'ICE' is what we can do for the environment

'I' for Innovate, Initiate and Inspire

'C' for Cooperate, Communicate and Collaborate

'E' for Educate, Endeavor and Enterprise

According to me, in order to go ahead in a positive way towards the conservation of our natural environment, we need to Innovate, Initiate and Inspire; Cooperate, Communicate and Collaborate; and Educate, Endeavor and Enterprise.

To this end, I want to share with this forum some highly innovative ideas that I have come across in the direction of upcycling of waste. By communicating with you all, I aim to spread these ideas in different parts of the world, so that likeminded eco enthusiasts can collaborate and enterprise towards adopting similar methods or coming up with further innovations for the benefit of the environment. An innovation need not be tangible object but can also be a revolutionary idea that can bring about a positive change.

We all are fortunate to be connected through this elite forum. I am sure that sharing our thoughts, and environment related news and ideas here can help such innovative solutions to gain recognition and momentum, for the benefit of our environment and our planet.

At a personal level, I have been an environmental activist, having been an active participant in eco conservation activities since early childhood as also striving to spread awareness on this topic in the community. However, through this report I am introducing to this forum, a fellow student, Nityashri Sankaran and her highly innovative idea- a unique project that completely encompasses the theme 'what we can do for the environment'.

Nityashri is a 14 years old student of Grade 9 at Delhi Private School in Sharjah, UAE. She has been collecting waste paper including bags, newspapers, cartons etc and selling them to agencies that recycle paper. She has been donating the money collected thus for organizing tree planting and eco campaigns as well as to organizations that support education of underprivileged children. Furthermore she is regularly taking out time to write community reports about her work, in local newspapers to encourage and inspire the community towards such action. 

She has organized 'Art from Waste' campaigns and Eco-Awareness camps for children. She has also staged dances to promote protection of environment.  Nityashri has tried to promote a green lifestyle at community gatherings and sports tournaments. Having known her for the last four years, I have been a part of many of her initiatives. Nityashri's enthusiasm and love for the environment is infectious and she is an inspiration to her peers.

'What we can do for the Environment?' is a question that she is always trying to answer and engaging others too with her positive and thought provoking actions!

Please read the following newspaper reports to know more about Nityashri's work. I do hope that many of us in UAE will join her initiatives or follow her lead towards an environmentally friendly life, and fellow members from other parts of the world will initiate similar campaigns in their countries. I also invite Nityashri to be an active member of our Tunza Eco Generation Forum- To learn as well as to teach!

Report on 'Paper Recycling for Community Welfare' Project in Gulf News – Jan 2018

http://gulfnews.com/your-say/your- reports/sharjah-pupil- recycles-8- 500-kilograms- of-waste- paper-1.2164145

Video on 'Paper Recycling for Community Welfare' Project in Gulf News – Jan 2018 (facebook link)

https://www.facebook.com/GulfNews.UAE/videos/1769189436480640/

Report on RVM Plastic recycling – Gulf News Dec 2017

http://gulfnews.com/your-say/your- reports/making-a- difference-through- individual-actions-1.2144406

Report- Don't dump unused furniture outside your home – Gulf News September 2016

http://gulfnews.com/your-say/your- reports/don-t- dump-unused- furniture-outside- your-homes- 1.1900030

Report- Cleanliness should be an attitude – Gulf News May 2016

http://gulfnews.com/your-say/your- reports/cleanliness-should- be-an- attitude-1.1830022

Report- Dispose garbage properly – Gulf News Feb 2016

http://gulfnews.com/your-say/your- reports/dispose-garbage- properly-1.1667419

Report- Water conservation – Gulf News October 2015

http://gulfnews.com/your-say/your- reports/conserve-water- as-every- drop-counts- 1.1593847

The photographs below track Nityashri's journey as a young environmentalist. I am also a part of the action group on some photos as also contributed my Artwork for a banner that she designed to create awareness at community events.