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CLEAN-India Celebrates Environment Day 5th June
2006
The World Environment Day, commemorated each
year on 5 June, is one of the principal vehicles through
which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of
the environment and enhances political attention and action.
On this day people join groups that have long been fighting
against environmental problems and issues that concern the
earth. Hundreds of people realize they share a common
concern for their planet threatened by the negative forces
at play.
This year the
Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of
India
celebrated Earth Day inviting Development Alternatives
to organise an event involving school students. The
Celebrations was held at Chinmaya Centre for World
Understanding on
5th June 2006.
Schools were selected across Delhi to be part
of the event. Not only private and government schools,
students from various slum schools like Deepalaya,
Sanskriti-Umang, Katha Khazana and Navjyoti foundation
were invited for the programme so as to share their concerns
on saving our environment. Dr. T. Ramaswamy, Secretery,
Department of Science and Technology, Government of
India was the guest of Honour and Dr. Kiran Bedi,
Director General, Home Guards and Civil Defence was the
chief guest on the occasion.
The World Environment Day theme selected for
2006 is Deserts and Desertification and the slogan is
Don't Desert Drylands! The slogan emphasizes the
importance of protecting drylands, which cover more than 40%
of the planet’s surface.
Keeping in line with the theme it was decided
to emphasize on the need to understand and appreciate the
greens of Delhi. Students from various schools of Delhi were
taken to the Yamuna Biodiversity Park, to give them
first hand knowledge about the flora and fauna of the Yamuna
Basin. The visits proved beneficial as the kids got to learn
about various species of trees, shrubs and grasses of the
Yamuna Basin, watch migratory birds and understand the
importance of conserving biodiversity. School students
collected materials for display in the exhibition and for
presentation.
The event comprised of exhibition, cultural programme,
presentations by school students, prize distribution, etc.
which was widely covered by the media. The event helped in
spreading the awareness on the need to conserve our
resources and protect our planet from being indiscriminately
used by mankind for its survival. It brought about a
sensitization in the young minds to protect our earth. |
