To commemorate ‘Earth Day-2014’, which falls on April 22, various institutions and individuals are hosting multiple events across the Capital and other parts of the country seeking to create awareness on the need to save the earth from ecological degradation.
This year ‘Earth Day’ will focus on the unique environmental challenges of our time. As the world’s population migrates to cities, the bleak reality of climate change becomes increasingly clear and the need to create sustainable communities become paramount.
According to N. Ramdas Iyer, head of the Education Department of the National Science Centre (NSC), ‘Earth Day’ is observed on April 22 to mark the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.
On Tuesday, school students from across the Capital and the National Capital Region will participate in an awareness campaign organised at the NSC premises at Pragati Maidan here.
“Due to the internet, children these days are more aware but we need to make them active participants,” he added.
As part of the programme, the NSC is also conducting a ‘Nature Camp’. The students will be taken to the NSC garden and apprised of the popular and botanical names of plants and their various uses. A workshop on plant preservation techniques and an introduction to herbarium would also be conducted. These activities would be followed by a question answer session.
A demonstration lecture on “Water: How to preserve water in metro cities so as to convert them to sustainable Green Cities” will also be held.
Conservationist Mike Pandey is also screening films on the Gangetic dolphin, which is on the brink of extinction.
“Gangetic dolphin is found not only in the Ganges but also in rivers like the Ghagra and the Surju. Unfortunately, they are being killed and the meat sold at an extremely cheap price. Therefore, we will sensitise the locals on the need to preserve these dolphins. Films on Gangetic dolphin will be screened in Gorakhpur and other places in Eastern U.P.”
