Affordability, Sustainability and Feasibility and how can we adapt to the strong weather and needs of this populous country?

Firstly, and most importantly, in the North-western region, the higher productivity region, we mainly focus on the diversification of agriculture.[1] In the Eastern region, the main focus should be on flood control as well as drainage management.

Diversification in agriculture is the practice of crop rotation, multiple cropping or intercropping.[1] Benefits of diversification include stable or increased farm income and more efficient use of land; machinery, buildings or labour. Crop rotation replaces nutrients in the soil for plants. Multiple cropping saves space by growing more than one type of crop on the same land in the same growing season. Because 70% of India's poor population is found in rural, farming regions, this strategy not only benefits agricultural productivity but also economics. The Northeastern region of India's climate is monsoon consisting of heavy to very heavy rains. Thus why in that region, it is important to manage water drainage to best prevent potential flooding. Flooding and failure to properly manage water drainage result in huge losses in agriculture and soil damage. Water is a crucial yet limited resource in agriculture, in order to ensure that enough water is being distributed to the crops, farmers can implement underground water level control structures. These structures work by placing blocks in underground boxes connected to water tunnels. After harvest, there is little concern for the soil being too wet and thus, blocks are placed to raise the level of groundwater in the soil. Then, in the spring, shortly before planting crops, farmers will remove the blocks to drain the soil of water. When the crops have been planted, the blocks are placed back into the box to raise water levels to provide crops with enough water. The cycle then continues on. This way, these underground tunnels help to manage and maintain appropriate water levels all year round. 

Although crop diversification has many beneficial effects on the soil health and production amount like mentioned above, this trend in farming does pose some negative impacts on the environment. Some consequences of diversification in agriculture include temporal shifts and ranges of phenological stages, more frequent or continuous soil cover and more diverse management strategies. Changes in the way agriculture is performed can also temporarily affect phenology stages of nearby biodiversity. Diversification also results in more frequent or continuous soil tillage which can lead to break down of soil structure and soil quality. Erosion rates will increase and topsoil may also degrade. One potential solution to this problem would be manually adding more natural fertilizers. Natural fertilizers have almost no negative impacts on the environment while also maintaining soil quality. In order to prevent soil erosion, planting trees or other plants with roots that trap the soil tightly may help. 

In the case of the water drainage management, drainage water may contain high levels of agro pollutants containing nutrients and pesticides that could be damaging to aquatic biodiversity and the soil. Salts and other major ions such as sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, bicarbonate, sulphate, chloride and nitrate can change the overall salinity of groundwater. Pesticides that end up in water streams can end up contaminating bodies of water with harmful chemicals and potentially killing many fish and other animals. Pesticides are also shown to even have harmful health effects on humans such as cancer, ADHD, or Alzheimer's disease. Planting native plant species and vegetation and regenerating good ground cover in recharge, transmission and discharge zones and striking the balance between the amount of water entering and leaving the groundwater system can help lower salinity levels. Crop rotation, resistant crops, and less hazardous pesticides are all ways to alleviate damage done by pesticides.

The slow implementation of conservation practices such as organic farming may also be caused by labour challenges and lack of knowledge and material. That can be solved by spreading info and teaching more people about the benefits of organic farming and solutions to make it better for the environment. Furthermore, even though open land is rare, it isn't the only asset that many farmers lack when converting into organic farming; material can be unaffordable to many. Operating costs, equipment and machines, workers, and storage facilities can cost millions of dollars before farmers manage to harvest their first crop. Such costs only increase as farmers must invest, maintain, and diversify their farms, and though it may reduce environmental risks in the future, the benefits and financial improvements may not be realized for years. To encourage sustainable agriculture, the government will offer a tax exemption to farmers using different organic farming strategies. 

Thus, the biggest issue when such major changes are implemented, are financial insecurities. Most studies show organic farming is more profitable than conventional practices, however even with higher organic commodity prices, it still does not attract enough conventional farmers. The high cost of conversion may overlook the benefits of sustainable farming, and the uncertainty in policies may be the cause of many farmers' reluctance. The trialability of organic farming is quite low, and the lack of marketing and management infrastructure only causes more hesitancy. Poorer communities may be faced with even more poverty, and malnutrition. From such a big change, farmers will have to sacrifice much of their time and work to make farming better for the Earth, and keeping citizens healthy. To help this, banks will provide loans to new farmers and the government will provide an incentive for sustainable farmers. 

In whole, diversification is an important factor in sustainable farming. Such includes minimizing soil damage, reducing use of pest control, diversifying crops, and reducing greenhouse gas. And so, to ensure productivity in agriculture, our goal is to ensure 70% of India's farms have a conserved and controlled farming program by 2040. Examples of conserved farming are crop rotation, underground water level control structures, and diversification in general. To encourage such implementation, the government will offer a tax exemption and an incentive/bank loan to farmers who have recently converted to sustainable agriculture. We hope such implementations can help the environment and citizens.

Works Cited

1- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13593-020-00617-4

2-https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/agriculture/six-main-strategies-to-improve-the-agriculture-productivity-in-india/40230

This one is for all the illogical anti-vaxxers out there.

Firstly, if you think vaccines have trackers and weird metal, your logic makes less sense than flat-earthers. The government doesn’t even need trackers to know where you are.

If they wanted to find you, there are GPS’s on phones, electronics and camera’s literally everywhere. Whether or not your vaccine has a tracker you shouldn't be worried. 

Actually, it’s really suspicious that you’re worried about a tracker, when it’s harmless.  Criminals much?

For those who think the vaccines are genetic mutators, the only thing that a vaccine changes is the time spent in a hospital bed and age of death. 

And it only gets stupider. The idea is that vaccines causes disorders. Let’s just say vaccines did cause physical disabilities and disorders, it is much better than dying. So the next time you think a vaccine will give your children other problems, you failed parenting, because you would rather have them dead than disabled. If this satisfies your need to not get a vaccine, yes the plague disappeared without a vaccine, but only because everybody died from it. 

If apparently vaccines are lethal and can kill you, you probably will die from a disease anyways(and your dumb mindset), so you might as well go get one. 

Dear Frontline Heroes, 

Hello! My name is Ada and I am a student in Elementary Virtual School 4. I hope you are doing great! Though I cannot talk to you personally, I am writing to you to thank you and express my gratitude for your courage and bravery. I hope you know that we appreciate your selflessness during these difficult times. In class, we have been discussing acts of kindness and spreading positivity. In these times, sharing the right message is crucial to uniting the community. I would like to share some positive things that are inspirational and uniting. 

I want to share an article that warmed my heart. It’s called “Give one up, save somebody’: B.C. hot dog vendor donates kidney to customer” by Simon Little from Global News. Andrew is a local hot dog vendor. One day, he was told his loyal customer of three years, Tim, had suffered severe kidney failure whose condition was worsening. With no hesitation, he immediately donated his kidney and saved Tim’s life. 

“ The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart." - Helen Keller. 

With appreciation, 

Ada

Within the last few years, Greta Thunberg has become an important figure when speaking out about climate change. She has played a big part in more young people standing up for their opinions and actions against climate change. The quote given has accurately described the change needed in this world and the actions we need to take. When speaking of rules that need to be changed, I agree with Greta that many laws or common opinions from the past need to be modified.

 However, moral principles that hold history should stay the same, as it is not appropriate to change ethical beliefs. 

First and foremost, one thing that can be agreed upon is that climate change is a problem. If not acted on, it could be disastrous. I believe Greta is right when she proposes to change some rules. If rules and beliefs are not changed regarding this global issue, the consequences will be imminent. For instance, one important rule that needs to be put in effect is the use of plastic. Plastic is heavily used in the entire world, but few places have strict rules about the use and outcomes. This suggests that countries should create controls on the use of plastic and possibly ban excessive use. 

Furthermore, it would not be beneficial to rewrite all the beliefs and rules in certain places. Laws are a fundamental part of society that holds people together and connects modern-day evolution to the rest of history. Many practices and customs have been established long ago and are hard to change in habitual routines. An example is ecosystems and industrialization. Adapting eco-communities is renewable, but in the process, the environment would already be damaged. Sustainability is slowly developed, as suddenly replacing communities would not be entirely beneficial.

Above all, Greta is a role model for speaking out on climate change and urging action against it. She has informed and also inspired lots of young people to take matters into their own hands. Ultimately, it's time for the rules to be changed and for our voices to be heard. 

“Woman?”

Emma

Walking down a street full of cameras and a crowd is never an easy thing to do. 

This is it, I thought. 

But I was not thinking about the election, but about these words. 

You will never succeed! And if you do, you’ll regret it! 

Every single second through the election was another nightmare for victory and it’s consequences. The campaign was over, and the election had already started. There was no turning back. 

Leo

Excitement filled my stomach. It was almost the end of the election! Our team and helpers have worked so hard and earned so much respect. 

Especially Emma Stewart, I thought. I can’t believe she was the first woman to ever do this! If we didn’t win, then who would? 

With no doubt, Emma put all her heart into becoming the first woman president ever. Even through all the hate, discrimination and sexism that spiraled through the country, whirling right at her, she seemed to thrive more.

Thank goodness that wasn’t me!, I immediately thought. 

Maybe I needed to learn from her. 

Emma

It was finally the day! 

Long awaited, I thought instantly. But was it worth it? 

Trembling, I quickly took a closer look at the tv news screen. I couldn’t believe my eyes. 

Oh My Goodness!, my mind shouted to me. 

“We won!,” I shouted as my voice vibrated through the office and the building. 

The building silenced and suddenly shook. 

“LETS GOO!,” screamed my team, bursting into the room. 

They were more happy than me, the one who’s actually going to be president. Then I remembered the words again.

You will regret it…. It sent another chill down my back and clogged my throat. 

“Are you ok?,” asked my friend surprisingly.  

"You just won!” 

“Yeah, I’m f-f-fine,” I stuttered, smiling the fakest grin ever. 

My friends stared at me, but didn’t say anything and excitedly left the room. 

You will not succeed, you will regret it ...

Leo

“Slimmest of Margins!,” I screamed unsurprisingly that Emma had won the election. 

She deserved it though, I thought. We could still work together and discuss.

The next day couldn't have been worse. People were hating me for supporting a woman who won the election. 

First they hate on Emma, and then hate on me?, I thought angrily. What are people thinking these days? Man, that's disappointing. 

“What’s wrong with a woman?,”I asked wondering. 

The audience at the press gasped. I have never heard of a society more sexist than what had just happened. And was that the Senator in the back laughing and nodding in the crowd?

 Don’t make it obvious that I can see him, I immediately thought. 

Was the senator part of this thing against Emma? 

Keep a secret, Leo, I thought to myself. 

If anyone, especially Senator Jones finds out, I’d be so doomed. I continued my speech becoming even more curious every moment on why such a high leveled person would support this horrible behavior. 

Save the investigation to another day, I thought.

Before the inauguration, there was a rally close to the White House. 

All Men, I guessed. Was that Senator Jones again? Leading the rally? 

Emma

Becoming a president cannot be any worse. Rallies, riots, protests, what else is there to show that the country’s men don’t like their female president? Though the inauguration was not as scary as it could’ve been, it didn’t give me the confidence I needed. Who even supported me? 

It must have been women and old men with wives, I thought. 

But the worst was yet to come. 

Another encounter with Senator Jones, what is he gonna say?, I wondered. I’m not gonna forget! 

“Good morning everyone!,” I said as I entered the meeting room.

“Good morning,” the room replied in an echo. 

The meeting started in silence with people staring at each other awkwardly, not knowing what to say. In surprise, someone started the conversation.

“Well, move on,'' said Senator Jones coldly with an evil grimace. “This election didn't bring us anywhere so let's hurry up and talk!”

“Alright, Alright, Mr. Jones, not so impatient before we start,” hushed Mr. Rivera calmingly.

“And also, respect the president,” he said as he eyed me with a smile. 

“Mr. Johnson, would you like to start the plan?,” The old fashioned moustached man nodded, stood up and started. 

“Ms Stewart, Congratulations to your success………….,” The minister continued. 

Man, this could take forever, I thought after a few ministers spoke their thoughts. 

“ I don’t agree with this. If we want people to agree to a woman, we need stronger thoughts!,” practically screamed Senator Jones. 

Eyebrows were raised. Even some gasps were heard. 

My heart leaped, and that was a hit in the face, I thought. 

I didn’t want to grab attention of what was going on. I gave a little shake in the head and shut my ears as I didn’t need to hear anymore. I already knew what he was going to say to the rest of the people. Something like, women are not qualified, never in history was a female president, the rally shows that people dislike women as president and so on. Jones mentioned the rally for unequal women’s rights so much that the whole room became a repetitive nightmare. 

“Ok, Ok that’s it for today, you can all proceed out of this room,” interrupted Mr. Johnson with his annoyed face. 

Jones gave me one more glare and left the room. As everyone left the room, Mr Rivera, my adviser came to talk to me. 

“Well Emma, you can probably guess what I’m gonna say” He started.

“No Leo, don’t talk about it, let Mr. Jones say whatever he wants.” I replied with a sigh, not wanting to talk about my secret.

 “If that’s what he wants to do, let him.” Leo shook his head.

“What he is doing is a non-professional act of a senator’s standard.” 

“Remember if anything happens you have to inform me or else I can’t do anything to help you. This may just be a wake-up call,” He said as we left the room. 

Many things have already happened and I didn’t tell you! 

"It won’t help!,” I yelped back to him. But someone else responded. 

“Yeah, I know what won’t help,” said a voice. “Telling me won’t help because I could expose you and your career will explode and never recover.” 

Leo

Time can pass so easily. And so can a threat fired at the president. The Senator’s hateful message had been exposed on the internet and everything changed. People encouraged Emma to beat him up, and the hateful supporters changed their minds to fight Mr. Jones. He was going to face a trial in court for many things, one being threatening the president. I wished to say I made this happen, but it was all thanks to Emma she fought through her pain, waiting for the danger to make a mistake. 

 Emma 

Somehow, Senator Jones and his “try to impeach a female president” plan was exposed and backfired on him. Maybe it was true. Life is like riding a bike up and down a hill. You must keep your balance and even when there are the steepest bumps ahead, you must go on. So let the haters do what they want to do, say what they want to say, because they won’t hate you, but hate themselves because you’re a reflection of everything they wished for but never achieved.

END

Dear Mr Trudeau ,

I’m writing to you because I think that someone needs to make a change soon or later. I know this is not something that can be  done easily or immediately, but I really think this is something important. 

Why do we think it’s fair to treat FNMI communities as if they are prey and we are predators? We don’t! But because there is no government level campaign to lead citizens to participate, no one is willing to take the lead to help out,

Have you ever thought it feels like to be the victim of a lot of crimes?  This may be just as common for us, but it is a big deal for populations like the first nations’. Well this unusual feeling is that of the first nations. With targeted crimes and homicide rates of indigenous  people high enough for such a population, the aboriginal people would feel unsafe and possibly endangered. Targeted crimes often happen in Indigenous communities because they are considered different from us. Attacks happen everywhere, from homes to schools and that is what criminals take advantage of. 

When crimes take place in the community, it’s not just the family that is affected, the whole village is shaken and afraid.  Therefore, it not only affects their lives, but also their behavior, their personality  and their education. When crimes happen, most schools in the area would be cancelled for the safety of students.  As we know, without schools, students lack education and often get misled in these situations. With that,  they lose their  turn to learn about self defense, their own rights and how to get help. 

But luckily there are many solutions and having more security in general may help both the victims and the police to investigate. This can prevent innocents from being accused of being guilty. In addition to this, schools should teach the students self-defense and learn the mandatory safety tips. This could help students fight back at unarmed criminals and may prevent kidnapping or crimes that are easily done. After all, these solutions are based on technology, so higher tech communities could take a role. With cameras and more secure guards, alarms could take use too. Alarms can prevent homicide and robbery, because this can warn the household and maybe the police. Extra protective or stable material would work just as well as this prevents easy break-ins.

From what I've learned, schools can voluntarily fundraise for charity to help their FNMI friends. Though it may take money, effort, planning and time to make a change, I really think this could help our fellow Indigenous communities and give them support. As I understand that this may not be a major political problem, I will make an effort in changing my point of view myself.

Sincerely,

Ada H.