سر ولیم کروکس
ماہ گذشتہ میں علمی دنیا کے لیے سب سے اہم حادثہ یہ ہوا کہ کیمسٹری کے استاد اعظم سر ولیم کروکس نے وفات پائی، موصوف کا شمار اس وقت دنیا کے ممتاز ترین علمائے سائنس میں تھا، اور ممالک برطانیہ میں تو یقینا ان سے بڑے درجہ کا کوئی شخص اس وقت نہ تھا، کیمسٹری میں ہیلیم کا عنصر انہیں نے دریافت کیا اس کے علاوہ ان کے متعدد اکتشافات تھے، جدید اہل سائنس کے گروہ میں شاید وہ پہلے شخص تھے جو عالم ’’روحانیات‘‘ کے وجود کے قائل ہوئے۔ (’’مولوی عبدالماجد‘‘،جون ۱۹۱۹ء)
Whenever we chronically morph into the history of the American intervention in Afghanistan it adheres to the fact that the war on terror was a rigid response of US aggression towards their failure in resisting the 9/11 attack of 2001 or for the sack of utter humanity or humanitarian rights. But on the contrary, many analysts and scholars on realistic ground justify the notion of war on terror as a strategic war which none the less determined the most figure of sustenance of US- hegemony in South Asia along with enormous illustrations of uncountable violation of human rights or the right of liberty the US administration, under the prism of liberalism. And now when the NATO alliance has existed from Afghanistan after a long constitutive war of 20 years without a remediate response, it enacts a dispersed or iconic philosophical thought that was the war on terror was a success or utter failure? The article will foretell the events that led to the war on terror from USA perspectives and policies its decisive defeat along with the rising of Taliban government with future threat and ties of it among state, under the prism of realism or the realist school of thought.
Desertification has emerged as a major environmental problem during last few decades. Due to its serious implications on food security it has attracted global recognition. Significant attention is being given to its mitigation both at government and non-governmental levels. Some of the efforts carried out by state sponsored agencies and NGOs have turned into success stories. However, it has been noticed that if the problem persists for a long time due to lack of attention then land restoration becomes ecologically and financially expensive. Therefore its earlier diagnosis and treatment can not only reduce the cost but is also beneficial for human welfare. Pakistan has substantial land susceptible to desertification due to geographical factors such as topography and aridity and social issues like rapid population growth and socio-economic changes. The pressure on land often leads to its un-sustainable land use leading to desertification. Millions of poor farm households and their livelihoods in arid and semiarid areas of the country are prone to risks and uncertainties associated with desertification and land degradation. Inhabitants of the areas affected by desertification try to adapt to changing environment and cope with emerging problems within their own limited knowledge and capacity.Some of the adaptation strategies like social values and norms are built in the traditions of the society. In addition, farmers try to learn from their experiences. Their efforts need to be supported as much as possible. Technology transfer and extension on conservation practices and selection of suitable and better adopted plant varieties and livestock breeds could be of substantial help in that direction. Further, financial assistance through farm credits could also help poor farmers to invest in their lands for improving its productivity. The present study of Karak district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been undertaken to portray a case study in Pakistan in an area prone to and affected by desertification. It would provide an insight not only into the causes of desertification in a semiarid area but also into workable alternatives adapted locally for the sustainable management of land resources. It would also help in policy formulation and provide guidelines for decision-making to combat desertification. Data regarding physical parameters in this study were obtained using modern tools like remote sensing and GIS for mapping the area affected or at risk from desertification. The data on social parameters were collected through household surveys and focused group discussions that were analyzed following its processing with SPSS. Results obtained from this study reveal declining land productivity (both crops and rangeland), crop failure, and increased cost of agriculture, pointing a finger towards increasing desertification and land degradation. Both natural and anthropogenic factors are responsible for increase in desertification. Among natural factors enhanced aridity (water scarcity) as well as erosion of soil by wind and water are prominent. In terms of anthropogenic factors, over exploitation of resources, whether through cutting of vegetation, cultivation of farmland or livestock grazing is the main culprit. In order to reduce their dependence on land many people have migrated to earn income from nonfarm sources. However, while providing extra income, migration has also resulted in dearth of farm labor, often leading to abandonment of cultivated land opening them to erosion and desertification. Nevertheless remittances from migrants have also helped in certain cases to enhance investment in land for increasing productivity through increase of farm inputs. Finally, this study noted that the practice of traditional values for the control of desertification, which had declined with time are now being revived to control the overexploitation of resources, a good sign for future desertification control in the area.