ISLAMABAD:
The air in Islamabad and Rawalpindi was filled with appreciation for Earth as different activities were organised by different public and private organisations to mark the World Earth Day.
The day was founded by a United States senator, Gaylord Nelson, in 1970 and is celebrated across the globe every year. The day aims to raise awareness against the detrimental impacts of modernisation and massive industrialisation on human beings and their environment. This year’s Earth Day theme is “Billion Acts of Green”.
Rootsians’ call to nature
Students of the Roots school were given a chance to stimulate their creativity and imagination, and learn more about their planet in a “fun” way. They celebrated Earth Day with the motto: “Earth Day is every day”.
In all campuses of Roots School System nationwide students celebrated the day with the pledge, “I will help to stop air and water pollution, I will turn off the lights after leaving the room, I will recycle by reusing recycled things, I will not litter or pollute the Earth.”
According to a press release issued by the school, students wore headgears, held placards and banners inscribed with slugans such as “save our mother Earth”. They also got a chance to express their feelings towards keeping the environment clean during a painting competition. A quiz show was also organised based on the theme of the day.
Teachers gave lectures to their students to explain the importance of the occasion and how they could play their part in making things better for their planet.
Cleaning the hill
School children and people from different walks of like gathered at Dara Jungla in the Margalla Hills National Park to clean up Trail-5.
The event was organised by WWF Pakistan and US Embassy in collaboration with the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
Speaking at the event, CDA Chairperson Imitaz Inyat Elahi said that the civic body would take “concrete efforts” to preserve the rich biodiversity of the Margalla Hills National Park, adding that a directory of Banyan Trees was being compiled to help conserve the botanical heritage of the region.
Scores of youth, including students from the embassy’s English-language Microscholarship Programme, along with dignitaries, picked up trash and planted trees along the Trail-5, a famous trekking site in Islamabad.
Elahi said Margallah Hills National Park hosts more than 260 species of birds, 616 species of plants, 38 of mammals and 13 species of reptiles.
Federal Minister for Environment and Women Development Samina Khalid Ghurki said that environmental degradation activities have had a strong impact on natural resources of the planet and that collective efforts have to be made so that the planet can continue to support life.
Rescue 1122 act for the planet
In Rawalpindi, the Rescue Service 1122 held an awareness walk. Students of different universities and colleges, members of the Fire and Safety Association of Pakistan, businessmen, civil society members and Rescue 1122 volunteers participated in the walk that started from Central Rescue Station Rawal Road Rawalpindi at 3:30pm and concluded at Faizabad.
They held banners and distributed awareness pamphlets among people.
Director General Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122) Dr Rizwan Naseer said that community participation in Earth Awareness Walk is a symbol of ownership of this event by the community. “We might be victimised by environmental emergencies in the coming years if we do not act to rescue the planet,” he said.
Joining heads for planning
Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD) Pakistan, an NGO, organised the 39th meeting of its Board of Governors at the Islamabad Club.
Participants at the event said that population growth, power and electricity crisis, deforestation, water scarcity, solid waste management, air and water pollution are some of the prominent environmental challenges.
“Pakistan is facing some serious environmental challenges and we must realise this before it is too late,” said a participant.
Facts to remember
It was also stated in a press release that domestic users can save 25 per cent energy by reducing 10 per cent temperature of their refrigerators. Yearly cleanliness of the condenser coil not only saves energy but it also increases the performance of these machines. Regular service or timely change of filters of air-conditioners saves money and electricity both. Using rechargeable batteries save our environment from cadmium and mercury that become part of garbage and cause pollution.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 23rd, 2011.
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