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Chilling sloth bears
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Good morning, Bengaluru!

⛈️ Today’s weather: All signs point to scattered thunderstorms throughout the day. Stay safe, y’all!


🏕️ Grey water to the rescue

The BBMP will soon start using recycled grey water from apartment complexes to take care of parks and playgrounds across the city.

Story so far: The Centre for Social and Environmental Innovation (CSEI), Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru Apartment Federation (BAF) and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) will be working together to turn grey water into green.

  • Currently, the BBMP uses water from borewells to maintain its green spaces. Given the water crisis and growing demand for clean water, this seems rather irresponsible.
  • The aim of this project is to send treated wastewater to the BBMP’s horticulture department for proper use.

Why it matters: It isn’t like apartment complexes aren’t using recycled water anyway. It’s just that the resharing of the treated water does not happen in an organised manner. Because of this, a lot of the water eventually goes to waste. This project will streamline that process and ensure a minimal loss of water.

  • What’s great is that Bengaluru treats 1,265 megalitres per day (MLD), and we’ll finally get to use it effectively.

📚 The case of the missing textbooks

The whole textbook row has started affecting junior students of ICSE and CBSE boards as well, and it’s a doozy.

Story so far: For some time now, the headlines have been all about the textbook row in Karnataka. Basically, the government has been accused of spreading right-wing sentiments through the textbooks of Classes 6 to 8. These accusations spread and now, several writers and academics are protesting against the saffronisation of education in the state.

  • The main issue was with the textbooks given to schools that follow the state syllabus. Unfortunately, the problems have bled into other boards as well.
  • Now, younger students of CBSE and ICSE boards have to continue their classes without a proper Kannada textbook. This includes kids of Classes 3 and 4.

Why the delay: Kannada textbooks are printed by the Karnataka Textbook Society which is facing most of the backlash right now. Thus, to not aggravate the issue, the society is basically walking on eggshells on its way to the printing press.

  • Schools have started asking older students to photocopy their textbooks for the younger ones.

🦄 Bengaluru’s global startup conference

Since yesterday, Bengaluru has been hosting the India Global Innovation Summit (IGIC) for startups from all over the world.

Story so far: Holding on to our startup hub tag, the inaugural edition of the IGIC will host over 80 speakers, 40 of whom will be from Singapore, Israel, Switzerland, the US, Japan, Korea, and Germany.

  • It’s a two-day event with 22 sessions that cover topics relevant to entrepreneurs, innovators and venture capitalists.
  • Organised by strategic advisory firm Smadja & Smadja, the aim is to highlight India’s startup story on the global level.

Stating specifics: As the whole event is being held in association with the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission, the chief guest of the event is CM Basavaraj Bommai. It will also feature talks from Karnataka IT Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan, the co-founder of Infosys NR Narayana Murthy, and renowned technology forecaster Paul Saffo.

  • Since India is currently home to the 3rd largest startup ecosystem in the world, the need for such an event is certainly understandable.

🐻 Who let the bears out?

Sloth bears at the Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Centre (BBRC) have been chilling in the sun thanks to the NGO.

Story so far: Even as mercury levels grew across the country, the sloth bears were truly living their best lives in the BBRC. The NGO Wildlife SOS was quick to adapt its techniques to keep the furry boys cool, calm and collected despite their heavy coats. Here’s how they did it:

  • The most common tactic was to keep water pools available for the bears to swim in. The water sprinklers were also regularly set off to soften the ground and make natural cool spots in their free-ranging enclosures.
  • Given that the bears love fruits, they would be treated with ice fruit popsicles. Basically, pieces of fruit were frozen in ice blocks for the bears to eat.

Hoarding electrolytes: The bears were constantly given multivitamin tonics and their drinking water would have electrolyte solutions mixed in it to ensure none of them get dehydrated.

  • The bears also had their very own ACs in their enclosures to make sure they don’t overheat due to the direct sunlight. Oh, to be a sloth bear at BBRC…

✨ Things to do…

Here’s everything you can do in Bengaluru over the weekend!

  • The World Jazz Festival is happening in the city today. You can get your tickets here.
  • Till 4 June, the Udupa Music Festival will be here and alive bringing a delectable mix of world and classical music to the city. Get your tickets here.
  • From 3 June to 5 June, the Bangalore Creative Circus will be hosting the Future City Festival featuring an augmented reality display transporting you to the future. Check it out here.
  • The Indian Music Experience, the country’s first interactive music museum, will be open on all days other than Mondays. Learn more about it here.
  • Finally, as a great way to fall back or even inculcate your love for running, the Bengaluru Runners Jatre will be holding an event on Sunday morning. Look into it here.

That’s it for today. Have a great weekend!

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