The fact that the mankind is stung by the quench for beauty, has been supported by the pouring of more and more cosmetics into the market by the day. Almost everyday, something or the other cosmetic product are endorsed by big celebs. A lot of time is spent not only in using these cosmetics, but also selecting them. In short, billions of dollars are spent to show the survival of not the fittest but that of the most beautiful is taking place.
Cosmetics have been in use since 4000 BC. The Egyptians used them for embalming the dead. In the Americas and Africa, natural pastes and creams were used either to decorate the body or cure wounds. In India, Henna was used as a hair conditioner. Some of them even use it today. The parts of juicy vegetables and fruits were used as cosmetics. I still remember my grandma using the skins of fruits and vegetables for revitalizing the facial appearance, sometimes even for acne. But these days, products like acnexus are used to treat acne.
Today, a lady's purse is incomplete without a makeup kit. Before an interview, a date, and the mirror and the lipstick will be found in a female's hands. The third generation girls have become self conscious these days and as Suburbqueen's post goes, they are too much bothered up about the works that are quite evident on their faces. Let me be a bit frank. I've seen many girls, women to be precise, applying too much of makeup, look absolutely terrible. In fact, I know a girl who puts so much of eyeliner that I get scared when I look at her eyes(protruding and dark!).
The market here in India mostly is above $6 billion annually, and a result, many companies have started fluttering wings over here. Especially the deodorant industry is prospering healthily. Earlier, getting things like deodorants, eyeliners, to mention a few was really difficult and sometimes we had to ask our acquantances abroad to get it. But now, all of them are avialable freely, and that too for a highly reasonable price.
Some say the sale of cosmetics has decreased marginally due to awareness about the the health hazards they pose. It is said that phthalates, which is widely used in cosmetics poses a fatal health hazard, and activists are working hard to ban their use in cosmetics. Although it has been banned in Europe, the rest haven't taken any step against its use. Cosmetics also are tried and tested on animals, which can be taken as going against bio-ethics.
To wrap up, I can say cosmetics have become a trend, but I hope it doesn't become a fad. Their use should be limited, excessive use can not only harm our body, but the sweet and cool nature around us too. In short, cosmetics are beauty thirst quenchers, but they can also be beauty stenchers!
Your Views On Cosmetics?
We Have Got Our Chunk Of Climate Change, Have You?
So it's not just the talk, after all. After all these days of fancying the dreadful climate change, we have, or atleast I have, realised that climate and weather have certainly changed, thanks to our computers, those intoxicating fumes emanating from those industries hoping to make it big, and our attitudes, of course. Let me tell you about Mumbai. The temperature during Christmas was around 28-32C. The normal temperature? 23-26 degrees. The temperature in January was below 15 degrees! And for a coastal place like Mumbai, which has high humidity, this is the most unusual. The lowest temperature recorded was 10.2 degrees! Even now, as I'm writing this post, I feeling chills down my spine.
So that was about Mumbai. It's hard to imagine what north India might be undergoing, with the temperature in the capital, New Delhi, falling to 0 degrees. I doubt whether the temperature may rise further in the coming weeks. Although most of northern India is near the Tropic of Cancer, the temperatures haven't yet soared. Hundreds of people have died owing to severe cold and even snow. Mostly, this time around(February), spring sets in. But I can still feel the cold biting into my body. The only good thing winter has brought in is, lots of alphonso mangoes. It seems the number of mangoes grown has increased considerably owing to this cold climate.
The climate change has brought about mixed feelings. Yet, there is no such commotion over the same. Actually, I had expected some uproar from the political opposition parties as well as the media. Although, no one has realised the volatilty of this issue, maybe it's time we buckle up and change our lifestyle to keep the nature calm.......
Did you experience any such weather change? Please share your thoughts......
I Want To Know What You Did For The Environment Last Year...
The year 2007 was full of anti-nature events. Indian and Chinese economies continued to boom which could be a natural disaster. And America was still adamant and hasn't yet signed the Kyoto Protocol as its economy will decline! We all saw people protesting in various parts of world for many causes related to the environment and global warming. All were busy cursing the their respective governments for doing nothing. But I must ask, what did WE do? I mean what did you do? Did you curse the government? Or you did something which could make the earth a cleaner place?
Let me tell you what I did. I saved some electricity by switching on the computer only after 10 pm and used it for not more than 1 hour. I mostly travelled by public transport and used my vehicle less often. Sometimes, along with my friends, I managed to organize some electrcity-free hours in our area. And one of the most important thing was stopped the use of polyethene bags and switched to cloth bags. Also, an article on what pro-nature-measures are to be taken was posted in this blog. You can view it here.
So,what did YOU did last year for the environment?
Some measures to save our Mother Earth before She sinks !!
Being human has got its own adversities - we are really SELFISH! Humans have become so 'developed' that they consume the earth's resources up to 20 times the planet's sustaining capacity. News channels, newspapers, blogs, magazines and all other media you can think of, report of many articles regarding the government's failure to implement environment friendly laws, other eco-fiendly(not eco friendly) measures by the industries..... To be very frank, I'm really bored seeing all this stuff. If you really want to put a block on global warming, we need to start from the grass root level. Here are a few measures which can be taken by all of us, by which we can do our bit towards a greener, cleaner and cooler planet...
- For children : Use less paper. Don't throw your old books which have some blank pages left. One can collect all blank pages and bind them together for further use. Such books can be used as rough books or to practice maths.
- For Young people: It would be better if we consume less electricity. It is commonly seen that the young mostly waste electricity and other resources especially for computers, iPods, Xboxes and other gizmos. I am not saying that you shouldn't listen to music or surf the net. But set up some limitations for the same. (This applies to me also. I have made up my mind to save as much electricity as I can).And yes, avoid using automobiles for short distance travel.
- For housewives : Please see to it that children obey these rules :D . And segregation of garbage-one of the most important things as recycling of plastic/metal containers/paper can prove to be really helpful.
- For all of us(in general) : Stick to public transport, save paper, use Energy-Star rated computers(An energy-star rated computer consumes electricity less than a bulb when it is idle.), Use natural ventilation instead of those mighty air conditioners, and the next time you go in for any automobile, make sure it meets the pollution control standards. Promoting recycling, holding workshops for communities may play a major role in curbing pollution.
Do you have anything else to say or suggest? Go ahead, shoot......
