World
China ordered closing of more than 20,000 polluting plants in 2015
Beijing: In a crackdown against polluting industries, China shut down 20,000 plants and got $654 billion as fine from polluters in 2015. The amount is 34 percent more than the 2014 fines.
Besides, 34,000 plants had to halt production for not complying with the environmental rules, the government said in a report.
In 2015, 1.77 million enterprises were inspected while 191,000 companies were investigated for flouting environmental laws.
Ä total of 97,000 administrative orders were issued, with a total penalty of $654 billion, an increase of 34 percent than the figure in 2014.
Approval for projects in 20 cities and counties of China were also suspended.
The report said the average PM 2.5 concentration in 74 cities of China decreased by 14.1 percent and some 3.9 million outdated vehicles were scrapped.
China is faced with worsening air pollution and environmental degradation — an offshoot of unbridled growth of factories.
The issue is one of the top agendas in the ongoing session of the National People’s Congress — China’s parliament.
According to study in 2015, 1.6 million die people die every year due to air pollution in China.
Beijing is one of the most polluted cities in the world. In December last year, it ordered closure of schools in the wake of worsening smog in Beijing.
China, which is battling its slowest economic growth rate in 25 years, has made it clear that recovery will not come at the cost of environment.
The world’s second-largest economy grew by 6.9 percent in 2014. This year, the government has pegged the growth rate between 6.5 and 7 percent.
In a meeting with legislators on Thursday, President Xi Jinping said that environment should be treated as “our lifeline”.
“The ecological environment has irreplaceable value. We should treat it as our lifeline and protect it like the apple of our eye,” Xi was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.
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.