Today's Brief 5/11/2024

IE Analysis: https://youtu.be/qVN80Zf4RJc?si=xMtpiZtfRqHb46Fl

JN Analysis: https://youtu.be/C8TbAtCrAys?si=jbGOWkYSfirINS_M

1 .Oscar: FTII student film, "Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know," has secured a spot in the 2025 Oscars' Live Action Short Film category. This Kannada language short film, helmed by Chidananda S Naik, draws inspiration from India's rich tapestry of folk tales and traditions. Earlier this year, it clinched the first prize at Cannes Film Festival's La Cinef Selection, earning praise from the jury for its illuminating storytelling and masterful direction.

2 .World Travel Market London: WTM London has grown beyond belief in the past four decades. 40 countries, 221 exhibitors and 9,000 trade visitors took part in the first ever WTM at London Olympia in 1980.

Two moves (Earls Court in 1992 and ExCeL in 2002) and 40 years later, now WTM London facilitates £2.8 billion in industry deals and has around 5,000 exhibitors from 182 countries and regions and more than 51,000 participants.

is home to the world’s travel trade - the most influential travel and tourism event globally.

WTM London brings together the international leisure travel community; providing inspiration, education, sourcing, and benchmarking to travel professionals while providing exhibitors a place to do business and showcase their services to the international press.​

In 2023, WTM welcomed over 40,000 professionals from 184 countries. WTM is the easiest, most resourceful place in travel to get networked, saving time, money, and effort on the way. 

Exhibitors at WTM London provide the most comprehensive gathering of organisations wishing to do business within B2B travel and tourism. From destinations to experiences to transportation to accommodation to technology solutions – we’ve got it covered.

3 .Cartoonists: The Silent Architects of Public Opinion

For centuries, cartoonists have wielded a powerful pen, shaping public discourse and influencing societal shifts. With their unique blend of wit, satire, and visual storytelling, they have captured the zeitgeist, challenged authority, and ignited conversations.   

From the biting social commentary of Honoré Daumier to the whimsical world of Walt Disney, cartoonists have left an indelible mark on history. They have exposed corruption, satirized political leaders, and championed social causes. Their ability to distill complex issues into simple, memorable images has made them a potent force in shaping public opinion.   

However, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has introduced a new era of possibilities and challenges for the art of cartooning. AI-powered tools can generate images, write scripts, and even mimic artistic styles, raising questions about the future of human creativity.   

While AI can potentially enhance the creative process by automating mundane tasks and generating new ideas, there is a risk of homogenization and a loss of unique artistic expression. As AI advances, it's crucial to strike a balance between technological innovation and human ingenuity.

The future of cartooning lies in a harmonious blend of human creativity and AI-powered tools. By embracing technology while preserving the essence of human storytelling, cartoonists can continue to shape public opinion and inspire generations to come.

Thomas Nast.

The cartoonist who played a significant role in shaping political symbols and influencing public opinion in the United States was Thomas Nast.

He was an influential illustrator and cartoonist known for his work with Harper’s Weekly during the mid to late 19th century. Nast's cartoons had a lasting impact on American politics and public perception. Here’s how he influenced public opinion:

Popularizing Political Symbols

• Republican Elephant & Democratic Donkey: As mentioned earlier, Nast popularized the elephant as the symbol for the Republican Party and solidified the donkey for the Democratic Party. His visual depictions made these symbols a recognizable shorthand for the parties and helped the public easily identify political ideologies and controversies.

  
  

• Santa Claus: Nast is also credited with creating the modern image of Santa Claus, based on Clement Clarke Moore’s poem A Visit from St. Nicholas. His drawings of Santa as a jolly, bearded man in a red suit became the foundation for the contemporary image of Santa Claus.

Republican Party (Elephant Symbol)

• The elephant symbol for the Republican Party was popularized by political cartoonist Thomas Nast in 1874. In a cartoon published in Harper's Weekly, Nast depicted the Democratic donkey scaring away animals at the zoo, with one of the animals being an elephant labeled "The Republican Vote." The symbol caught on and has been associated with the Republican Party ever since.

  
  

• Democratic Party (Donkey Symbol)

  • The donkey symbol for the Democratic Party also has ties to Thomas Nast, although it appeared earlier in political usage. The origin traces back to the 1828 presidential campaign of Andrew Jackson, the first Democratic president, who was insultingly referred to as a "jackass" by his opponents. Jackson embraced the label, using the donkey on his campaign posters. Nast later made the symbol famous in his cartoons, solidifying the donkey's association with the Democrats.

    
    

• Other Symbols

  • Besides these well-known animal symbols, various parties and independent candidates throughout U.S. history have used diverse symbols to represent their platforms and values. For example, the Libertarian Party often uses the Statue of Liberty as a symbol, and the Green Party uses an eco-friendly sunflower emblem.

Civil War & Reconstruction: During and after the Civil War, Nast’s cartoons influenced public opinion about issues such as slavery, civil rights, and reconstruction policies. He was a staunch supporter of the Union and an opponent of slavery, using his art to advocate for the abolition of slavery and equal rights for African Americans.

4 .First Asian Buddhist Summit:  being held in New Delhi on November 5th and 6th, 2024.  

Organized by the Ministry of Culture and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), the summit focused on the theme "Role of Buddha Dhamma in Strengthening Asia.

The summit is seen as a significant step towards strengthening ties among Asian countries based on shared Buddhist values and promoting peace, harmony, and sustainable development in the region.

5 .Classical Languages in India:

India currently recognizes 11 classical languages:

1. Tamil

2. Sanskrit

3. Telugu

4. Kannada

5. Malayalam

6. Odia

7. Marathi

8. Pali

9. Prakrit

10. Assamese

11. Bengali

6 .PM Vishwakarma Scheme: a Central Sector Scheme, was launched on 17th September, 2023 by the Prime Minister to provide end-to-end support to artisans and craftspeople who work with their hands and tools.

The Scheme covers artisans and craftspeople engaged in 18 trades, viz.

• Carpenter (Suthar/Badhai),

• Boat Maker, Armourer,

• Blacksmith (Lohar),

• Hammer and Tool Kit Maker,

• Locksmith, Goldsmith (Sonar),

• Potter (Kumhaar),

• Sculptor (Moortikar, stone carver),

• Stone breaker,

• Cobbler (Charmkar)/ Shoesmith/Footwear artisan,

• Mason (Rajmistri), Basket/Mat/Broom Maker/Coir Weaver,

• Doll & Toy Maker (Traditional),

• Barber (Naai),

• Garland maker (Malakaar),

• Washerman (Dhobi),

• Tailor (Darzi) and Fishing Net Maker.

Benefits to the Artisans and Crafts Persons

The Scheme envisages provisioning of the following benefits to the artisans and crafts persons:

• Recognition: Recognition of artisans and craftspeople through PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card.

• Skill Upgradation: Basic Training of 5-7 days and Advanced Training of 15 days or more, with a stipend of Rs. 500 per day.

• Toolkit Incentive: A toolkit incentive of upto Rs. 15,000 in the form of e-vouchers at the beginning of Basic Skill Training.

• Credit Support: Collateral free 'Enterprise Development Loans' of upto Rs. 3 lakh in two tranches of Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 2 lakh with tenures of 18 months and 30 months, respectively, at a concessional rate of interest fixed at 5%, with Government of India subvention to the extent of 8%. Beneficiaries who have completed Basic Training will be eligible to avail the first tranche of credit support of upto Rs. 1 lakh. The second loan tranche will be available to beneficiaries who have availed the 1st tranche and maintained a standard loan account and have adopted digital transactions in their business or have undergone Advanced Training.

• Incentive for Digital Transaction: An amount of Re. 1 per digital transaction, upto maximum 100 transactions monthly will be credited to the beneficiary's account for each digital pay-out or receipt.

• Marketing Support: Marketing support will be provided to the artisans and craftspeople in the form of quality certification, branding, onboarding on e-commerce platforms such as GeM, advertising, publicity and other marketing activities to improve linkage to value chain.

In addition to the above-mentioned benefits, the Scheme will onboard the beneficiaries on Udyam Assist Platform as 'entrepreneurs' in the formal MSME ecosystem. Enrolment of beneficiaries shall be done through Common Service Centres with Aadhaar-based biometric authentication on PM Vishwakarma portal. The enrolment of beneficiaries will be followed by a three-step verification which will include Verification at Gram Panchayat/ ULB level, Vetting and Recommendation by the District Implementation Committee and Approval by the Screening Committee.

7 .Himalayan Glacial lakes: A recent report by the Central Water Commission (CWC) revealed a significant increase in the size of Himalayan glacial lakes. Between 2011 and 2024, these lakes expanded by 10.81%, with some even doubling in size. This expansion, primarily driven by climate change and accelerated glacier melting, poses a growing threat of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).

Regions like Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh are particularly vulnerable to these events, necessitating increased monitoring and disaster preparedness measures.

A Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) is a catastrophic event that occurs when a dam containing a glacial lake fails, releasing a massive volume of water. This can be triggered by various factors like dam erosion, ice dam failure, seismic activity, or excessive water pressure.

GLOFs pose significant risks, including loss of life, infrastructure damage, erosion, and economic disruption.

To mitigate these risks, effective monitoring, early warning systems, dam reinforcement, controlled water releases, and emergency response plans are crucial. As climate change accelerates glacier melt, the frequency and intensity of GLOFs are increasing, necessitating urgent action to safeguard vulnerable communities and infrastructure.

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