Have you ever considered the impact of your shopping habits on the environment? It’s important to realize that agriculture and food production have a significant impact on the environment, and consumers can play a vital role in reducing this impact with their purchasing decisions. Let’s take a closer look at this issue.
Category: Lifestyle
Mark these Dates! Your Ultimate Guide to Must-Know Dates in Australia
It’s no secret that Australians know how to celebrate! From sports games and music festivals to various public holidays, there is always something to look forward to in the land down under. However, there are some essential dates that every Australian should mark on their calendar, to show respect and commemoration where it is due.
These events celebrate the country’s history, cultural diversity, and achievements. In this article, we’ve compiled a list of must-know dates for Australians to make sure you don’t miss out.
ANZAC Day – April 25
ANZAC Day is one of Australia’s most important national days of remembrance. It commemorates the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought in the Gallipoli campaign during World War I. Nowadays, ANZAC Day honours all Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. Australians pay their respect with dawn services, parades, and wreath-laying ceremonies.
Reconciliation Day (National Reconciliation Week is held annually from May 27-June 3)
Reconciliation Day in Australia marks the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum and the High Court Mabo decision. The day aims to increase awareness and understanding of Indigenous Australian history and culture, and promote reconciliation between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The reconciliation process includes acknowledging the past, respecting Indigenous cultures, and working together towards a shared future.
National Sorry Day – May 26
National Sorry Day is a significant and solemn event to recognise the atrocities and injustices the Indigenous people of Australia experienced during the era of forced removals (‘the Stolen Generations’). National Sorry Day acknowledges their trauma and suffering, and highlights the importance of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
NAIDOC Week – First Week of July
NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The event dates back to the 1920s, when Aboriginal rights activists organised a ‘Day of Mourning’ to acknowledge the survival of their culture and the impacts of colonisation. NAIDOC Week events include community markets, art exhibitions, music festivals, cultural performances and more.
Australians have a vibrant and diverse culture, and there is always a date to commemorate
Marking these must-know dates in your calendar will allow you to engage with your community, learn about the country’s history and cultures, and celebrate national identity. As Australians, we have a responsibility to acknowledge the pain and injustices that the original inhabitants of our land experienced and work towards reconciliation. Remembering significant dates like Reconciliation Day is a vital step in the journey towards healing and unity.
Right To Repair Explained
Many people may have heard of the right to repair movement happening in several parts of the world, while not fully understanding what this entails. As the world moves forward into a new technological age, ownership of items is becoming a tricky topic in a lot of sectors. In previous years, when buying a car, the car would be completely yours.
Now with software ownership taken into consideration, the lines of what you owned are being blurred. With a lack of ownership comes difficulty in servicing and repairing the things you are meant to own.
Why Right To Repair Matters
A company retaining rights over its software is typically not seen as a problem, even if this software is running a physical item you own. The main problem comes in when manufacturers push for hardware control through the software, for the device to be unserviceable by anybody except the original manufacturer.
It may seem like a somewhat dystopian idea, but it is already happening today. The main goal behind this is to create a monopoly on the repair industry, allowing for a large additional revenue stream, and to allow manufacturers to decide when the appropriate end of life should be.
What Right To Repair Entails
When looking at an overview, there are a few different prongs when it comes to right to repair, some of which make sense and some seeming only made to turn a profit.
Honouring Warrantee – Right to glotech appliance repair includes that manufacturers would need to honour warranties even if there has been a previous repair by a third party. This may be difficult to track and enforce, as a manufacturer will reserve the right to deny a repair under warranty if the previous failed repair has only done more damage.
Safety – Safety is difficult to quantify. In the likes of Tesla being against the right to repair, it completely makes sense. An untrained person attempting to make a repair on a Tesla battery pack is a possible fatal accident waiting to happen. With safety being justifiable, other companies like Apple are trying to jump on the same trend, claiming safety issues. When it comes to small technology the likes of which Apple makes, an unprofessional repair does not carry the same risk as what a Tesla battery pack would.
Cost – One consistence with all the companies fighting against right to repair is the consistent revenue stream supplied by providing repairs.
There are situations when fighting against the right to repair does make sense, however, these situations are relevant to only a few companies. On the grand scheme, it seems the only real reason some companies are fighting the change is to secure additional profits through expensive repair programs.
Why It Is A Problem?
A lot of consumers may not mind a company owning the rights to their devices. Apple is a good example here as they provide after sales service in every country in which they operate, if the after sales service is any good or not, is another conversation to be had, but it is there.
There are other brands who stick to the same philosophy, who don’t have the network to support customers.
Future Motion is a great example of how the repair monopoly has not been thought through properly. Future Motion provides electric skateboards in America known as the OneWheel, but also export throughout the world. Being an electric skateboard, the battery pack will have a limited lifetime. No matter, battery packs are easy to replace.
The OneWheel battery pack is simply made of 15x 18650 lithium-ion cells, cells which are easily available at virtually any electronic store in the world. Except when replacing these cells, consumers will be locked out of the OneWheel until it is returned to the factory to have it re-enabled. This leaves some international customers having to pay for shipping, which could exceed the initial purchase price, just because Future Motion does not want to allow third party repairs.
No Simple Answer
Unfortunately, unlike the outcomes of the games at Big Dollar Online Casino it seems that there is no one simple ruling that will fit for all companies. All companies involved are trying to push for the safety argument when for most, safety is just not relevant. The right to repair movement pushes onwards to hopefully a better future where we can do what we want to do with the products we own.
How To Grow Your YouTube Channel
YouTube has become an absolute phenomenon in the entertainment industry, supplying a source and cheap and easily accessible entertainment for the masses, while still being very lucrative for bigger content creators.
No matter if you are making videos for monetary gain, artistic expression or just because you like making videos, it’s always a great feeling to see the average views and subscriber counts grow.
The Downside
Before getting into how to make your channel grow, it’s important to understand the scale and competition you are up against. People don’t have an unlimited time to consume content each day and will gravitate to what they enjoy most, making the fight for viewers a big one.
There is, on average, 72000 hours of content uploaded to YouTube every single day. That is more than 8 year’s worth of constant viewing uploaded every day. This content is spread across 114 million different creators on the platform, 321000 of which have more than 100000 subscribers.
That may seem overwhelming with the amount of content you may need to go up against, but there is good news to be had. Looking at the amount of people with more than 100000 subscribers, it’s clear to see that achieving this level of YouTube success is very possible.
Quality Matters
YouTubers generally face a constant battle of quality versus quantity. Good quality videos will attract and keep an audience, while the YouTube algorithm tends to favour putting out videos on a more frequent basis. At the end of the day, viewers won’t enjoy your content if the quality is bad. Focus on quality of content first before looking at quantity.
There are several ways to elevate the quality of your videos, and one key approach is using good background music youtube. The right music can enhance the atmosphere, retain viewer attention, and add a professional touch to your content. Along with selecting music, investing in quality equipment such as cameras, microphones, and lighting ensures your videos are visually and audibly clear. Additionally, thoughtful planning is essential-crafting engaging scripts and editing out unnecessary footage will help create a more polished, enjoyable experience for your audience.
Some creators also tend to include screenshots of popular memes, graphics, or excerpts from articles and websites to make their videos more fun and visually pleasing. If you are interested in taking this approach as well, you can check out websites such as www.snipandview.com/snipandfloat-snip-tool/ that have snipping tools that allow you to capture and store screenshots, graphics, and images seamlessly.
Another way you could elevate the quality of your content is by collaborating with other YouTubers in your community to make things more interesting for your viewers. There are various ideas that you can explore and attempt to improve the quality of your videos, and doing so might even be rewarding.
Find Your Niche
Another major balancing act for YouTubers is finding the right community and niche. Content that is too generalized loose the attention of viewers, try and keep the channel to a consistent theme so that viewers will return as they know what to expect. In the same tone, don’t box your content in too much. Focusing on only one narrow topic, like a particular game, will lead to trouble when the game falls out of popularity. The ideal balance is wide enough that you can have a spread of content while remaining consistent enough to have repeated viewers still interested in your content. This can be a difficult balance to achieve and will be very individual to the content creator and their community.
Share Your Content
It can be difficult to watch some blogs or articles using your content for their own “click-through rate” as they can often leave your credit a bit too late in the article.
At the end of the day, while starting, any exposure is good exposure. For this reason, it’s a great idea to have an intro and outro which includes your channel’s name and cards at the end which link to more of your own videos.
Persevere
Perseverance is key, as growth is often not consistent. While there are a lot of channels that see slow and consistent growth, the larger portion of successful YouTube channels have seen this growth spike out of seemingly nowhere. This is all down to the algorithm and which videos YouTube will decide to push out.
Just like the gams at Lucky Creek Casino there is no one true way to predict the YouTube algorithm, so the best thing a content creator can do is to keep pushing out high quality content, even though the growth rate may be demotivating. Quality content will eventually be picked up by the algorithm, it’s only a matter of time.
How Do You Use CBD Oil?
CBD oil can be used in different ways. It all depends on how one wants to consume the oil. Some different ways to use CBD oil include; topical, inhalation, and sublingual administration.
CBD oil has become a great product in the market that people have made it a basic commodity in their lives. Most manufacturers have come up with different ways to consume CBD oil. Some use them when cooking food to consume them orally. It can also be put into capsules and measured into dosages. Other forms of taking CBD are dependent on personal preference. The benefits that CBD oil has made many consumers come up with different ways in which one can consume CBD oil. Some of the different ways in which uses CBD oil includes;
Uses of CBD Oil
Sublingually
This involves taking in the CBD oil by placing it under the tongue. For CBD oil, you will need to place the oil under the tongue and wait for some time so that its effects may be felt. Once you feel you have achieved the purpose, you can swallow the oil. When the No Cap Hemp Co THC Flower is administered beneath the tongue, the oil gets into the blood vessels through the tissues found in the mouth. The great thing about using sublingual administration is that it cannot combine with the food and other medications before they are absorbed. Some of the side effects include;
- Fatigue
- Foul smell and taste in the mouth
Transdermally
This is an adhesive patch placed on one’s skin to give out some medication on the skin. This method is mostly used by those who do not fancy having a pill or an injection. This method places a CBD oil patch on the skin, which can penetrate and eventually get to the bloodstream. The transdermal patch is mostly preferred over the oral forms. This is because it gives room for bioavailability improvement. It also does not have to go through the metabolism that happens when one takes CBD oil orally. However, side effects are associated with using the transdermal approach. Some of them include;
- Stomach pain
- Insomnia
- Drowsiness
- Swelling and irritation in the patched area
The downside of this approach is that it takes a lot of time for its effects to be felt. This is why most people sometimes use some drugs to help them while waiting for the CBD oil to take effect.
Topically
This medication is used by applying a lotion with CBD oil to the skin. They come in different forms; creams, ointments, and gels. When applying it to the skin, it can be absorbed into the body by penetrating through the skin and then getting into the bloodstream, and its effects are felt. They are used not only for medical purposes but also to nourish the skin and keep it moisturized. Moltke & Hindocha (2021) established that they often help treat skin conditions such as acne and eczema. Acne is brought about by the sebaceous glands producing a lot of oils that block the pores, thus causing acne. Some of the side effects include;
- Dryness of the skin
- Burning sensation
- Irritation
- Redness of the affected area
Orally
There are different methods for using CBD Sweets orally. They can be put into capsules and taken as a dosage into drinks, beverages, and food. When using it in food, be sure not to use too much heat. This is because the food might lose potency, and its effects may not be felt. They are taken through the mouth and then transferred into the bloodstream, where their effects are felt. Some of the side effects include;
- Dry mouth
- Foul smell and taste in the mouth
- Loss of appetite
Inhalation
Balmes (2019) suggested that CBD oil is put into the vape cartridge and then taken into the vape pen. Once it is inside the vape pen, it is turned on, and one inhales the CBD oil by drawing some vapor into the mouth in breath sips. Hold it in for a while, then open the mouth to inhale the vapor. You may even find bongs to inhale oils,and dabs from. The method of consumption of these would be based on the same principle. However, the potency of the hit may vary based on the temperature at which it is burned. At the perfect dabbing temp, it could induce better, more calming effects than when burned at a very high temperature.
Once the vapor gets into the lungs, you can exhale. It improves an individual’s mood and makes them relaxed. Some of the side effects include;
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
Benefits Of CBD Oil
Acts As A Pain Reliever
According to Ivker (2017), CBD oil helps in relieving and minimizing the pain that is present in the body. It interacts with the endocannabinoid system, which helps regulate the body’s functions. It helps in minimizing the pain that is associated with inflammation. It also assists in dealing with pain related to the back and nerves. They are most effective when they are used together with THC.
Treat Skin Conditions
Most CBD oils are used as topicals. They exist in different forms, creams, gels, and lotions. They are applied to the skin to treat various skin conditions. Some skin conditions that can be treated with CBD Oil UK are acne and eczema. Acne is brought about by too much secretion of sebum into the human body, causing them to block the skin pores, bringing about acne. CBD oil works by opening the pores of the skin. Evans (2020) explained that most people use CBD products in their skincare routine because of their benefits to their skin.
Conclusion
The rise of CBD oil has made most people come up with different ways in which they can use them. They have a lot of benefits to the human body. For one to be on the safer side, it’s a requirement to choose how they would be comfortable enough, and it won’t affect them in any way. Just like they have a lot of benefits to the human body, they also have some risks. One should be careful about the different ways in which they are using CBD oil. The risks, however, are not as damaging as they can be managed. Note that the several forms of applying CBD oil are not the same; they have different effects and immediate effects compared to others.
Reference
Balmes, J. R. (2019). Vaping-Induced Acute Lung Injury: An Epidemic That Could Have Been Prevented. American Journal Of Respiratory And Critical Care Medicine, 200(11), 1342-1344.
Evans, J. (2020). The Ultimate Guide To CBD: Explore The World Of Cannabidiol. Fair Winds Press.
Ivker, R. (2017). Cannabis For Chronic Pain: A Proven Prescription For Using Marijuana To Relieve Your Pain And Heal Your Life. Simon And Schuster.
Moltke, J., & Hindocha, C. (2021). Reasons For Cannabidiol Use: A Cross-Sectional Study Of CBD Users, Focusing On Self-Perceived Stress, Anxiety, And Sleep Problems. Journal Of Cannabis Research, 3(1), 1-12.
Zermatt Ski Guide for First-Timers
Zermatt is the best place to start as a novice skier, and the perfect spot for learning how to ski. Whether you are a beginner ski family or a keen off-piste expert, there is a perfect Zermatt terrain for you. The entire ski area of Zermatt is vast, but beginners are well catered for. The vastness of the ski area, and also the steep prices for ski passes, certainly puts off some beginners from getting started.
Unlike at many resorts, there are more affordable Zermatt chalets available for beginners, who are likely to use just the smaller areas and the beginner runs during their first week on skis. However, there is a very well organised beginners’ area around Sunnegga, near Zermatt, while intermediate skiers will get a taste of the highest pistes in Europe, located on Theodul Glacier, though getting up there takes time and the risk is of low visibility or lifts closing in poor weather. Also, beginners and intermediate skiers will not be left behind, as the groomed slopes with 63km of blacks and 75km of blues will provide everyone with more than enough opportunities for enjoyment on their Zermatt skiing holiday. For the first-time skiers and beginners, Zermatt is a stimulating destination for starting your skiing adventures at a traditional resort, but a traditional resort enhanced with modern facilities.
We suggest everyone who loves to ski visit Zermatt at least once. Zermatt is an awesome place to have your first mountain winter vacation, few places are as spectacular, and you would be wise to avoid getting hooked on skiing holidays if you begin here. If you are not planning on skiing, there is still a lot going on that’ll keep you occupied over 5 – 7 days in Zermatt, ranging from the skating rink through to the Matterhorn Central Museum. If you are heading into the city but are not looking to ski, make sure to read the Wanderlust Chloe Guide on Top Things To Do In Zermatt For Non-Skiers.
As a lifelong skier, the gorgeous pistes and the city of Zermatt will hook you. The blue runs at Zermatt are of course beginner runs, but the feeling is incredible just to be skiing them as anyone (and, needless to say, leaving all the kids behind is awesome. Just after learning how to ski the baby slopes for just two hours, we were quickly being led up to Zermatts blue slopes. For the next hour, we were skiing on the blue slopes, simply getting used to skiing with varying speeds.
The majority of runs in Zermatt remain good in late afternoon, but you can be certain of this by staying clear of busy ones which are getting cut up: Do not take a downhill run in the village, keep up higher and just ride around the higher slopes, and then descend downhill on the way out, so as to avoid a village running bottleneck. The Sunnegga area in Zermatt is a good place to start the skis in the morning, because it is on the resorts most south-facing face, so it is sunnier, and gets warmer early in the day.
6 Reasons You May Need Marriage Counseling
Every couple fights now and again. The real problems start when the fighting is so bad that you are no longer speaking to each other. It’s not even a matter of love; you know for a fact that you care deeply for your spouse. You just never seem to get along anymore.
When your future together is underneath a question mark, you may want to try couples family therapy. Here are some signs that will tell you it is time.
- There’s No Intimacy Anymore
Some couples, especially after many years of marriage, no longer engage with one another. It’s as if they are just roommates living in the same house. It may seem that there is no longer any romance between them. In such cases, it may be beneficial for these individuals to explore different options for the reincarnation of their sexual lives. The most effective way to do that could be by experimenting with new things in the bedroom. Trying new things can be a fascinating way to add excitement and variety to your sex life. Attempting new positions, incorporating sex toys, or role-playing could be excellent ways to do this. If need be, you can take ideas from role-playing videos on Tube v Sex or a similar website providing adult content. Apart from this, there might be other ways to spice up your marriage life such as planning date nights, cooking for your partner, going on romantic vacations, etc. However, if none of these methods work and you think that the spark in your relationship is gone and there is no connection and intimacy, it might be a sign that you need marriage counseling. That said, it might be essential to keep in mind that all couples can be different, and what works for one couple may not suit another. The most important thing is to be open, honest, and communicative with your partner, and to work together to find what works best for both of you.
- You Fight About Money
An average of 1 in 5 couples fights every month because of financial matters. When couples have different ways of earning or spending money, it may lead to anxiety and anger. This causes a clash of wills where you continuously say things you don’t mean. An argument over money once every blue moon is not unusual but should be addressed once this becomes common.
- One of the Partners Cheated
Most of the couples that go into therapy do so because someone has cheated in their relationship. It’s more common than you may think, as 25% of the men and 15% of the women admit to having had an affair. If you still love your partner but cannot repair the broken trust between you two, it is time to try marriage counseling.
- You Are Always Fighting
An argument over small matters now and again is normal; every couple clashes like that. That being said, if you are constantly fighting for no apparent reason, over the smallest things, it might show an underlying problem. Left unaddressed, it can lead to insecurity, discomfort, and depression. You could look to Strengthen Your Marriage with Christian Counseling.
- You Wish to Avoid Divorce
Most couples that go into therapy are married ones, facing a divorce. These people thought about divorce as the only solution, based on their problems. That being said, they still care about one another and want to see if they can still save their marriage. If you reached the stage where you are considering a divorce, you might want to visit a marriage counselor first. But if you have relentlessly tried everything and nothing works, it may be time to think about a divorce. When it gets to this stage, you may want to contact Peters May Family Law, or experts of a similar pedigree.
- You Are Going Through Something Big
You and your spouse may be getting along just fine, but a big change or event can throw your relationship into havoc. For instance, a child may be on the way, or you may be going away to college. Rather than letting these changes affect your relationship, you should consider marriage counseling.
The Bottom Line
If you still care about your partner but it seems like the marriage does not work anymore, you should consider couples therapy. By processing your issues, you may find your way back to your partner and salvage your marriage.
Tips On Looking After Your Body
Making an effort to maintain a healthy lifestyle can really reflect on both your physical and mental wellbeing since taking good care of your body can have a huge impact on your quality of life.
Be the best version of yourself by making small changes which can go a long way and leave you feeling better from within, ready to take on the years ahead so you can age gracefully and really make the most of every day.
To keep you feeling energised and stay healthy, here are some daily lifestyle changes you can make:
Cut down on smoking and alcohol
The foremost effects of alcohol and cigarettes are staining on the teeth and gums which can darken over time due to regular consumption. The stains and tar accumulation could be reduced and potentially removed with the help of a dentist in greenwood, in or elsewhere, but it could have other, more impactful effects. Some of these include premature ageing and an increase in the risk of disease, so cutting down on your intake can only lead to health and well-being benefits. Since many of us enjoy an alcoholic beverage when out socialising with friends or with a nice dinner in the evening, it is recommended to stick to the recommended limit which tends to be one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. When it comes to quitting smoking, there are many resources available nowadays to make the process much easier.
Focus on your happiness
Ensure you are making time for the things that you love since your mental wellbeing is just as important as your physical wellbeing, having a huge impact on your quality of life. Finding activities you enjoy can help you maintain a sense of purpose and keep you engaged so whether you join a sports team in your local area, spend more time with your loved ones, or ease the stress by fulfilling your sexual fantasies with BDSM restraints, find some enjoyment in every day.
Manage your stress in a healthy way
Although stress is a part of life that affects us all, living a highly stressful life can really take a toll on your body and leave you feeling like any excitement has been zapped from your life. The physical effects of stress on your body are vast, ranging from premature aging and wrinkles to a higher risk of heart disease. So, to unwind after a busy day, practice relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, and breathing techniques, or even head for a Swedish Massage in Aberdeen, NJ, or elsewhere near to you. You might also find some good alternatives in the form of cannabis products. Considering that smoking might not appeal to you, you could try out THC or CBD vapes. And if you already have a vape, there are cartridges you can find on https://skyhighmeds.com/lake-arrowhead-menu/ols/categories/vape-cartridges, or from a similar e-dispensary.
Give your body recovery time
Not getting enough sleep each night can have a huge impact on our quality of life since good sleep is important for your physical and mental health, playing a role in your skin’s health, happiness, energy levels, concentration, and long-term health conditions. If you are someone who struggles to get enough rest or tosses and turns through the night, trying out different home remedies and ensuring you give yourself plenty of wind-down time is recommended.
Nurture your skin
As we progress in age, our skin becomes more delicate and vulnerable to damage. Therefore, it becomes crucial to prioritize skincare to preserve its youthful and healthy appearance. Firstly, establish a skincare routine, which will help you effectively remove surface impurities like oil, dirt, and dust. Also, if your body exhibits signs of aging such as wrinkles, you may consider cosmetic treatments like microneedling in Virginia Beach, VA (or your location). This procedure can effectively diminish the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and scars, helping to rejuvenate your skin. Apart from these methods, you can do your own research to know about the dos and don’ts of keeping healthy skin.
Stay active
As you get older, staying active is more important than ever so make an effort to keep your body moving on a regular basis. Some great ideas to keep you motivated include scenic walks and hikes, participating in group exercise classes, or joining the gym with a friend in the local area. Not exercising enough is shown to lead to an increased risk of chronic illness and early death, being a factor in numerous health conditions.
How Teachers Can Use Stock Photos To Enhance Their Lessons
Teachers have an onerous responsibility of ensuring students learn their lessons effectively. They make use of different methodologies to enhance the learning process. One of the ways to make learning more effective is to use photos or images while teaching.
It is a well-known fact that a picture speaks louder than words. Using photographs can help students understand the topic being taught better. This is true whether the students are at primary school or at college.
Using photographs to enhance learning
A photograph provides a lot of information. It has the advantage of offering visual imagery that makes the student perceive things better. Displaying a photograph in the classroom is a good way to grab the student’s attention. Imagine a history lesson where photographs of people, places, and monuments are shown. This makes learning very effective.
The following explains how using photographs can enhance learning.
- Photographs can help in improving the concentration and retention of students. Seeing a photograph while listening to the teacher makes students remember the lesson better.
- Explaining a difficult topic becomes easy when images are used. A biology lesson on the heart becomes effective when images of the heart are displayed, so students clearly know what the heart looks like.
- Photos can be used for storytelling. A series of photos can be used to explain the lesson in the form of a story. It is a visual form of storytelling that would be very effective. Students will listen with greater interest and the images displayed can help them remember what was taught.
How teachers can use stock photographs
If you are a teacher and want to use photos in your lessons, then you can consider using stock photos. A stock photograph is a standard or ready image available for your use. There are various websites like Dreamstime.com that offer a vast collection of stock photos to use. Before getting into details, it is important to know the types of stock photos:
- Royalty-free photos: These photos are essentially free images. You can download them and use them in whatever way you want, and don’t have to spend money. These photos are good for teachers who do not wish to spend a lot of money. However, these photos are generic, and you may not get the exact photo you are looking for.
- Rights-managed photos: These photos are paid for, and you need to pay a royalty or license to use them. The payment may be for one-time use or for use in a particular location.
- Enhanced photos: When you buy these photos, you can use them in whatever way you want. You can even use them for commercial purposes.
The following guidelines will help you use stock photos in the best possible way.
- You need a combination of generic photos, as well as specific photos. For example, if you are teaching history and the topic is a war then you need a war photo. You will get generic stock photos that can be useful. However, if you are teaching about a specific war then a generic photo may not be helpful. If you are teaching about a famous person, you need to display their photo.
- You need to look for photos relevant to the lesson you are teaching. This will make the teaching process effective. Using unrelated photos will not make students interested. Rather, they may lose interest in the lesson.
- Use the photos to tell a story. This is the best way to learn. If you are teaching the life cycle of an animal in biology, get photos of different stages of the life cycle. Put them one after the other on the screen while explaining what is happening. This makes learning interesting and effective. This approach is great for teaching history.
- Sometimes, you can get representative images or metaphorical images. It is a different way of explaining a topic to make students understand it better.
- You can find stock photos on hundreds of websites. Some of them would be of poor quality. Such photos are uninspiring and can make the student lose interest. Look for a reliable website that offers photos of good resolution. The photograph must be visually striking. This helps you grab the student’s attention. It helps you create interest in the topic. You can create emotional connectivity in the classroom by using quality photographs.
- Make sure you download photos as per the license guidelines. Don’t download photos from websites that are copyrighted by others. You can get into trouble.
- Apart from using photos in the lesson, use them for quizzes and exams. This makes the assessment process interesting.
Why the 10p Plastic Bag Fee isn’t Enough
In many parts of the UK, and in other parts of the world, the majority of stores have started to implement a small fee for the use of plastic bags. In the UK, that fee is usually about 10p, and in the US, it tends to be about 10 cents or a little more per bag.
This was designed to help cut back on plastic bag waste, but we’re not totally convinced it’s all that useful.
Today, we want to go over some arguments as to why it’s not as useful as people think, and then we want to give an alternative that can make a real difference.
Why the Plastic Bag Fee isn’t Enough
Statistics show that these fees are somewhat helpful. They do encourage people to be more responsible, and they were enough to make people switch over to more permanent options that they bring themselves.
However, we don’t think it’s as impactful as it could be. Here’s why.
It’s Too Cheap:
First, whether you’re talking about the US or the UK, the fees are ridiculously small. They have to be. No one is going to pay several dollars for a plastic bag, and stores do have to serve their customers. However, it’s so cheap that it doesn’t make a difference in one’s shopping costs unless they’re already low-income, and that’s not the route society should be taking to curb the issue.
With one trip requiring ten bags, that’s about one dollar spent on bags. That’s it. Most people aren’t worried about that.
The Bags Still Get Littered:
People aren’t suddenly holding onto their bags as if they’re made of gold just because they paid a measly stipend for them. They buy the bags, get their groceries home, and unless they were already trying to curb their waste, they likely just chuck them in the trash or worse, anyway.
The Solution is in Paper Bags
Plastic bags are simply outdated, and while the effort is noble, it’s undeniable that the overall impact isn’t as great as people expected.
Luckily, there is a solution to solve the problem, and maybe, stores could even get rid of the bag fee, altogether.
Eco-friendly paper bags aren’t the forest-wrecking bags they used to be; they’re made from an invasive seaweed species that damages coastal regions, and it grows extremely quickly.
This renewable, destructive, seaweed species can produce paper bags cheaply and efficiently; while actually helping the environment.
Even if these bags get chucked on the ground (which is still an eyesore), they won’t stick around long at all. However, they’re just as strong and durable as plastic bags, and they’ll fulfill the needs of shoppers everywhere.
It’s Time to Make the Switch
Plastic bags were supposed to be a solution to the costly and damaging paper bags that were made from trees decades ago. In an ironic twist, paper is coming to undo the damage the plastic bags have caused. It’s time to make the switch to paper bags instead of worrying about bag fees on plastic.