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- The conviction against the owners of New Zealand’s White Island volcano, which erupted in 2019 and claimed the lives of 22 tourists and local guides, has been recently overturned by the country’s High Court.
- About White Island:
- White Island, also known as Whakaari, is an active composite stratovolcano located in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.
- It holds the title of New Zealand’s most active cone volcano, situated 48 kilometers off the coast of Whakatāne on the North Island.
- The last major eruption occurred on December 9, 2019, resulting in fatalities and injuries.
- Over the past 150,000 years, continuous volcanic activity has built up the cone.
- The island spans approximately 325 hectares, with only about 30% of the volcano’s mass visible above sea level; the rest lies submerged.
- With a diameter of two kilometers, its peak reaches 321 meters above sea level.
- First sighted and named by Captain James Cook in 1769, White Island is known for its hot springs, geysers, and fumaroles.
- Privately owned, it was declared a private scenic reserve in 1953 and has since become a site for tourism, as well as geological and ecological studies.
- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recently requested an action taken report from the district magistrate-cum-collector of Keonjhar regarding the alleged human rights violations faced by the Juanga tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in the district.
- About the Juanga Tribe:
- The Juang tribe is one of the 13 particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) among the 62 tribes in Odisha.
- According to the 2011 census, the Juang population is estimated to be around 50,000.
- They are primarily found in the districts of Keonjhar and Dhenkanal in Odisha.
- Language: The Juangs speak the Juang language, a member of the Munda branch within the Austroasiatic language family.
- The Juangs are known for their strong clan structure and kinship organizations.
- Livelihood:
- Originally dependent on hunting, gathering, and small-scale farming, the Juang people's traditional practices were altered when their forests were designated as reserves during the British colonial period.
- To adapt, the Juang people became skilled in basket-weaving, trading their products with nearby caste villages in exchange for goods like salt, oil, and food.
- Clothing:
- Historically known as "Patuas" or "leaf-wearers," Juang women used to wear leaf girdles, while men wore simple loincloths.
- Due to interactions with neighboring communities and government influences, the Juangs have gradually adopted clothing styles from other groups.
- Beliefs:
- While the Juangs hold some Hindu beliefs, their religious practices are primarily rooted in ancient animism.
- Their supreme deity is the sun god, but they have also incorporated Hindu deities alongside their traditional tribal gods and goddesses.
- Gujarat has emerged as the national leader in mangrove afforestation, having covered 19,020 hectares in just two years under the Centre’s ‘MISHTI’ scheme.
- About the MISHTI Scheme:
- The Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI) is a government-led initiative aimed at expanding mangrove coverage along coastlines and on salt pan lands.
- The MISHTI scheme was launched following India’s participation in the ‘Mangrove Alliance for Climate,’ which was established during the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) to the UNFCCC in Egypt in November 2022.
- The scheme was officially launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change on World Environment Day, June 5, 2023.
- MISHTI focuses on the restoration and reforestation of mangroves, with an aim to cover approximately 540 square kilometers across 9 states and 3 union territories over five years, starting from 2023-24.
- While it primarily targets the Sundarbans delta and Hooghly Estuary in West Bengal, India, the initiative also encompasses other wetland areas across the country.
- Under this scheme, the government provides financial support to local communities to undertake mangrove plantation activities.
- Additionally, MISHTI includes awareness campaigns designed to educate the public on the importance of mangroves and their role in environmental protection.
- The plantation activities are carried out in a collaborative manner, engaging local communities and NGOs to ensure sustainability and a sense of ownership in the project.
- The scheme also integrates resources from various government initiatives, such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) Fund, and other relevant sources.
- The U.S. Air Force is considering the use of the Harpoon anti-ship missile on its F-16s, suggesting a potential shift in its strategy toward naval warfare.
- About the Harpoon Missile:
- The Harpoon (RGM-84/UGM-84/AGM-84) is a subsonic anti-ship cruise missile developed by Boeing for the U.S. Navy.
- It was first introduced in 1977 and is currently in service with the armed forces of over 30 countries, including India.
- Features:
- The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon anti-ship missile system.
- Each missile measures 4.5 meters in length and weighs 526 kilograms.
- Propulsion: It uses a turbojet engine with solid propellant.
- Range: The missile has a range of 90-240 kilometers.
- It can be launched from various platforms, including ships, submarines, shore batteries, and aircraft.
- The Harpoon is versatile, capable of executing both anti-ship and land-strike missions.
- It flies at speeds up to Mach 0.85 (647 mph or 1,041 km/h) and is equipped with a 221 kg blast warhead.
- The missile incorporates GPS-assisted inertial navigation, allowing for both anti-ship and land attack capabilities.
- It utilizes mid-course guidance and an active radar seeker to track and strike surface targets.
- With its active radar guidance, low-level sea-skimming trajectory, and terminal phase maneuvers like sea-skim or pop-up, the Harpoon ensures high survivability and effectiveness during operations.