CLIMATE JUSTICE FOR CLIMATE SHOCKS

By: Jonathan Tetteh-Cole aka NORJGiX

A fossil fuel is a hydrocarbon-containing material such as coal, oil, and natural gas, formed naturally in the Earth's crust from the remains of dead plants and animals that is extracted and burned as a fuel. Fossil fuels may be burned to provide heat for use directly, to power engines, or to generate electricity.

We call crude oil and petroleum fossil fuels because they are mixtures of hydrocarbons that formed from the remains of animals and plants (diatoms) that lived millions of years ago in a marine environment before dinosaurs existed. FOSSIL FUEL is synonymous with hydrocarbon deposit, nonrenewable energy, and nonrenewable fuel sources.

As a civilization emerges, we depend on fossil fuels (as we do today), because fossil fuels are so easily accessible, and they provide quite a lot of energy when compared to other sources of energy. Our current political and economic infrastructure etc. depends on it. Scientifically, we got it all wrong initially! Little did we know that it is going to impact our environment and ecosystem negatively.

Now that we know fossil fuel which contributes more than 80% of our GHG as well as land, air and water pollution while not ignoring other sources of pollutants, we see the need to embark on the transition to cleaner-and-greener energy sources.

Let’s consider these impacts due to climate change and global warming:

Unpredictable weather pattern

Draughts

Hunger strikes

Loss of arctic sea ice

Loss of species

Loss of inlands

Rising sea levels

Severe storms

Poverty and displacements

Vector-borne diseases

Wild fires

Why not consider and embark on these innovative and smart energy sources with minimal or zero negative impact?

Bioenergy

Biofuel

Biomass

Geothermal

Hydro

Wind

Solar

Nuclear

Tidal

As we absorb climate shocks now, it is right to make collective efforts to realize our climate ambitions now and future. Starting from individual, household, industries, and governments – embark on developing and implementing green innovations to Reduce–Carbon-Footprints:

Create mitigation plan to decarbonize

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Reengineer, Repair, Refurbish

Nurture the climate self-discipline and it will become a norm

Buy only the needs to reduce wastage

Consume more fish but less meat

Consume local and seasonal organic products

Prolong products shelve life

Donate old clothes

Avoid products with excessive plastics

Buy only biodegradable plastics

Buy, borrow, rent, swap and share second-hand products

Don’t live your equipment to be overcharged

Turn off lights when unused

Take short showers

Buy only energy-efficient and RoHS ICTs

Buy from environmentally friendly companies that takes back to recycle

Bike-more-drive-less-fly-less and patronize public transportation system

Buy hybrid or electric vehicles

Develop green-road infrastructure

Embark on waste segregation and compost food waste if possible

Avoid cheap-eye-catchy and trendy fashion that rely on fossil fuels

Invest in green innovations and quality products

Embark on green-birth

Right or wrong, contextually, I believe there is the need to integrate Arts-Science-Technology-Innovation-SocioCultural-Political-Economic-Ecological-Legal norms. Henceforth, it is our civic responsibility; moral right; and legal obligation to selflessly protect our environment and ecological system (PlanetEarth) from warming.

LETS SAVE OUR FIREFLIES FROM EXTINCTION

NATURE PRESERVATION

Lighting Up the Environment by a Living Organism Inspired and Fascinated by the Aesthetic Nature of this Living Organism

(Inquiry into innovative electrochemiluminescence of a Lightning Bugs-Lampyridae-Elateroid beetles-Elateroidea-Fireflies)

By: Jonathan Tetteh-Cole aka NORJGiX

FACTS ABOUT THE LIVING ORGANISM

BIOCHEMICAL EMISSION OF LIGHT BY THE LIVING ORGANISMS

Raphaël Dubois work on the discovery of Luciferase and Luciferin in the 19th century is highly acknowledged.

These living organisms were discovered due to the existence of Firefly. These living organisms are soft-bodied beetles commonly called fireflies, lightning bugs, or glowworms scientifically known as Firefly luciferin (s)-2-(6-Hydroxybenzo[d]thiazol-2yl)-4,5-dihydrothiazole-4-carboxylic acid. D-(-)-Luciferin for their conspicuous production of light, mainly during twilight to attract mates. Luciferin vary in chemical structure. The males glow to use their flash to attract females in the night. Each species has its own pattern of light flashing. In some places at some times, fireflies synchronize their flashing to yellow, green, or orange. Firefly larvae may glow living under water communicating to predators that they are not tasty and that they are not palatable. Relatively, they use their defensive steroids for protection against predators. As carnivorous, they enjoy eating snails and fireflies of other genera as well as feeding on nectar and pollen of plants. Fireflies produce their own light (bioluminescent). Nearly 100% of this efficient light which is chemically produced is emitted as light. However, it is important to note that the only way to get the chemical (Luciferase) is synthesized and stored in the cells of the firefly’s lantern organ.

Luciferase is an enzyme that produces the light in reaction with other compounds, while Luciferin facilitates and stimulates the light production. There are Luciferase in other bioluminescent animals. On the contrary, today synthetic Luciferase is being produced alongside harvesting the fireflies. These synthetic bioluminescence system is based on AkaLumine by modifying the luciferase gene which could be used in animal tissues. Notably, fireflies don’t migrate to other fields, they can disappear forever. Fireflies typically lives for approximately two months in the wild. Anecdotal evidence suggests that firefly populations may be on the decline. Fireflies live in fields, meadows, forests, and other natural habitats, and these areas are becoming fewer due to development. These insects live in a variety of warm environments, as well as in more temperate regions, and are a familiar sight on summer evenings. Fireflies love moisture and often live in humid regions of Asia and the Americas. In drier areas, they are found around wet or damp areas that retain moisture. Fireflies are found in temperate and tropical regions on every continent except Antarctica. They live throughout the United States in parks, meadows, gardens, and woodland edges. They are most commonly seen on summer evenings. Research shows that there are 2,400 firefly species in 144 genera (taxonomic category that ranks above species) described all over the world. The females of the Lamprigera firefly can grow to be the size of your palm. They are much larger than their male counterparts and lack wings. Two large light organs on their abdomen produce their characteristic glow. Research shows that in Africa, there are over 2,000 species which have been recorded, and one of them, the Luciola capensis can be found here in South Africa, mostly visible in spring and summer. They feed on other insects like snails, slugs, worms, and even other fireflies for their nourishment. Adult fireflies also eat nectar and pollen to survive. The fireflies’ species that are carnivorous spend all their life eating other fireflies. They are not edible. When predators attack, they start “reflex bleeding,” and produce drops of blood filled with nasty chemicals that are poisonous to lizards and birds. However, it is important to note that there are LUCs from other animals apart from firefly. Scientifically, this organism, the luciferase (Renilla-luciferin 2-monooxygenase) is closely related with a luciferinbinding protein as well as a green fluorescent protein (GFP). Additionally, luciferin produces light when it reacts with oxygen. All bioluminescent animals contain luciferin, but some (like tiny dinoflagellate plankton) produces their own, where others (like squid and some fish) absorbs bacteria that contain luciferin.

BIOLUMINESCENCE

Quantum rods and luciferase enzymes are nanomaterial and biomaterials respectively. When these two materials are combined correctly will produce bioluminescence – except, instead of coming from a biomaterial, such as a firefly enzyme, the light emanates from a nanomaterial, and is green, orange, red or near-infrared in color. A bioluminescent reporter assay consist of both a luciferase reporter enzyme and detection reagent that provides the enzyme substrate. When the reporter enzyme and detection reagent are combined, the light emitted is proportional to the reporter gene expression levels and is detected using a luminometer. Everyone knows how fireflies got their name, but many people don't know how the insects produce their signature glow. The glow is seen at the abdomen region of the fireflies. They emit light due to the chemical reaction of a protein that requires the substrates: luciferin with oxygen, calcium and ATP – the energy-carrying molecule of all cells resulting in production of glow whenever Luciferase is present. Males and females of the same species will flash signals back and forth as a way of communicating. This reaction is an oxidation reaction. The glow and light emission reaction is all known as bioluminescence. As highlighted, fireflies have dedicated light organs that are located under their abdomens. The insects take in oxygen and, inside special cells, combine it with a substance called luciferin to produce light with almost no heat. Firefly light is usually intermittent, and flashes in patterns that are unique to each species. Each blinking pattern is an optical signal that helps fireflies find potential mates. Scientists are not sure how the insects regulate this process to turn their lights on and off (1/0). Firefly light may also serve as a defense mechanism that flashes a clear warning of the insect's unappetizing taste. The fact that even larvae are luminescent lends support to this theory. Today there are Luciferase in other bioluminescent animals which serves as enzymes that produces light when they oxidize their substrate. Luciferase from other animals such as the sea pansy Renilla reniformis, the copepod Gaussia princeps, and the ostracod Cypridina noctiluca – are also used as reporters, but the gene from most common Luciferase is firefly.

HOW LUCIFERIN OF LUCIFERASE IS ADMINISTERED

As mentioned, Luciferin is a light-emitting compound, and Luciferase is an enzyme that accelerates the relation. When the two compounds interact with oxygen and some other compounds, energy is released as light. (Luciferin is typically applied intraperitoneally or intravenously) – in that you could inject 10MicroL of Luciferin stock solution per gram of body weight and wait 10-20 minutes before imaging for maximum luciferase signal plateau. Bioluminescence occurs when luciferase modifies the molecule luciferin which can emit bright yellow-green light. If necessary, luciferin solutions may be stored at four degrees Celsius or minus twenty degree Celsius for up to three weeks. However, prolonged storage at either temperature may results in degradation of signal. The gene that encodes luciferase enzyme is then introduced into cells from mammals or cancer cells and in the presence of luciferin these cells begin to glow which signifies or reports activities of the cell under experiment.

IMPORTANCE OF LUCIFERASE

Fireflies and Luciferase is the new insight (chemical Tool) that helps in biological reporting. Luciferase reporter gene assays have a number of important applications in biomedical science and cancer biology. Fireflies signal the effects of a changing climate. With a species so deeply connected to its habitat, its early arrival is a reminder of the importance of curbing climate change. Research shows that Luciferase (light-producing enzyme naturally found in insects such as fireflies and luminous marine and terrestrial microorganisms) is proven to be a useful chemical in food and forensic testing. Luciferase is used to detect levels of ATP which is the energy-carrying molecule of all cells in cells. Research shows that the luciferase-modified magnetic nanoparticles is a magnetic platform that can be utilized as a possible alternative for QD-based bio-imaging, and which also has potential for magnetic cellular manipulation and MRI applications and that the glow-in-the-dark protein called luciferase improves medical diagnostics.

A commonly used reporter gene is the Luciferase gene from the firefly Photinus pyralis. The gene encodes a 61-kDa enzyme that oxidizes D-luciferin in the presence of ATP, oxygen, and MG (++), yielding a fluorescent product that can be quantified by measuring the released light. The common reporter genes are: beta-galactosidase, luciferase, beta-lactamase, alkaline phosphatase and GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein). Luminescence, absorbance and fluorescence detection methods are used typically to measure expressed reporter gene protein. The main disadvantage of the reporter gene is the need of cofactors such as ATP and metal ions when compared to florescent reporters where a chemical substrate are necessary to facilitate the enzymatic reaction that leads to a quantifiable light signal. Relatively, the primary disadvantage of luciferase is the requirement for exogenous substrates and the 4-6 h delay from stimulus to response to allow transcription to occur. LUC-labeled-cells-acting as a reporter is a light emitting enzyme that helps in sending reports in a cell (e.g. level of growth of a tumor). It is important to note that the FLUC Reporter system or technology is a very sensitive reporter with high variety of applications. To utilize the reporter system to their full capacity, however, there is the need to study and understand the real characteristics of the phenomena. There are three (3) different Luciferase reporters: the NanoLuc Luciferase (Nluc, 19kDa), Renilla Luciferase (Rluc, 36kDa) and Firefly Luciferase (Fluc, 61kDa) which vary in size, brightness, and protein half-life. The popularity of native firefly luciferase as genetic reporter is due to the sensibility and convenience of the enzyme assay and tight coupling of protein synthesis with Enzyme activity.

The amount of light produced provides the quantitative measure of the effect of protein level measurement in the cell of a particular DNA or gene of a living organism using a luminometer. However, it is important to note that luminescence signal decays over the course of about 10 minutes of reaction time, although signal half-life may vary depending on luciferase expression levels. The light production resulting from the luciferase reaction leads to formation of suicidal adenyl-oxyluciferin at the enzyme surface. These can take place by conducting a Luciferase Assay Test Experiments with the help of a Reporter Gene Technology. As a results, cells can be sorted according to the level at which they illuminate. Luciferase Assay Test Experiments is commonly used as a tool to gene expression at the transcriptional level. It is widely used because it is convenient, relatively inexpensive, and gives quantitative measurements instantaneously. Research reveals that LUC can be used to study the nuclear delivery of oligonucleotides. A luciferase assay is used to determine if a protein can activate or repress the expression of a target gene.

Luciferase-based assays are better than other reports because it is proven to be quick and offers a real-time measurement. Exceptionally high sensitivity than fluorescent reporters like the GFP (10-to1000 fold). The range of measurement is wide and dynamic.

THE DECLINE OF FIREFLIES

The bugs are endangered around due to habitat loss, toxic chemicals (which tend to linger in aquatic environments where fireflies start their lives) and light pollution. Researchers agree that protecting and enhancing firefly habitat is necessary to conserve their populations. However, it is important to note that effects of artificial light at night on fireflies has shown that light pollution can disrupt fireflies' courtship signals and even interfere with larval dispersal. Harvesting of Luciferase produced by fireflies themselves, habitat destruction, pesticides, including insecticides and herbicides also contributes to their decline in our biodiversity changes in terrestrial ecosystem characterized by climate change. Due to impact of climate change, it is observed that fireflies in some part of the world like United States of America lacks the ability to produce light.

Acknowledgements: www.sciencedirect.com www.nationalgeographic.com

TRANSITION TO SOIL FERTILITY IN ORGANIC FARMING

Dynamic of Innovations into a Sustainable Agricultural Practice in Support Of Circular Economy in Africa

Fertility in Organic Farming

(Inquiry into innovative agricultural practice that is economic and ecologically viable)

By: Jonathan Tetteh-Cole aka NORJGiX

The soil, plants and crops (SPC) plays essential role in our lives. We need to prudently manage them to alleviate food insecurity in the midst of climate and weather challenges confronting us today and the future.

Years ago, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations predicted that the world population will be over 9.1 billion people by the middle of the 21st century. Accordingly, food production will have to rise about 70% above current levels to maintain pace with demand. The credible method for obtaining this enhancement in food production would be to increase the amount of land available for agriculture. However, the conversion of natural forests and/or other wild habitats engenders a number of well-known negative impacts on climate change and global bio-diversity. Furthermore, it is accepted worldwide that such an expansion of agriculture could be responsible for approximately 12% of global warming. Regardless of its implications, sustainable agriculture must be based on providing optimal growing conditions for plants in order to achieve optimal crop production from the land over a season. To not only optimize crop yield but also to reduce the negative impacts that agriculture can exert on the environment, it is mandatory that farmers adopt the best agricultural practices. Agriculture in the 21st century faces several challenges, including: producing meat without raising animals, better irrigation management for agricultural processes, the development of genetic engineering for droughttolerant and higher-yielding crops, the improvement of agricultural precision and aquaculture, the sustainable development of biofuels, and the promotion of organic agriculture around the world. However, intensifying food production must be achieved in an environmentally safe manner through ecological intensification to increase the yield per unit of land, approaching the maximum available yield of farming systems, with minimal or no negative environmental impact. Due to soil malnutrition and infertility, it is evident, then, that effective fertilizer selection, as well as its rational use, is key to meeting this challenge. Perhaps the most important of the major objectives of farmers, members of National Administrations, and the suppliers of agricultural inputs is to both stimulate the use of appropriate agricultural practices and to guarantee the availability of suitable fertilizers in the market. Techniques such as crop rotation, minimum tillage, and crops grown under cover tend to maintain the structure and quality of soils.

Aside these, records reveals that the volume of organic waste is on the rise exponentially, and in most countries, it is left untreated which is leading to tragic consequences for local and global environment. Agricultural, animal farming, food industries, cities and alike all produce organic waste on regular basis. Embarking on waste segregation under circular economy practice, organic waste could be recycles into fertilizers (soil conditioner), but current processes are unstable, inefficient, and frequently involve use of hazardous chemicals which could pose environmental consequences. So, there is the need to transform the organic waste into a sustainable and effective soil conditioner with the least significant environmental impact. The correct selection and application of fertilizers is directly determined by (the 4Rs) the right dose/rate, the right source, the right time, and the right placement method. Fertilizer can be in the form of liquid, powder, or granule.

By definition, a fertilizer is a material, either of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soils or to plant tissues to supply at least one, but often more, of the nutrients essential for plant growth. The majority of fertilizers employed in commercial farming provide the three main soil fertilizers (namely, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash). These fertilizers are extracted from minerals (e.g., from phosphate rock) or produced industrially (e.g., ammonia). In contrast, the other type of product employed is the organic fertilizers, which are derived from animal matter, animal excreta (manure), human excreta, and vegetable matter (e.g., compost and crop residues). Naturally-occurring organic fertilizers include animal wastes from meat recessing, peat, manure, slurry, and guano. Dependence on organic nutrient sources is a central characteristic of organic agriculture, which uses nutrients derived from sources such as livestock and green manure and even several types of compost to meet crop demands in intensive production.

Organic farming is a practice that is aimed to conserve, protect human health, maintain or enhance natural resources with the goal to preserve quality of environment for posterity to thrive in a sustainable way. One of the advantages of the use of organic fertilizers for organic farming is that they provide crops with nutrients over a long period of time in a slow and extended release process. Accordingly, more research on improving efficiency and minimizing losses from organic natural resources is underway to determine costs and benefits analysis, and to develop optimal agricultural practices to avoid the use of synthetic inorganic or mineral fertilizers. However, we are aimed to highlighting the importance of production and application of organic fertilizers in sustainable agriculture practice and the safety of our Eco diversity.

SOURCES OF FERTILIZER AND ITS DRAWBACK

Basically, it is important to note that organic matter and nutrients play an important role in terrestrial ecosystems and agro ecosystems - enriches the soil with beneficial microbes. However, inadequate production and application of raw material of biofertilizers could pose the soil and plant to disease and pest attack or foodborne pathogenic bacterial on crops. Conversely, a long-term application of mineral fertilizers and farmyard manure could help maintains the health of soils but may pose sustainable negative impact to our environment and ecosystem. Application of inorganic or synthetic fertilizer which is composed of ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, and potassioun sulfate is only good for boosting cropyield but could be detrimental to plants or contaminate agric produce, ground and surface water bodies – as it do little to improve long-term health, texture or fertility in a sustainable way. Henceforth, appropriate CN and NPK ratios (Fertilizer Fertility Formulation Formulae) need to be carefully considered at onset. On the contrary, the N-P-K ratio of organic fertilize is lower than the N-P-K ratio of synthetic fertilizer.

IMPORTANCE OF COMPOSTING

Microorganisms play a very important role in composting. Rapid composting entails creating the best environment to support microbial activity. The following are important elements for rapid and efficient composting: moisture, aeration, temperature, and particle size of compost material. The principles of composting is one of the very old methodology which have been appreciated and employed in crop production for centuries. This method can nutritiously enrich the essential elements that enhances the physical, chemical and biological properties and processes thereby improving soil fertility for a sustainable crop production that is both valuable to agriculture and relatively safe from the viewpoint of public health considering all other factors that act to produce a finished compost for consumption.

ANAEROBIC FERMENTATION

on the contrary, the method of anaerobic fermentation of agricultural wastes, which is produced by a consortium of methanogenic microorganisms including humic-like substances, for applications such as plant growth biostimulants, organic-mineral fertilizers, and phytohormones could also be adopted.

IMPORTANCE OF COMPOST TEAS

Based on the nature and behaviour of its nutrient sources, effects and mechanisms, compost teas which is an organic fertilizer could also be an ideal beneficial product in any cropping system.

VERMICOMPOSTING METHOD

Vermicomposting method which is a pollution-free and cost-effective product, could also be employed in many applications to increase water-holding capacity, crop growth, and yield, and to improve the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil in order to increase the production of plant growth regulators.

IMPROVEMENTS IN CROP PRODUCTION THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF ORGANIC FERTILIZER

In the past 30 years, there had be tremendous innovations in the quest to improve crop production. For instance in a country like the South East of Asia, Vietnam has been producing organic fertilizers from a range of materials using different production technologies, but production capacity is small and does not meet the demands of organic agriculture. It is important to note that soil microbes basically need to break down the fertilizer into plant uptake. To these effect, from the onset the following factors need to be considered: First, soil texture (sandy, silt, and clay). It is therefore critical to determine category of crop to produce, for instance, wet feet plants need 40% of silt and 20% of clay because the combination is hard to get wet but stays wet for a long time. We can amend the silt and clay soil by adding compost or coarse sand. However sandy soil (40%) drains faster therefore there is the need to amend it with fertilizer, sawdust or nitrogen. Second, the pH level in terms of acidity and alkalinity (sour acidic soil – Neutral pH – Alkaline Soil) need to be considered. However, too low of soil pH or too high soil pH can result in plant deficiency or Toxicity, so therefore there is the need to carefully manage soil changes or concentration adjustments. It is important to know that most plants survive under 6.0 – 7.0. Once soil pH level is determined, it may be necessary to adjust it to suit the needs of the plants you’re growing. The level of acidity will specify the amount of soil amendment that is needed to bring it up or down to the appropriate level. Acidic (“sour”) soil is counteracted by applying finely ground limestone or wood ash, and alkaline (“sweet”) soil is typically treated with gypsum (calcium sulfate), ground sulfur, or compost. Paying particular attention to soil pH level for plants and the availability of Nutrients at Varying pH Values

Loamy soil consist of equal parts of Sandy: Silk: Clay known as a perfect balance (where the soil is moist, allow oxygen, has more organic matter). Third, Soil Testing: the results will determine whether to improve soil fertility with compost which is an organic matter. However, soil enriched with naturally occurring microorganisms (earthworm, fungi, etc.) easily and quickly breaks down organic matter to release the needed essential nutrients to grow plants. However it is important to note that during the digging to apply the fertilizer could disturb the soil structure, so can live the compost or organic matter on the surface for earthworms to do the digging – as well as warm-up before pullout weeds.

FUTURE OF ORGANIC FERTILIZER

Eco-technologies have a serious role to play in this industry in that lately, players are conducting thorough research into the use of Nanomaterial of Nanofertilizers which helps to improve crop production and protection together with environmental protection. The Nanomaterial enhance the control release of soil nutrients to the plant. Here, the micronutrients are integrated with the nanomaterial helping to provide nutrients to the plant without deteriorating the environment and the ecosystem. At this juncture, it is evident that future agricultural practices will irreversibly shape Planet Earth’s land surface, including its species, geochemistry, and the protection of the entire bio-diversity.

Counting of your cooperation of changed values, attitudes, believe and behaviour, we aspire to meet the expectations and needs of all stakeholders in the different aspects of the use of organic fertilizers to achieve a sustainable agriculture without compromising environmental integrity”.

Henceforth, all contributions made by researchers, scientists, engineers, teachers, graduate students, agricultural agronomists, farmers, and crop producers are duly acknowledged.

SCRATCHING THE COAL TO CODE YOUNG

SCRATCH CODING

By: Jonathan Tetteh-Cole aka NORJGiX

It’s a privilege to introduce Scratch coding you. Scratch can be easily integrated with the curriculum to enhance teaching and learning of ICT. In the process of learning Scratch coding, students’ cognitive skills; ability and approaches to solving problems; communicating of ideas; data management approaches; researches; and creative skills is thus developed and heightened.

OUR MISSION ON THE SUBJECT

Our Team integrates Scratch coding across different subject areas and age groups - introducing students to computer programming and games in a fun and exciting way. Having in mind the goal of why the Scratch software was designed, we guide students to write their own programs such as, interactive stories; animations; music; arts; and games in a matter of minutes. We coach students how to plan, solve problems and design projects. We coordinate activities to ensure that students work together as planned and in teams bounded by time. We make them have the opportunity to present their work to their peers and teacher. We guide them in learning how to respond and react to feedback. We assist them to research a project on the internet and learn how to evaluate information on website. We present students with the opportunities to explore their creative-and-artistic side in designing; managing; and sharing interactive projects.

We ensure that at the completion of lessons under modules, the learner should be able to:

1. Solve problems by analyzing a problem and breaking it down into its constituent parts.

2. Design a high level solution to a problem.

3. Implement the solution to a particular problem in Scratch by using programming concepts.

4. Implement the solution to a particular problem in scratch by using mathematical and computational ideas.

5. Update; modify; and maintain existing projects in scratch.

6. Continue to use 21st century learning skills.

7. Explain the research challenges and successes faced.

8. Conduct internet research and evaluate internet websites.

9. Make a presentation to their peers and teacher.

10. Give and receive constructive feedback on their project work.

OUR VISION ON THE SUBJECT

• To develop the foundational building blocks for sustainable technology-led economies in order to facilitation and transfer ICT literacy which is in support of the United Nation SDG 9.C.

• To develop more innovative and user-friendly methods of using visual blocks to create intelligent applications in future.

• To coach students in a way that will aid them in leaning other relevant academic subjects.

• To develop students who may aim at learning computer programming in future as a career-path.

• To enhance the youth creativity and encourage them to build more programs and learn by sharing.

• To encourage more schools to teach students’ Scratch coding to enhance their mentality and help them to understand, plan and solve societal problems.

• To ensure students learn Scratch at all levels and across different disciplines such as mathematics; computer science; language arts; social studies and alike.

THE GOAL OF SCRATCH CODING

Scratch is the world’s largest online learning community for youngsters. It is a project developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab. Scratch is a programming environment that allows students to code a specific problem; design their own interactive games; arts; animated stories; generate visualizations; program simulations; make musical instruments; build tools for others; and so much more without realizing they are learning programming. In the process they learn to think creatively, work collaboratively and reason systematically – essential skills for everyone in today’s society. Thus, Scratch was specifically designed to allow developers to discover and exhibit their own creative ideas and apply them in reality in the form of games, images, sounds, and animations to invent multimedia software on-the-go; development of robotics; and simulations (creating a virtual demonstration by imitating things that can be done in real life).

OUR EXPERIENCE ON THE SUBJECT:

We have experts who are endowed with many years’ of experience in ICT training; facilitation; and infrastructural development which are hallmarks of today’s digital society'.

OUR QUOTE:

‘There are many paths and many styles yet there are different people with different ideas but all aimed at solving societal problems”. – NORJGiX

MEMBER OF:

MIT Scratch Education Community: NORJGiX | Studio | Projects https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/317003645 https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/320566499 https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/317032966 Raspberry Pi Foundation | Projects https://online.coolestprojects.org/projects/6657

THE RaDiPS HAMLET

As we continue to contribute to finding solutions to world’s pressing problems, we find the need to develop and deploy an AI-enabled tech-based solution known as the RaDiPS Hamlet – a one stop platform purposefully made for Rare Disease Patients and the Stakeholders to access healthcare with constant social engagement while ensuring that carbon footprint is reduced.

The motivation is due to the fact that genetic disease is the cause of exit of some of our world’s famous music legends such as Michael Jackson (Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency) and Celine Dion (Stiff-person syndrome), and others. The roadmap of the policy framework is geared toward:

1. Rare Disease Early Diagnosis Awareness Creation and Advocacy is Key: rare disease affect fewer than 200,000 people across a broad range of possible disorders and it is 80% genetic disease. The RD ratio cut across countries, for instance 1:2000 in Africa. Report shows that globally, there are about 7,000 rare diseases affecting people like world famous artists such as Michael Jackson (Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency) and Celine Dion (Stiff-person syndrome). To that effect if diagnosed early for treatment could be well managed.

2. RD Prevention through Lifestyle Choice and Changes: (i) few of RDs are preventable but many are not. (ii) During courtship, there is the need to go for blood-type testing before marring to avoid production of RD babies. (iii) Avoid the high risk of producing RD babies by ensuring you don’t marry blood relative. (iv) avoid incest-baby-making which poses a high risk of producing RD babies and will cause genetic abnormality in future. (v) Pregnant women must consume prescribed drugs only at right dosage during prenatal and antenatal stages. (vi) Avoid alcohol and tobacco (which includes passive smoking). (vii) Eat balanced diet while avoiding getting dehydrated in the cause of maintaining good lifestyle. (ix) Conduct regular checks and report on anomalies during pregnancy. (x) Protect yourself against infectious disease. (xi) With medical history of any chronic disease, try as much as possible to go for preconception care to avoid congenital anomalies. (xii) The pregnant woman can opt for genetic testing and counselling at the risk of producing RD baby. (xiii) Join the RD community and participate in clinical trials. (xiv) Share all relevant information on the RDP with RD specialist on the proposed Rare Disease Patients and Stakeholders platform (RaDiPS Hamlet).

3. Responses from Rare Disease Patients - Challenges confronting them and their Dependents (Parents or Caregivers): (i) Rare disease patients and their dependents normally suffer from discrimination and therefore extremely isolates themselves from society. (ii) The RDPs often live as undiagnosed patents. (iii) They face stigma of health professionals with doubt to hear the patient. (iv) RDPs and their caregivers or parents are faced with high cost of diagnosis and treatment. (v) When they are not being integrated in society and economies in order to fully live to realize their full potential. (vi) RDPs have difficulties in accessing the labour market and lack of getting active support for employment, likewise not having fair working condition. (vii) The RDPs face challenges of not getting timely access to health-and-social-care which includes education. (viii) The RDPs and their caregivers or parents are often not being inclusive and person-centered which kills their inspiration which often strive them to contribute to national growth and development as economies strives to adhere to the UNSDG – improving good-health and wellbeing; universal education; inequality; partnership; etc. (ix) Normally society infringes on their rights. (x) The RDPs management often faces challenges on data capturing and control by economies on the foresight study and policy framework that leads to their better future.

4. RDP Recovery: Notably, there is the need for rare disease people to get diagnosed as early as possible – as they cooperate in releasing of data to ensure their quality of full-life (long-life-span) without compromising their priorities in a sustainable way. To that effect, the following questions could be begging for sustainable solutions. (i) Why the RDPs prefer remote interaction with healthcare specialists? (ii) Why is there the need to facilitate knowledge-care-delivering through technology? 5. The Tech-Based Solution Touches On The Following Dimensions: (i) Make rare disease patients’ access rare disease healthcare with minimal efforts – thereby reducing their carbon footprint. (ii) Create RDH awareness campaign. (iii) Prevent escalation of the rare disease. (iv) Manage and control response from RDPs and all the relevant stakeholders. (v) Recovering from the RDs through early diagnosis and treatments. (vi) Extensively ensuring that carbon Footprint is reduced in the rare disease healthcare space through production of long-lifespan biomedical tools and equipment while sustainably recycling biomedical waste and (vii) Emphasizes the need to make biomedical products biodegradable without compromising the material sterility or safety as manufacturers replace unnecessary plastics of products.

Therefore, it is important to note that rare disease patient’s life matter – and that it is about TIME society elevate their voices or concerns.

Climate Change Impact | Read-Learn-Change-Share

“Right or wrong, adapt a lifestyle that contributes in mitigating the challenges of our life-system in a sustainable way.” ~ JATC

COMBATTING THE CLIMATE ATMOSPHERIC MONSTERS BOOT-FOR-BOOT

Climate change refers to long-term shift in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural but since the 1800’s and the era of industrial revolutions, humans and their killer-activities have been the main drivers of climate change in that they are immensely releasing large amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere including other activities that depletes the ozone layer in the atmosphere as well as burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) which produces the heat-trapping gasses (GHG) aka Heat-sucking monsters or climate atmospheric monsters. In effect these GHG changes Planet Earth climate by warming it.

Naturally, the atmosphere contains oxygen that protects us from harmful ultraviolet solar radiation. The more carbon dioxide, the more the atmosphere warms due to the effect of the GHG. A warmer atmosphere holds more water vapor which is itself a greenhouse gas. This is how the water vapor triples the warming from increasing carbon dioxide and other gasses.

The atmospheric changes is influenced by the earth’s carbon dioxide and oxygen levels as they drive change in atmospheric temperatures, which in turn influence global warming and the threat of rising ocean level which is gradually sinking countries like Kiribati and other countries below sea level.

The potential future effects of global climate change includes frequent wildfires; longer period of drought; increase in vector-born diseases including other health issues; increase in the duration and intensity of tropical storms with unpredictable weather patterns; socio-cultural and economic crises; and posing challenges to survival of wildlife and ecosystem.

As INDIVIDUALS, HOUSEHOLDS, INDUSTRIES AND GOVERNMENTS - We cannot stop global warming overnight but can change our activities in order to slow down the rate and limit the amount of global warming in a sustainable fashion by reducing all the human-led emissions of heat-trapping gasses aka heat-sucking monsters which again ...starts from YOU and I to retard the time bomb.

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THE MENACE OF GLOBAL WARMING