Dear Colleagues
Summer is at its peak these days, with unusually hot weather, as you peruse another round of random reflections:
- This summer is unusually hot, with temperatures in this region upwards of 45°C. Schools are closed for summer holidays, and kids are at home. With hot winds blowing, parents keep them inside the homes. If homes are small, then kids do not get much space for running around, causing more headaches for parents (mostly mothers).
- With FIFA world cup football matches in full swing, football fans are figuring out arrangements to view matches in real time. In many parts of Asia, these matches are played at odd times, and watching just highlights after the game are not much fun. So indigenous, locally appropriate forms of arrangements are being made to use mobiles or screens to watch overnight while having tea/food together. What a game!
- When temperatures rise in summer, two human actions trend upwards. One is temporary hiring of air-conditioners. Second is rushing to mountains (hill stations as British called them) to enjoy cooler climate. Consequences of such trends are clear. Over-use of power drawn by 'rush' of air-conditioners causes frequent electrical fires; over-use of four wheelers to drive up the mountain roads causes traffic jams. Every year?
- Summer solstice fell on Sunday June 21. On this day, the sun is at highest point and it is longest day of sunshine in northern hemisphere. This year, Father's Day also fell on June 21. Are there any celestial connections in this matter?
- During certain period last week, day peak temperatures in Delhi and Riyadh were somewhat lower than in UK and France. This is the universal nature of climate impacts...heat, floods, cloudbursts, etc. The demand for fans and perhaps Air-conditioners is likely to escalate in Europe too?
Stay well, thanking you
Dr. Rajesh Tandon
About the Author
A Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, USA) and an electronics engineer (IIT, Kanpur) with a graduation in management (IIM, Calcutta), Dr Rajesh Tandon is an internationally acclaimed leader and practitioner of participatory research and development.
His journey with PRIA started in 1982, as a young IIM graduate wanting to do more than just complete his PhD fieldwork.
