EARTH DAY 2019- A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY

Since 1970 annually, we celebrate April 22^nd  as the Earth Day, in support of Environment protection. Both government and individuals have an impacting role to play to motivate environment-friendly choices and actions. Government needs to go for high emission reduction and clean energy policies.

As the inhabitant of the planet Earth and as a global citizen we have to recognize the importance and urgency to protect our environment. We can make a powerful impact through our choices we make every day like using public transport instead of cars that will minimize our carbon footprint; using no plastic bottles to drink water; carrying jute or cotton bags instead of poly bags for grocery shopping; segregating waste at home and disposing it in the right bins… list is long but not impossible to adapt to it in our daily lives.

As an eco-warrior, on Earth Day this year, I also did my small duty towards protecting our mother earth.

I believe, first step towards our Earth is to create awareness especially among the budding generation. If we sow the seeds of environmentalism in them right at the nascent stage, they will be mindful of their day-to-day activities and choices that will go a long way towards solving our climate change issues, protecting our endangered species and ending plastic pollution.

I organized a workshop for the primary wing in my school, in cooperation with a well renowned waste management company -Dulsco. After following up for one month with Dulsco, finally I was successful in getting them to my school to do a presentation especially on the occasion of Earth Day.

I first informed the dean of primary wing and then I coordinated with my school Environment teacher. Both of them were enthusiastic about the event and motivated me to do further.

We had approximately 80 children who participated in the event. My school auditorium where I conducted the workshop, it was buzzing with their questions regarding the environment and how to manage our waste at home and in school. After my initial introduction Dulsco Environment head took the charge. Through her interesting presentation on waste segregation students were awestruck and they were inquisitive to know more about waste management practice. Dulsco official narrated a story to make them understand the importance of throwing dry and wet waste in separate bins. She also gave the example that she carries her own steel bottle to drink water in a restaurant instead of drinking water from the plastic bottle they serve. Initially, it was embarrassing for her but she did not leave this habit and now everyone around her carry their own bottles. She concluded the presentation with questions and answers session where in children put up important and to my surprise very interesting questions. Their young minds wanted to know so many things about the environment like why do we need to save the environment and if do not use plastic then, will not the plastic manufacturing companies will have a lossJ

Towards the end of the session we all promised to implement the knowledge and information on waste management religiously in our daily routine. Instead of thinking about the Earth one day a year, let us have it at the front of our minds. In the words of climate advocate Greta Thunberg, we need to act as if the house is on fire. In fact, our Earth is actually going through this condition. We should keep in mind that- EARTH DAY IS NOT ONE DAY BUT EVERY DAY.