Promoting greater access to ICT

In this age of satellite phones and digital communication, linking with people across the world doesn't seem such a novelty. But this wouldn't have been possible if not for the massive developments made in the field of telecommunications.

Since the first telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell, the sector has grown by leaps and bounds.

Telecommunication has brought the world closer, facilitating us to remain in close contact with friends and relatives across the world. It has become such an integral part of modern life.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is an organisation which has made a vast contribution to the development of the telecommunication sector. The UN agency, established 142 years ago in 1865, is responsible for co-ordinating global communications.

From the birth of the telegraph, through radio and television broadcasting to satellite communications and the Internet, ITU's contributions have helped utilise science and technology to improve telecommunications.

The work and contributions of the ITU are honoured on World Telecommunication Day (WTD), which is held every year on May 17. The day commemorates the founding of ITU on May 17, 1865. This year's WTD holds special significance as May 17 has been identified by the Tunis phase of the World Summit on the Information Society as 'World Information Society Day'.

This year's event will see the launch of public campaigns and activities promoting greater access to ICT and demonstrating how the work of ITU helps all of the world's people to communicate. ITU will be responsible for organising the activities.

Solar energy molecular transfer studied

California (Berkeley) - US scientists have discovered how, through photosynthesis (the process through which green plants use sunlight to produce food), solar energy is transferred across molecular systems with nearly 100 per cent efficiency.

Researchers at the US Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California-Berkeley say the answer lies in quantum mechanics.

The scientists found speed is the key for green plants and cyanobacteria to be able to transfer sunlight energy to molecular reaction centres for conversion into chemical energy, with the transfer occurring nearly instantaneously so little energy is wasted as heat.

"We have obtained the first direct evidence that remarkably long-lived wave-like electronic quantum coherence (connectivity) plays an important part in energy transfer processes during photosynthesis," said Graham Fleming, principal investigator for the study.

"This wave-like characteristic can explain the extreme efficiency of the energy transfer because it enables the system to simultaneously (at the same time) sample all the potential energy pathways and choose the most efficient one."

These findings are reported in the journal Nature.

United Press International

Awareness on family-related issues

Your family may be the most important thing to you. Whether a family is nuclear or extended, it is the basic and most important unit in society. The importance of the family is remembered and highlighted on the International Day of Families, which is observed on May 15.

The theme for this year focuses on families and persons with disabilities. The day provides an opportunity to promote awareness about family-related issues. It can also promote action on behalf of families in all countries, which would give them a chance to work towards protecting and supporting family issues particular to each society.

The decision to commemorate May 15 as the International Day of Families was taken by the United Nations General Assembly on September 20, 1993. A special message released by the UN Secretary General and a panel discussion at the United Nations are usually part of the day's events.

The UN uses this day to encourage governments and other organisations to initiate family-oriented projects, hold special conferences, symposia and cultural events on the family, bring into force family legislation, and discuss national family policies.

A few of the activities that can be organised to observe this day are: family discussions on different issues that affect the family and discuss solutions which can strengthen the family; classroom activities, family discussions or different events designed with the objective of teaching children about the importance of the family; exhibition of publications, photographs, children's drawings, posters, and other material on families in schools, religious and other public places; creating awareness about factors that affect family structures and the role of the family in today's society; and learning ways to promote, protect and support the integrity and functioning of families.

Even if you cannot do any of these things, you can still celebrate this day by spending time with your own family. Appreciate your family members and show them that you care about them.

Mother's Day on 2nd Sunday of May

Mother's Day is celebrated every year on the second Sunday of May. Although relatively new to Sri Lanka, this occasion is now catching up, and more people observe this day.

Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia, USA is widely regarded as the founder of Mother's Day. She spent the most part of her life trying to ensure that one day of the year would be set aside to honour mothers. In 1915, the US Congress asked the President of the country to proclaim Mother's Day as a day to be remembered throughout the nation.

Such a proclamation was issued by successive presidents since then. Most people wear a red rose or pink carnation on Mother's Day if their mother is still alive, or a white flower if she is dead. This custom of wearing a flower was also initiated by Anna Jarvis.

Increased allowances for pirivena students

There are many students undergoing pirivena education in this country. They include both monks and laymen. As a measure of boosting piriven education, the Ministry of Education plans to increase the allowance given to both monk and lay students receiving piriven education.

The increase follows a Cabinet paper submitted by Education Minister Susil Premajayantha. The allowances currently given are likely to be doubled. Accordingly, a student monk will receive an allowance of Rs. 2,500 per annum, while for a lay student, this will be Rs. 500. The library allowance has also been increased.

Meanwhile, a set of 'Tripitaka' worth over Rs. 50,000 were to be donated to over 700 pirivenas around Sri Lanka under the patronage of chief incumbent in Taiwan Ven. Bodhagama Chandima Thera. Under this programme, coinciding with Vesak Week, a reprinted set of books were donated to each Pirivena.

The day for museums

Sri Lanka has many museums in many different areas, of which the most important is the Colombo National Museum. They display hundreds of exhibits related to history, culture, the natural world, science and technology and a multitude of other subjects.

Museums play an important role in society by providing value to a community's cultural heritage and highlighting the role of individuals and groups whose unique features and differences are the cornerstone of a particular society. Museums make cultural exchanges possible, enrich cultures and develop mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among people.

This important role played by museums will be recognised and appreciated on May 18 when the International Museum Day is observed around the world. The event is organised by the International Council of Museums.

The special day has been celebrated around May 18 since 1977. Now, over 50 countries take part in the celebrations.