Water & its Importance

WATER AND ITS SOCIETAL IMPORTANCE


Brethren, many people seem bemused at the choices facing them. And as a humanitarian, I bemoan such phenomenon because it signifies that we shy away from Economics. In Economics as a subject, social science to be precise, we were taught scale of preference. Scale of preference is that tool or mechanism that enables mankind to arrange his/her wants in order of importance. And this is where choice comes in.

Every living and reasonable soul is bound to make a choice. And if you are being faced with thousands of them (choices), you should be able to pick the most important. This is where your scale of preference comes in. For some of us in arts, you may not have been privileged to pass through Economics. But the fact remains that every created soul is gifted with the ability to make choice. Thus, the knowledge of scale of preference is naturally inculcated in us. Yes, it’s natural; not by our making.

In Biology which is a core subject (not elective), science precisely, we were taught that there’re six classes of food in existence, or that are available for human consumption. Among these six classes of food, there must be one that is more important than others. Or in other words, there ought to be one that is most important amongst them.

On the other hand, in Physics or Chemistry which is also a pure science, we were taught that matter is of three states; or that there are three (3) states of matter which are solid, liquid and gas. We were also taught that matter is anything that has weight and occupies space. Among the aforementioned states/classes of matter, there’s one that is of most important to the human body, and also to human existence generally. It’s not just scientific but natural. I’m sure you’ve not forgotten that science is nature. And nature is the supremacy. Let’s ride on!

If you can recollect our topic for today, you will vividly tell me that we’re discussing water and its societal importance. We must begin with a definition so that no one would be lost or missing.

According to BBC English dictionary, “Water is a clear, colourless liquid that has no taste or smell and that is necessary for the survival of all plant and animal life”. From my humble perspective, in a nut shell, water is the centre of all clarity and the input of all worthwhile end-points. Let’s analyze! I will not be ponderous in my analysis, though I shall be frank.

A renowned Nigerian musician, Fela Anikulapokuti of the blessed memory, once sang “Water no get enemy” which he went further to inform his listeners/fans that whatever one does on earth, he/she must need water. Beloved, truly water has no enemy; every man and animal on earth requires water for his/its daily strides, and most importantly, for survival. The example was shown by the “Almighty” through His son Jesus Christ; having fasted for forty days and forty nights, the first thing Christ sought for was water. Is of no need to cite more similar instances that took place in the past because we have thousands of them.

Let’s start with the economic sector. Electrical power or electricity which remains the most fundamental aspect of any socio-economic growth or development is being generated from water. For those of us in sciences, Physics taught us that. And it’s a fact. We have other economic importance of water too numerous to mention.

Let’s venture into the health wing. In a concise sentence, water is life. In an Igbo idiomatic expression, it reads “mmiri bu ndu”. Considering the six classes of food, we can discuss extensively on the health importance of water. Take for instance, for a whole day, one can dwell without the other five classes of food which are protein, carbohydrate, fat and oil, vitamins, and minerals but he can never forfeit water which is one of the classes of food for the day. Even while taking/consuming any of the other classes listed above, health wise, it is advisable to accompany it with water. See your doctor if you have one for further explanation.

Then physical wise. Taking an athlete or a sports participant as a case study, you will find out that none of the aforementioned persons can perform adequately without water. But he/she can perform without the intake of the other forms of food. Even in the laboratory for those of us in sciences, in most cases we find out that almost all the substances require water when being used for a certain chemical reaction. In Chemistry, this is what we refer to as dilution or concentration of a substance. Please see a chemist for more light to be thrown.

The last but not the least, in our various domestic activities or affairs, we adore water as if it’s our life. And truly, it is our life. Please don’t get me wrong because water is all over me.

Generally, liquid substances are of more economic and social importance than the other states of matter which are solids and gases; and water belongs to this class/state known as liquid. Thus, going by the above critique, we will agree that water is the most important liquid substance on earth.

Above all, in this case, the choice remains that water must come first before any other form/sort of food in existence. Think about it!

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COMR. FRED NWAOZOR

Social analyst & activist

Unpatriotic Syndrome

UNPATRIOTIC SYNDROME AMONGST NIGERIANS


Brethren, pardon me; I wish to begin with loyalty. From my humble perspective, loyalty is one’s firmness in his/her friendship or support for someone/something. In other words, loyalties are feelings of friendship, support, or duty. I put it up to you that you can never be loyal to any body/thing if you don’t truly love him/it. Thus, love begets loyalty, or loyalty is a product or one of the products of love.

Let’s have it this way; loyalty signifies obedience or respect. And respect can never stand or generate if there is no love. Most times people believe that respect should only be discharged by the younger, junior, subject, or servant as the case may be. But it’s a big lie or wrong conviction because respect is reciprocal as it’s popularly cited. Sorry for that digression, though it was necessary. But, the sole purpose of this paragraph is to inform you that respect which signifies loyalty can never hold in any love-free society.

Then at this juncture, we are expected to ask ourselves, what is love? Few seconds before I started writing this edition, I received a commercial sms on my phone from Airtel network which the first sentence reads, “Love is just love, it can never be explained”. After the perusal, I welcomed the sms with a huge smile. But my question is, does the message really make sense? And if a privilege ought to be granted to me to give the exact answer to that question, I’ll answer Yes and No. It’s not a paradox. It’s a fact. The Yes part of it is that truly, love is just love; there’s no two ways about it. There’s only one finite/basic definition of love. And such definition holds in any recognized dictionary and the holy books. You only say you love someone/something when his/its happiness/existence is very important or matters so much to you. It’s only in philosophy that you can find different definitions or types of love. But I wish to utilize this opportunity to inform you that there’s no different types of love such as agape, eros or philia as its being cited in philosophy. Love is just love. You can only find different kinds/types of lust. Secondly, the No part/side of the above answer is that love can be explained instead of how it was stated in the sms that it can never be explained. Beloved, love is never complicated; it’s a very simple term that everyone is bound to comprehend irrespective of his/her age or status especially in this moment of love popularly known as “Valentine”.

We’re discussing unpatriotism among Nigerians. Patriotism is one’s love or loyalty for his/her country. In other words, unpatriotism is your hatred for your country. Q.E.D. It’s so pathetic to see millions of people parading with an unsympathetic character due to absolute ignorance. This time, kindly permit me to speak in a high voice because personally, I’m boiling.

Penultimate two Sundays, 10th of February to be precise during the AFCON finals that took place between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Stallions of Burkina Faso which I was viewing in my apartment at Owerri, one of my neighbours who happened to sit beside me exclaimed, “After all I’ll still have my dinner even if Nigeria is being defeated” having heard other viewers lamenting over the non-challant attitude of some players. You needed to see how I glanced at him with pronounced cruelty. Tell me, what does food got to do with one seeing his/her country emerging the winner of the day; wasn’t that statement crazy? Apart from similar lackadaisical attitudes display by most Nigerians in their everyday lives, some still go a long way cursing or wishing the country bad luck whenever she intends embarking on any competition with other nation(s). What is actually wrong with us; have we grown banana or something? Let me not conclude that this is insanity because God is watching.

It doesn’t even stop at that. The issue of laying more emphasis or interest on foreign made goods than the locally made ones is fast becoming a pain in the ass. The level of patronage of virtually all Nigerians towards the indigenous goods/commodities is no longer sad but extremely disgusting and alarming. How can one loves his/her fellow than him/herself. Pathetic indeed! Yes, such gesture is a product of low mentality. I’m sincerely sorry to say it. Even the holy book asks us to love our neighbours as ourselves, and not than ourselves. I must tell you, we’re seriously derailing.

Honestly, no one is exceptional or exempted here because we all are in one way or the other filled with either a drop or huge amount of this destructive and unproductive blood. Frankly speaking, unpatriotism is wholesomely destructive. And the last time I checked, any destructive syndrome is definitely unproductive.

Brethren, why can’t we be loyal to our country of origin; a country we find ourselves or were born in; a country whose blood flows in our respective veins. Every member of this nation, be it by origin, birth, adoption or affiliation is expected to adore or respect the nation, rather than spitting at her. When shall we wake-up from this long lasted siesta? Yes, a word is enough, but only for the wise. Maybe our problem is lack of wisdom. I know as a country abundantly and richly blessed with both natural and human resources, we’re expected to grow faster and larger than our present socio-economic and political status; but that shouldn’t call for sadism, rather fellowship. Think about it!

Meanwhile, congratulations Super Eagles; you have really flew to the peak, and therefore have made the patriotic ones proud. You all deserve the national honours granted to you. Bravo!!


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 FRED NWAOZOR

Social analyst & activist

Effects of technology

THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF TECHNOLOGY


Brethren, it’s no longer news that everyone dreams to remain happy. But don’t forget, the consistent cheerfulness of a certain lively couple could result to the sad mood of another married couple. In other words, we all wish or are working tirelessly to encounter treasure. But we shouldn’t forget to acknowledge the fact that every treasure has a certain negative consequence including water which I personally tag as an unending treasure.

Sometime ago, one of my closest neighbours at my place of residence got punched in the face by a pugnacious apprentice during one of his usual trips to warri, Delta State in Nigeria. Since then, the man has been suffering from paranoia in such a manner that everyone around him could easily notice the abnormality. What transpired between him and the trainee is something we shouldn’t bother to know because it could also introduce paranoia in our individual minds if being disclosed. Recently I called the man in question and gave him some panacea, and also urged him to forge ahead without further panic. I summarized my meeting with him with the philosophy that life without challenges can never grow formidably. He saw reason with me thereby promised to always accept his challenges in good faith.

Our topic for today is; the socio-economic effects of technology. In some of my previous editions in the past on this column, I’ve taken time to discuss science and technology as it relates to several areas of life. Summarily in the editions, I categorically stated that science has done novel. And, it’s no longer news to any of us that we are in the world of science. Yes, science has dominated the universe through its worthwhile idiosyncrasies. But in this edition, we shall be considering both the positive and negative impacts of sciences on the world at large as it affects the socio-economic sector.

Tremendously science and technology has contributed immensely in the socio-economic area of the globe. To start with; it is by means of science that two or more persons can reach or speak with each other at any distance. It’s also the sole effort of technology that enables one to be exposed even in his/her room or apartment. In other words, one doesn’t necessarily need to travel or go out before he/she can be exposed or well informed. And such routine could be possible or ascertained through what is generally known as “global village”. A global village is the ability of one to access or have access to the entire world from any environment/position by the means of scientific equipment at his/her reach. Above all, science has made virtually everything in existence to be easily manipulated, reformed and more importantly, re-created. Such phenomenon can be observed in the areas of medical sciences, engineering, environmental/management sciences and what have you.

But without mixing words, I also wish to use this medium to inform you that science has created a very serious vacuum in any given society. If I must analyze, then I should tell you that science and technology has greatly deteriorated the morality level of any society through the means of video gadget, telephone, computer, just to mention a few. On the other hand, technology has also diminished or terminated the life-span of billions of individuals both in the past and present through industrial/laboratory pollution and hazards, automobile accident, food preservatives, fire outbreaks and so on.

We are not meant to panic, rather what we should be asking ourselves is this; amongst the merits and demerits of technology, which one supersedes? Because, anything taking place under the sun must have both aforementioned phenomena; merits and demerits. And, if I would be granted the room to view my opinion, then I’m bound to tell you that the merits of science greatly supersedes the demerits because without it (science), we would have remained blind which would have caused a greater doom to mankind. So, the demerits are the challenges we must accept in good faith. Think about it!



FDN NWAOZOR

Social analyst & activist

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