Contribute to the success of democracy: KS Eshwarappa
Shivamogga : Press Day-2018
Shivamogga, July 1: Local MLA and former deputy chief minister KS Eshwarappa asked the media persons to guide all including elected representatives without being influenced by the virus called politics for the success of the democracy.
Speaking as a chief guest at a Press Day 2018 programme organised by the Karnataka Media Academy, Information department and Sahyadri College Journalism Department at Zilla Panchayat hall here on Sunday, Eshwarappa said that media was like a guru as it was guiding the people of all sectors. By reading the newspapers and watching news, one could enhance his knowledge and this would help him improve his sector. “When entered politics as the MLA for the first time, the newspapers helped me a lot. I learned many things from newspapers. Till now, they are guiding me to identify my mistakes and correct them. Working as an MLA is easy. But it was not an easy task to work as the Irrigation Minister in the Coalition Government. But under the guidance of the officials and the newspapers and other media, I had come to know various issues and enhanced my knowledge. There were many problems in the department. But media helped me understand them and find solutions to them. As a result, I have got the Best Minister award from a TV channel. But I would not speak about yellow journalism”, he said.
During emergency, the newspapers had protested in their own way. They left blank pages as a mark of protest. So, the journalists should guide the elected representatives and people without being influenced by the politics. Probably this would help for the success of the democracy, he opined.
MLC Ayanur Manjunath said that only media has the courage to control the politicians and direct them on right path by highlighting their mistakes. It’s like an effective mirror. Nowadays, every person has a day to remember or to introspect the value of the person. In the same way, politicians should also require a day to introspect themselves and their works, he opined.
Nowadays, the media had become a business which is more dangerous. Competition is not a healthy development. Media houses and the journalists should introspect themselves. There was a competition between the politicians and journalists on who will become corrupt very easily. “While wielding a whip on others, our hands should be pure first. It is very difficult to write objectively irrespective of any situation. Media and politicians should understand that as we observe all others, others will also observe us very carefully. The journalists should become the mobile encyclopedia. But nowadays, such journalists are very less due to lack of study. One should grow to say something very authoritatively”, he said.
Academy president M Siddaraju delivered keynote address. MLC R Prasanna Kumar, ZP president Jyothi S Kumar, vice president Veda Vijay Kumar, Mayor Nagaraj Kankari, Karnataka Union of Working Journalists Association N Raju, noted columnist D Umapathi, Sahyadri College principal Dr Dhananjay and others were present.
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Groundwater depletion causes Earth's axis to shift by 31.5 inches: Study
A recent study has uncovered a significant impact of human activity on the planet: Earth's axis has shifted by 31.5 inches (nearly 80 centimeters) due to extensive groundwater extraction. Published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, the research highlights how large-scale pumping of groundwater has changed the distribution of Earth's mass, affecting its rotation and contributing to sea-level rise. The shift in Earth's tilt is linked to a sea-level increase of 0.24 inches, according to Popular Mechanics.
Lead researcher Ki-Weon Seo, a geophysicist at Seoul National University, explained that among climate-related factors, the redistribution of groundwater has had the most significant effect on the movement of Earth's rotational pole. The planet's tilt, or axial precession, is influenced by changes in mass distribution. As glaciers and polar ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica melt, water migrates towards the equator, shifting the planet's balance—a phenomenon comparable to how a figure skater’s spin changes when they alter their body position.
The study examined data from 1993 to 2010, revealing that approximately 2,150 gigatons of groundwater were pumped out during this time, largely for agricultural and human consumption. This large-scale extraction has contributed to a shift in Earth's axis of about 31.5 inches.
Groundwater, which is water stored underground in soil and rock, plays a crucial role in the hydrological cycle. It originates from precipitation that seeps into the earth, replenishing natural aquifers. These aquifers are vital freshwater resources, supporting drinking water supplies, agriculture, and industry. The availability and quality of groundwater depend on natural factors like recharge rates and human activity.
While the 31.5-inch shift in Earth's axis might seem minor, the consequences could be far-reaching over geological timescales. Changes in water distribution can lead to varying sea-level changes across regions, affecting coastal areas differently. Additionally, shifts in Earth's tilt can influence its internal systems, such as the magnetic field, which acts as a shield against harmful solar radiation.
