TIME FOR A GLOBAL REALITY CHECK

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Climate change is significantly impacting our planet, creating one of the most pressing issues of our time. Taking the steps needed to mitigate climate change is crucial. However, only by truly understanding the causes and effects of climate change can we start to make a difference to the planet. The evidence for climate change is all around us, and its effects have a significant impact on people, places, and wildlife.

So what's climate change? Climate change simply refers to changes in average weather patterns of a location( or the globe) and the related changes in ice sheets, land surfaces and oceans. Global warming. What is global warming? What is it all about? Does it contribute to climate change? These are some of the questions that do ring in people's minds today and yes! Yes is the answer. Global warming does contribute to climate change.

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Global warming is simply the increase in the global average temperatures. Global warming occurs when carbon dioxide (CO2), greenhouse gases, and other air pollutants collect in the Earth’s atmosphere and absorb solar radiation and sunlight that have bounced off the planet’s surface. Usually, this radiation would escape into space. However, these pollutants, which can last for hundreds of years in the atmosphere, trap heat and cause the Earth’s temperature to increase. This is known as the greenhouse effect.

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Climate change does have its effects and one of them is severe droughts characterized by drastic water shortages and lack of food for mankind. Such effects if extreme can lead to death if the respective governments don't act upon it effectively. Another effect is that there could be an increased risk of wildfires. 

Rising sea levels could cause flooding hence destroying life and property. An influx of pests could threaten agriculture and fisheries hence bringing about food shortages all over the world. 

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Infectious diseases, allergies and asthma cases could become common due to higher air pollution levels. 

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However prevention is better than cure. So what are some of the solutions that we need to take to curb such effects. Some of the solutions include;

• Power your home with renewable energy
• Invest in energy-efficient appliances
• Aim to reduce water waste
• Eat the food you buy, reduce wastage, and eat less meat
• Purchase energy-saving light bulbs, rechargeable batteries, and use a home water filter
• Be conscious about the amount of gas and electricity you use/waste
• Drive a fuel-efficient or electric car
• Cycle, walk or use public transport more often

By implementing some or all of these changes, you can tilt the balance of climate change cause and effect.

TIME TO SHINE.

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When he assumed office on 13th September 2022, H.E. The Fifth President of Kenya, William Samoei Ruto ordered that port operations be reverted back to Mombasa, a move that left many Kenyans with smiles on their faces especially the coastal residents. This was a move that was going to benefit Mombasa economically and coast region at large. But what are ports and how is the port of Mombasa going to be beneficial to the residents of Mombasa County? A port is basically a maritime facility comprising of one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers.

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Ports will continue to play a central role in overcoming future challenges posed to world trade during this decade and beyond. Ports constitute a major part of the global transportation sector and have been integral to the success stories of economies worldwide for centuries. This has evolved with the rise of 'container hubs' acting as a crucial connection between sea and land. Our nation's Port, that is the port of Mombasa has been an important part of our national economy and intermodal transportation system. 

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One of the benefits is that it contributes to the national economy and that of the county of the Mombasa. Kenya as a country earns revenue from the port operations and the county government of Mombasa happens to benefit from that and put the money into projects or rather improve infrastructure around Mombasa County hence lowering the need for the common mwananchi to pay more in form of tax. 

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With port operations back to Mombasa,  the move tends to create more employment opportunities for the residents of Mombasa thus enabling the unemployed people be able to cater for their needs and that of their families. 

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Through the employment that the Mombasa residents will benefit from, it will enable them to raise their living standards hence reducing the dependency rate that's very high in this coastal city. This will in turn reduce crime rate among the youth due to them being busy working. 

Another benefit is that it will promote the education sector. How? This will be through offering attachment and internship programmes to university and college students as well as the students under the Competence Based Curriculum. 

Mombasa port operations would also help in decongesting of the many containers that are at the port. This will be facilitated by the movement of trailers in and out of the port thus reducing delays vastly experienced at the port. 

All in all, the port of Mombasa will enable the Mombasa County Government to develop mutually beneficial relationships with landlocked countries because that's the main entry and exit point of most exports of those landlocked coutries. This brings about the smooth running of businesses. 

WHY US!

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Love. What's love? Love simply refers to an intense feeling of deep affection for something or someone. Relationships are born out of love. It's not bad, it's good. Everyone that exists in this world would want to have or be in a healthy relationship that would result in something good for example marriage. However the question in mind here is do the campus students really value these relationships or its just a way for them to get what they want. Are relationships beneficial to both parties nowadays more so campus students?

A large percentage of campus relationships nowadays have turned toxic. Toxic relationships are simply relationships where one is being emotionally and/or physically damaged by the other person. These type of relationships are imbalanced and unhealthy and mostly characterized by control and dominance. Anyone can be in a toxic relationships regardless of gender, race, sexuality or any other factor. Campus students should be cautious of whoever they want start a relationship with.

First thing first, students need to understand the signs of a toxic relationship for them to back off before one is harmed either physically or emotionally. One is that one party is constantly being criticised by the other person something that always chips away their self-esteem. This is because one party tends to feel superior than the other and in the end hurting the other party.

Secondly the relationship lacks trust. Why? Because one person is being cheated on but one cannot say anything because of the fear that they won't find anyone who would love them genuinely.

The other reason is that you may tend to feel insecure or unsafe around the person something that makes you feel trapped in the relationship. This brings the fact of one party feeling superior thank the other.

Another sign is that someone is made to do things that one does not want to do and this can go to the extent of one threatening you or physically harming you so that they can have their way at some things. Sometimes it can lead to death through suicide.

However the most crucial thing that campus students need to know is that they should become their brothers keeper. If you happen to know a person who is in a toxic relationship or is in need of help to exit a toxic relationship, please do help them for their own good and safety. All in all people should create awareness among campus students about these toxic relationships. Students should help each other escape toxic relationships. 

EPILEPSY IS NO CURSE

        EPILEPSY IS NO CURSE

It's evident in our modern life today that none of us would like to suffer from any disease at whatever cost that is if we as human beings had the power to control diseases. However that is a different story because from the soil we came and to the soil we shall return hence no one has the power to say that in no certain point will he or she not fall sick. In our topic today, we shall be looking at epilepsy in general and it's effects. The first thing that people should know is  that epilepsy is not a curse as many people believe thus it should be treated as any other disease. People should know more on epilepsy to erase the negativity in our societies. Epilepsy which is also known as seizure disorder is generally a brain disorder in which the nerve cell activity is disturbed thus causing seizures. Epilepsy may occur as a result of a genetic disorder or an acquired brain injury such as trauma or stroke.

There are several symptoms of epilepsy and they include the following; the person first experiences seizure either generalized seizures or focal seizures{ Generalized seizures affect both sides while focal seizures affect only one area of the brain.}. The second symptom is that the patient suffers from memory loss. The other symptom is that the patient has staring spells. Other symptoms include fainting or fatigue in the whole body, headache and rhythmic muscle contractions or muscle spasms. The doctor adds that sometimes people are not able to discover these symptoms quickly.

Doctors also stress that epilepsy as any other disease requires treatment and in this case medical diagnosis is required. Treatment is usually treated by medication and in some cases it requires surgery. Head scans can also be carried out to see how much the brain is damaged.

 Medication includes nerve pain medication that blocks pain caused by damaged nerves and sedative medication that causes drowsiness, calmness and dulled senses and some types of this medication may become addictive. Other medications include the anticonvulsants that tend to prevent or control seizures, treats symptoms of certain psychiatric disorders and also relieves pain.

Dr. Chengo who is an epileptologist says that, "If one suspects that he or she is having seizures, they should see a neurologist. A neurologist is a doctor with special training in disorders of the brain including epilepsy but in this case the doctor is called an epileptologist who is an expert in matters epilepsy."

During an examination and in order for the epileptologist to get a full picture of what really happened, doctors tend to ask about things that happened before and after as well as during the incident. Your family and friends can as well help in explaining what really happened. Parents are also questioned on the childhood of the person if the victim is a minor.

Before the spell doctors ask the following questions; Were you sick recently?, Did you take any kind of medication?, What were you doing immediately before the incident?

During the spell doctors ask; How did it begin?, Did any part of your body move abnormally?, Did you bite your tongue or the inside of your cheeks? Were you able to talk and respond appropriately?

After the spell doctors ask; could you speak normally? Do your muscles ache?Did you have a headache?

However people shouldn't be worried as there is an epileptical seizure first aid plan. The first step is that one should stay calm and remain with the person. If the victim happens to have food or fluid in their mouth, roll them onto their side immediately. Keep them safe and protect them from injury and place something soft under their head and loosen any tight clothing. The last step is that you must reassure the person until they recover.