World
Cold weather kills far more people than hot weather: Lancet
London: After analysing over 74 million deaths in 384 locations across 13 countries, a global study has revealed that cold weather kills 20 times as many people as hot weather.
The findings, published in the prestigious journal The Lancet, also found that deaths due to moderately hot or cold weather substantially exceed those resulting from extreme heat waves or cold spells.
It is often assumed that extreme weather causes the majority of deaths, with most previous research focusing on the effects of extreme heat waves.
“Our findings show that the majority of these deaths actually happen on moderately hot and cold days, with most deaths caused by moderately cold temperatures,” said lead author Antonio Gasparrini from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
The study analysed over 74 million deaths between 1985 and 2012 in 13 countries with a wide range of climates, from cold to subtropical.
Around 7.71 percent of all deaths were caused by non-optimal temperatures, with substantial differences between countries, ranging from around three percent in Thailand, Brazil and Sweden to about 11 percent in China, Italy and Japan.
Cold was responsible for the majority of these deaths (7.29 percent of all deaths), while just 0.42 percent of all deaths were attributable to heat.
The study also found that extreme temperatures were responsible for less than one percent of all deaths.
Mildly sub-optimal temperatures accounted for around seven percent of all deaths – with most (6.66 percent of all deaths) related to moderate cold.
Current public-health policies focus almost exclusively on minimising the health consequences of heat waves.
“Our findings suggest that these measures need to be refocused and extended to take account of a whole range of effects associated with temperature,” suggested Gasparrini.
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.