How can we balance the high cost of electric cars and the pursuit of a more sustainable future?


Electric cars are significantly more expensive than cars that run on gas. Some people would argue that electric cars cost more than the cars that run by gas because filling a car that runs with gas costs way more than if you charge your car, so in the long term you would save money that you would spend on gas. Hybrid cars, hybrid meaning it runs on gas and electricity, are more popular because they have a bigger autonomy than electric cars, however they pollute less than cars that only run with gas.


The Chinese company BYD has changed the electric car market in Brazil with its new and cheaper electric cars such as the Mini Dolphin, the Dolphin Plus, the Seal, the Yuan plus, and the Song Plus, a hybrid SUV.


In 2023 1% of the cars sold were electric, around 19 thousand units sold across the country. As of April 2024, there are around 78 thousand electric cars in Brazil.


The problem that most people face is the lack of chargers in infrastructure in Brazil, which is a bigger problem for people that travel by car because they can’t just stop in a charging station and charge their car. In the United States, however, they have super chargers that take minutes to charge cars, yet regular chargers take way hours. In the United States they have super chargers spread along the whole country because as of 2023 there were more than 3.3 million electric vehicles, so in the United States there is way more demand than in Brazil. But in Brazil the numbers are growing, and it is believed that in January 2025 Brazil will have more than 100 thousand electric vehicles.
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Some of the leading electric car manufactures are BYD, Tesla, Hyundai, BMW and Mercedes Benz. With that, the government should change the infrastructure in gas stations to house electric chargers.

In the modern world, most of us are incessantly connected to digital platforms and social media. Instant communication, widespread information access, and the international community created by this digital era are attractive elements that tempt a growing number of people into the world of technology. Therefore, there is increasing concern about the importance of finding balance between freedom and responsibility online, to shape a healthy digital ecosystem.


Digital freedom and digital rights allow people to access, use, create and publish media, as well as access computers, other electronic devices, and communication networks. People have the right to freedom of expression and online creativity. These rights ensure the protection of privacy and security, but also promote equal access to technology and non-discrimination. Therefore, this democratizes information, enables social movements on a larger scale, and fosters innovation. For example, social media played a pivotal role in the Arab Spring movements by mobilizing protests, spreading information, and garnering international attention. Digital platforms allowed activists to organize large scale demonstrations and document events as they unfolded, which then nurtured a feeling of solidarity in both the region and worldwide. Technology was essential in amplifying voices that would otherwise be unheard or forgotten.


However, unrestricted digital freedom does have a dark side. There are the issues of spreading misinformation, cyberbullying, and the publication of harmful content. These aspects can lead to the worsening of mental health amongst internet users, that unfortunately are mostly teenagers going through crucial moments in their lives. For example, heavily edited pictures posted in social media can motivate comparison in teenage girls and make them insecure about their bodies when compared to unrealistic and unachievable standards, triggering a myriad of mental health challenges. There is also the case of digital freedom being impactful in a negative way in the political scenario. Misinformation during elections can lead to long-lasting consequences that may affect people on a national and international scale.


That is when digital responsibility becomes crucial. It refers to using technology in an appropriate, constructive way for oneself and others. Ethical behaviour, critical thinking, and respectful online interactions must be used to ensure a safe and responsible digital environment for all. Practicing good digital citizenship makes the online world a more welcoming place for everyone. And it is not only the role of users to do so, but also of tech companies and governments to teach and foster a responsible digital culture.


It then becomes our job to balance freedom and responsibility to maximize the benefits of digital platforms while minimizing harm. This balance can be achieved by promoting digital literacy education campaigns, platform policies that ensure respect and kindness, and enforcing the need for self-regulation in users.


Tech companies, for example, can ease this balance by implementing content moderation and algorithm transparency in their systems. Governments, on the other hand, have a more challenging time balancing freedom and responsibility without promoting any type of censorship. However, that still can be done in a more subtle manner, like for example, digital education campaigns, as well as the establishment of policies. One excellent example is the Digital Services Act (DSA) in the European Union. It imposes obligations on platforms to tackle illegal content, protect user's rights, and increase transparency, which creates a safer digital space with accountable platforms.


And most importantly, users are also responsible for the creation of a balanced digital environment. We must always remember to use our critical thinking skills and be mindful of our sources' reliability. Additionally, we must report any harmful content we meet and continually promote respectful discourse and spread kindness. This proactive attitude will contribute to a healthier online community and to the integrity of online spaces. In conclusion, the future of our digital society depends on this delicate balance, and it is up to us to contribute to its realization.

During strenuous times of examinations and the conclusion of the academic year, it is absolutely vital that a certain extent of meditation takes place. This is key for finding balance, as it allows for the improvement of both physical and mental health conditions, which are usually chaotic when faced with the urgency of exams. Not only for the preparation but also for the performance in exams – meditation is necessary to relieve stress and anxiety which is often caused when facing such important tests. However, what are the actual benefits of meditation? How does it work?


In simplistic terms, meditation works by the following process: by meditating, humans are able to weaken their reaction to stressful events. So, they can reduce the use of the medial prefrontal cortex. That way, it prevents the amygdala from producing high amounts of cortisol (stress/anxiety hormone) – making you overall much calmer. By having lower stress rates, the body can function better and more easily, which includes benefits such as the following: decreasing stress, anxiety, and depression through the restriction of hormones; mood improvement; memory improvement; controlling pain; controlling respiration levels; and energy restoration, amongst others. Thus, meditation is used successfully to influence the body’s physical characteristics. Keep in mind that these characteristics (amongst others) are key factors for success in exam conduct.


Furthermore, the process of meditation also includes psychological impacts by ensuring a sense of calm (also decreasing stress levels), improving your concentration and attention span, improving sleep quality, and just basically restoring a healthy lifestyle. By meditating, you fulfill your attempts at expanding your body’s mental and physical capacities, which may lead to better studying and learning. Even during exam season, it is also important to meditate, because it improves most personal aspects of your life. Moreover, it’s not really about the amount of meditation that you do, but just the fact that doing it already measurably improves your personal well-being. The simple scientific reaction of restricting stress hormones in your brain is enough to physically improve your body – which only serves as proof for the power of the mind.


In summary, it is very important to meditate. It brings you quantifiable development of both physical and mental aspects and helps you perform better in any occasion. Whether it is for a basketball match or for academic execution, there is a large scientific persuasion to meditate for a moment – might it be 1, 3, or 10 minutes; just remember that by controlling your mind you’re able to accomplish a much larger quality of performance.


Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4895748/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858#:~:text=Meditation%20can%20give%20you%20a,centered%20and%20keep%20inner%20peace.