The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Painting a green picture of clean world

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 25, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Painting a green picture of clean world

Staff Reporter

‘Colour Me Green’ is a contest to create awareness of the need for eco protection

— PHOTO: S Thanthoni

Yours colourfully: Participants at the ‘Colour me Green” art competition organised by the Enviro Club of Loyola and Anaerobe Waste to Energy at Loyola College on Saturday.

CHENNAI: Kids and young adults gathered at the Loyola College on Saturday to colour their worlds green. Anaerobe, an eco-friendly waste management company and the Loyola College Enviro Club on Saturday conducted a painting competition titled ‘Colour Me Green’, to promote awareness of environmental protection and encourage people to ‘think green.’

“The world is a better place when it is green,” said Tiya James, an art student from Stella Maris who had come to take part in the competition not just for her love for painting but also to play a small part in promoting protection of the environment. “Art is very emotive; you can get through to a person, not just on issues of the environment, but on anything. When you look at a painting, it talks to you,” said Shristi Srivastava, Tiya’s friend and fellow participant, stressing on the power of art to change mindsets.

For seven-year-old O. Ebenezer, the competition was more about painting flowers and trees. “I really like to draw flowers and trees, I also like ships, but today I’m going to draw trees,” he said.

The prizes were attractive enough to draw serious art students with their professional artists’ gear as well as those who had come to have a fun morning of ideas and paint.

The Chief Guest, Mayor M. Subramanian, told the 200 odd participants that they were not just taking part in an art competition but also contributing to a “green revolution.” “Global warming is something that scientists and environmentalists across the world are warning us about. Experts tell us about the grave changes that could occur in the future unless we protect the environment. The best way to protect it is by keeping it green,” he said. “The government is doing its part in transforming Chennai into a greener city by planting trees. Every individual also has to realise his or her duty to protect the environment for future generations,” he said.

Atul Pandey, a representative of the Loyola Enviro Club, said the club carried out many activities to increase awareness of the environment. “We organise a coastal clean up every year, and many other such events. The painting competition is one such event, but it is the first time we are organising one on such a largescale. In the future we hope to set up an inter-college Enviro Club so that it is easier to spread the word amongst many more people,” he said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu