deeds. What shall we do individually to Pick Right?

1. Shall we learn to live with smaller families and minimal needs and comforts? It pays to be taking what one actually needs from the environment. This will help the nature maintain its recycling mechanism in tact so that the whole world will be able to sustain whatever number of beings that may come to occupy in it in all the ages to come. We are able to do something towards this, I am sure.

2. It is the well being of the world outside that is actually going to decide the well being of our world inside our homes. Therefore, never ever spoil, litter or deface the environment thinking that, oh, it is some else’s issue. If you think so, please remember that you are a mere someone to every other person you see outside your family. So, think inclusively. Please ensure that you help the society process the wastes of all types that get generated in your homes. Do not discard gunny bagsful of your wastes on the wayside. It is hazardous to be so uncouth.

3. Buy things that come with very little wastes attached. Go natural for your personal care needs. It is the personal care goods that leave the biggest chunk of waste in our indoors. Tubes, sachets, containers, covers, packets and their inlays and consoles are unmanageable. They come for a price and they come here to stay. So please adopt responsible and eco-friendly shopping practices.

4. Meanwhile, please keep a shopping bag with you. It would discourage the most hazardous plastic carry bags. Don’t buy things that harm your well being. Take a decision today that you would never buy things that come with freebees. They are threats to environment. In today’s commercialized world order, you get much less than what you pay for. There is nothing called a free meal. No manufacturer is idiotic enough to offer you things for free. So, responsible shopping is more environmental. Make good buys, and say good bye to all those things that the market forces thrust upon you. They may force you to buy. But you need not force them to sell.

5. How about our eating habits? Do you know one thing that our ineffectual tongue does greater harm to our environment than all the industrial exhaust pipes and chimneys do. In order to satiate the taste buds, we go for exotic dishes and junk food. They are hazardous not only to our health but to your natural wealth also. You eat much more than what your anatomy needs. It creates imbalance in the supply demand chain. As you demand more, the nature and manufacturers have to produce more. More production leads to environmental concerns of various types. Producing more by spending too much raw material, exerting undue pressure on the power grid, burning a lot of fuel in transport, emitting a lot of gases and fumes in the process of production and transport, and so goes the list of environmental disorders you make out of your efforts to satisfy your taste buds. So it is a better idea to eat to be fit and be fit to be eating all life long. It is not only environment friendly, it is you-and-your-family-friendly also. Go for home-mades and thus go green. Glass bottles, ceramic cups, containers and plates are much better than their disposable counterparts.

6. When it comes to our mobility, what if we walk short distances? And for moderate distances let’s have a bicycle ride, and for family trips we may go for our cars or two wheelers. What if make long distance journeys in buses, stage carriers, trains and such modes of mass mobility! It is fun travelling together. It is great fun when you travel with strangers or people who you have no knowledge of before. Doing so, you are not burning petrol or diesel for your selfish travel comforts, your vehicle does not add to the traffic congestion and the pollution thereof, you do not face death and deformity on the way in the form of accidents, and finally your wallet will have regular breathers. Walking, the healthiest of human actions, is mentally and environmentally relaxing. Agreed!

7. Luxuries like palatial homes, their exotic interiors and power supported appliances and light fittings, costly mobiles, automobiles and similar cosmetic social value parameters, our insatiable greed and ever increasing glut for more, our chronic obsession with what is in store for us and finally our uncouth attitude and criminal indifference towards whatever is not ours are much more hazardous to the environment than all those parochial claims and petty counter claims the developing and the developed nations exchange at international environmental forums and climate summits.

8. Please remember, it is the above said human behaviour that necessitates this life threatening environmental uncertainty. All claims on carbon emission, green cover loss, temperature rise, ozone depletion, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, climate change and the like are results of the same human behaviour. So it is time we all came to the picture, an all encompassing frame.

If we all could live sustainable and mutually depending lives, the environment we live in will be a much better place in the coming days too. So, on this May 5th, we may take a resolve that our coming days are more environmentally responsible days, and every one of us stay bound to do our shares not to harm the surroundings any more, no matter whether the Bali Climate Summit is rejected by the US, or the Kyoto Protocol is a farce for some nations or the developing countries are bearing the brunt of global environmental impacts necessitated be developed countries. The onus lies in every one of us.


Please act, not react. And we all may pleasantly come to understand in the long run that every responsible action is a reaction and every such action will make many a people react in more ways than one. Will this May 5 mark the beginning of such a responsible behavior from you and me and all around us? Please say, yes. Yes, from this May 5 onwards, I repeat, right from this May 5 onwards, I am going to Pick Right lifestyle choices.

Road safety at the times of school opening

Road safety at the times of school opening
A Jayaprakash Kovilloor

Yet another academic year is around the corner, and as usual, so is south west monsoon. Our kids are going out again to pursue their next levels and a great number of toddlers are going to attend schools for the first time. Their fears and the apprehensions of their parents are not unfounded because they are going to have tough times ahead when they think about the roads and the transport infrastructure these kids are going to depend upon.

Have we done the ground work to accommodate the fresh school goers along with the regulars this time at least? We have the notorious tendency to act upon something only when we taste the bitter aftermath of a tragedy. Our kids are going to face a lot of difficulties on the roads and we need to do lot many things to avert eventualities. What shall we do to ensure a smooth ride to our children to school?

· Parents have to be strict in not cramming their kids in auto rikshaws and similar precarious modes of transports.
· When private bus operators are found to be skipping bus stops, the responsible citizens should raise their voice against it.
· If the same is found repeated, the best thing the elders could do is to boycott such buses on a regular basis. We have to tell them, if they fail to be considerate with our kids, they are not going to get passengers.
· The state owned transport corporation may run enough buses during peak hours, say between eight and ten and three and five.
· The staff of these buses need to be given strict instruction to take maximum number of children and take them safely to their destinations.
· Those nasty road abusers need to be nabbed and brought to book, and their licensed cancelled outright.
· Heavy vehicles like those notorious killer tippers need to be banned from roads during peak hours.
· Traffic officials may ensure that traffic is moving smoothly. They may deploy enough staff at strategic places so that drivers, pedestrians and passengers will enjoy smooth flow.
· All electric powered traffic signals should to serviced and kept in good condition because monsoon is around and repair work may not be possible once it is raining.
· All major bus bays need to be fitted with quequeing facilities so that children can queue up to their buses and thus we may avoid stop-and-run accidents. We have plenty of such stories to our credit.
· All school authorities who own their fleet of buses have to train their drivers and cleaners so that children will get better movement to and fro.
· The telephone service providers who periodically dig drenches and canals by the roads should be asked to do their job responsibly.
· All private vehicles owners may take time off to take their vehicles to the work shop and have a check up and fix those sensitive spots like brakes, tires, wipers, horn, indicators and head lights.
· School authorities may deploy a few teachers in front of the school before and after the school hours to ensure that their children cross the road safely.
· School children should not be allowed to take two wheelers in the school compound.
· Parents may be given instructions not to let their kids travel by bikes.
· Bicycling to school is a good idea, but students need to give strict instructions to follow all traffic rules.
· School children should not be allowed to travel pinion on bicycles, and cycling to school in groups, at times, is dangerous.
· And parents who take their kids to school on their way to office must remember one thing. When they take two kids and their bags and baggage along, they are taking their whole life with them. Be careful and do not cram your two wheeler with more than it can afford.
· And parents, please don’t be over ambitious with your kids. Let them travel freely, let them play out, let them climb, run, go under sun and get wet during rains. This will do them good.
· The notorious school bags that include, Tiffin box(es), water bottle, even oxygen cylinders are a big problem to growing kids. Let these bags be small and handy enough to carry.
· Children may be given the freedom to walk up to their school if the same is located nearby say a few kilometers away. A street conscious student will grow healthier than comfort-conscious one.
· And finally we the grown up ones will have to (man)handle those eve teasers and female mongers who pry on growing school girls.
· Female police officer can be deployed in buses and bus bays and they may be given enough leeway to handle such menaces with iron hands.
· Political leaders and the so-called social reformers need to stay off the cases registered against traffic offenders.
· The police need to be pupil-friendly and public servants, and school children should feel free to approach them whenever their service is needed.
· The private bus operators who grease the hands of the police must understand one thing that they are playing with the lives of innocent kids and the great expectations of their parents.
· And finally, even if everything is said and one, the department of health need to stay prepared to manage any eventuality that may occur, of course, accidentally.
· All road users must remain calm and decent on the road and when they pass by a school, please sound horn, slow down and show respect to road using kids.

If we can do our due shares in this direction, a lot many accidents could be avoided and our children will enjoy better schooling this time. The education department is doing everything possible to keep the confidence level of kids at new highs at every new result, and it is the responsibility of the ministry too to make things work in such a way that this academic year is going to be free from accidents and accident related traumas.

The Parent Teachers Association, Teachers Assocations, students’ wings of political parties and all those ones who have a boy or girl studying somewhere need to be concerned about the well being of all the kids on the road.

THE media and fake advertisements: Surveillance needed

A. Jayaprakash. Kovilloor

Newspapers and similar press mediums are overflowing with advertisements offering higher education opportunities. Both the parents and their children are equally confused about the authenticity of the claims these ads make when it comes to a crucial decision making; say, what is after Plus two, what is after SSLC or after graduation for that matter. This is much more confusing today than at any time of the year, for this is the time when students pass out and go for higher studies.

It is a fact that all media are by-products of advertisements, and we cannot expect a press organization to offer us 25/30 pages for three or four rupees on a daily basis. So is the case with electronic media. We get some 100 channels on 24/7 basis and we pay a hundred or a little more for these channels. The major chunk of press revenue comes from column centimeters and commercial seconds split out in various time slots. These centimeters and air times are meticulously calculated and billed and finally the public is left with the option ‘believe it or not’, you have everything plattered out on a daily basis.

A great number of ads on higher education that appear in today’s Dailies make false claims and sport fake recognitions, and these institutions have their own networks all over the nation to entice unsuspecting parents and their kids to their nets. And once they are in, it is going to be a matter of mercy of institutions not the merit of the candidate that is going to decide the future.

Many parents blindly believe and follow the instructions given by these ads and they come to know of the pitfalls only when their wards complete a few semesters of their studies. This is dangerous, and there needs to be surveillance mechanism in place to monitor and authenticate the operations of these institutions and there should be provisions in the law to bring these culprits to book who pray on the future of the younger generation and the hopes of their parents.

The fourth Estate, Press, has a crucial role to play. When an ad enquiry reaches its office or its franchisee office, there needs to be a system in place to verify the credentials of these institutions and ascertain that the claims made in the ad are genuine and the recognition is valid. Once an institution is found fabricating or providing misleading leads to parents and students, the issue needs to directed to the academia and education authorizes like State Board of Studies, Medical Council, AICTE, UGC or such bodies and alert them of these fakes. This would enable them to publish the list of such fake-listed institutions so that the general public would not get cheated. In the meantime, they may take time off to list out those institutions and courses that are authentic and publish those lists at certain intervals every year.

The most powerful democratic tool, press, can do a great job in this direction and if this practice is continued for some time, there would be marked fall in the number of such institutes and higher studies conglomerates in the future. Since newspaper is taken as an authentic platform, people will take this information too, i.e. the list of fakes, in the same attitude and they will shun such organizations.

That these ads keep the press organizations survive does not make the latter accept whatever rubbish they bring out to be published. The Press has to have a say in finding out the credibility of the ads, though it is not always possible, it is worthwhile doing it at a time when hundreds of thousands of students pass out and go for higher studies.

The Press must act. The public must stand with the Press when one such fake case is brought to light thanks to the intervention of the press. The people should shun these institutions and let them die their normal deaths out of neglect and rejection.

What is Bush good for?

What is Bush good for?
A. Jayaprakash Kovilloor
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For all the deeds of Bush, the world community would record in their respective histories that there was an American president who had been good, not at keeping the world peaceful but ensuring the rest of the world in pieces and geopolitical regions.

THOUGH THE world is not worried much about its continued existence, thanks to the interference of an ordinary mortal like George Bush, it is a good idea to ask an individual question to each one of us – what is Bush good for? The question may sound simple enough, but answering the question may demand a little sense of humour and a tinge of cynicism.

The former requirement, sense of humour, is what the world comes to experience as and when Bush makes a statement on international affairs, and the second requirement, cynicism, is what goes into the making of such comments. See some of his comments and suggestions on international affairs.

“The US would help the oil giant Saudi Arabia to protect its oil reserves.” What does the world understand when it listens to such a comment? A comment is made by whom? And what is he commenting on? When was he making the comment? Where does price of oil per barrel stand in the international market?

“We are happy to assist Saudi Arabia to generate nuclear energy.” What does Saudi Arabia need more than this? Are not the Arabs powerful enough now to dictate oil terms with the rest of the world? They are. Still as Bush needs to be good for the world, he is offering a little help to the ’king’.

When it is of Palestine, Bush cannot resist making a comment that ’independent statehood is what is needed to keep peace in this part of the world’. Since the rest of the world is left with lasting peace, thanks to Bush incorporated, and as Iran is staying in where it has always been, now it is time and the same is ripe for Palestine and then Egypt. Again Bush is becoming of some good to the world order.

Closely following the comment that it is Indian middle-class that is eating away the due food shares of the rest of the world, he had come up with yet another comment on Kashmir the other day. “It is time India and Pakistan found a solution to Kashmir issue.” Are we not going to respond to that comment? A brokerage from America would work wonders in bringing peace in the borders.

His West Asian regional tour focussing on peace comes to close this week, he would have made himself good to a lot of communities around the world, and by the time he leaves office not very soon, the world community would, including those bereaved families of thousands of American marines who got killed around the world, record in their respective histories that there was a president in America who had been good, not at keeping the world peaceful but ensuring the rest of the world in pieces and geopolitical regions.

And this President had had the rarest reputation of bringing disrepute not only to the US but to the rest of the world too. What, an ordinary mortal like Bush, is good for after all? Good for not a good thing!

Managing water: the domestic route

Both social scientists and environmentalist warn that there is going to be war for water in the future, and the available water resources are unable to be sustaining life in this planet if the attitude of the whole world does not change for good. That we have enough water gives us the false impression that we can waste water or use water the way we like. But it is not the real case when water is taken in a holistic perspective. Yes, the water security an individual currently enjoys gives him/her a notion that the water s/he has is his/her water and nobody has any claim over it and no one can question the way s/he utilizes the water.

Unfortunately, that is not the case. Whenever there is water shortage, the same individuals who had had the luxury of enjoying water to their full for long would turn to the society and government and demand for alternative measures. They may claim that it is the responsibility of the state to supply its populace with enough water. But we hardly think of how precious each drop of water we waste in innumerable indigenous ways in our homes. We have no water management policy in our families. I think we all need to have a water culture to be able to lead a water-secure life today and tomorrow.

What are we doing towards this on the contrary?

· Good water habit, like any other good habit, begins at home. Our kids are not taught to pick up that habit.
· Unfortunately, unlike in the past, now we do not have separate water for washing purposes and drinking. We have one source and we use that source for everything: from washing our cars and carpets to drinking, bathing and flushing the toilets.
· How many of us know that when we flush our toilet once, minimum six to ten litters of drinking water goes down the drain.
· When we do our dishes, we keep the tap running so that we can wash and drain at the same time. It takes four to five times more water than what is actually needed.
· When we do our teeth, we keep the water tap on so that we can use it in between; the time we start brushing and the time we spit out the last spray of water. We could save one to two litters of water if we could use a mug or container at the time brushing.
· Our toilets are no longer a places for ‘that thing’ alone. They are now glamourooms where the hindwares we use consume ten times more water than required.
· Our luxury takes lusty connotations and dimensions and we spend much of our time in our glamourooms, indulging in nobody knows what.
· Taking bath is an indulgence and the shower does not have any idea how much water, both cold and hot, it should spray down on us. And the person takes bath gets into a frenzy of freshness at the cost of some hundred litres of water.
· Our wells near our homes, water tanks under ground and up above, are supposed to be full all day long. The electric pumps attached to these are doing more harm than good to our water sources.
· If people are made to draw water manually, their interest in spending hours in the bathroom will die out in a few baths. We need to get a minimum five hours’ power outage to understand this.
· When it comes to washing clothes, we do it with detergents that form into buckets and buckets and the amount of water needed to wash out this soap and suds could be better managed if we use washing cakes and do it manually.
· Cleanliness is next to godliness. But it need not be at the cost of life. One can be godly only if one lives a healthy life. Wasting water excessively for personal cleanliness need to be controlled. Cleanliness need not be an obsession.
· Personal possessions like cars and motor bikes need to be kept neat and tidy. The frequency of their washing increases according to the availability of time and water. If these isn’t enough water, we are happy to drive out our car with some dirt and grit on it.
· Going to a service center and washing the car once in while will do to keep a car in good stead. Washing it with drinking water every other day is an obsession.
· Raising garden of flowers or vegetables is good idea. The water used for watering the garden need not be drinking water. The water we spend for washing vegetable, rice, fruits and similar edibles could be reused for gardening.
· And when we raise concrete edifices, let there be a little open space around so that a little rain would seep down our own soil. How many of us do it? We marble the whole area and let the rain water go its way back to the rivers and seas.

Unless we make amends in the way we look at this precious natural resource, we will come to have water related tussles, both internal and international, in the coming days. We need to inculcate in our kids a healthy water culture so that their future will be water secure and the coming generation will live their life drinking enough water at least, not taking three square meals a day.

As educated, informed individuals, we all have a moral responsibility to sustain the available resources and ensure that every drop of water we spend is well spent. The rivers and similar public water reserves need to be kept neat and healthy, and they need to be declared pristine properties of humanity to be maintained the same way by every one who comes to harvest its benefits. The MNCs that flourish on aerated beverages and bottled water need to be kept off the bay. They are terminators of life.

The time for paid email ids has come

The time for paid email ids has come

LOOKING AT the way people take email services these days, I think it is a good idea to impose a small fee on all the email ID holders. Such a move will create ripples in the net operated software world of today. This is more so when it comes to the individuals having multiple email IDs. In this virtual digital place, or cyberspace, everyone comes to have their own electronic presence and the same is being uploaded and downloaded innumerable times in one’s lifetime and the process is endless.

Unfortunately, this virtual communication network is being widely misused more by email users than by anyone. Net, as a free space, is free for all. Anyone can get in and out of it without an email ID. Many email ID holders use their address just to keep themselves connected with the rest of the world. But the number of people, who exploit this communication platform for asocial purposes, is increasing by the day and email platforms are becoming breeding grounds for all sorts of crimes, threats and challenges.

Of course, there is a system in place to track and locate the ID holders and their credentials, but the time and effort involved in this could be saved if we could make this service a paid one. Or there could be a separate digital platform for all those, who are ready to pay a subscription so that they will be viewed by the service providers as promoters and they could be given special services. The one, that could be called space-for-all Netscape, can be a platform with minimum facilities.

These two sets of net users will utilise their individual spaces according to their needs. When a free user finds that a paid subscription is going to give him a little extra edge on services, more and more people will subscribe to it. The service providers, on their part, can earmark a share of the subscription money for development activities in their operational areas.

Wiser use of the net will make it a much more freer space without junks and those unwanted data loads that convert our inboxes into trash cans and dustbins. Managing unwanted mail takes a lot of time and the service providers do not seem to be giving any serious privacy policy to their address holders. Emails get leaked to unwanted people, who use it to send in mails of all sorts. Further, managing the stuff is a kind of forced labour. So, it is high time that we change our attitude towards emailing, and a small fee for getting a strictly personalised email ID would look attractive to many discerning netizens.