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Environmentally yours
What did you do on World Environment Day? Did you remember it at all?Share your experiences
The events have begun. Although the official day to celebrate, mark, commemorate World Environment Day was June 5, the world over, all those who are concerned about where we are headed, will live this week a little differently from the rest of the year.
Unfortunately for most of us, schools are shut for the summer holidays, and so, most young people feel a little out of touch with this event that began in 1972. That?s when, in Stockholm, the United Nations General Assembly Conference on the Human Environment began and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) began.
This year, the United Nations? celebrations, concentrating on Green(er) Citiies, were held at Assissi, the place that is linked to St Francis, who was known for his kindness to animals.
I asked some young friends what they were planning to do on June 5. Most did not know why they ought to do anything special on that day, and I don?t blame them for not knowing. They haven?t been reminded. Once they were, they thought a while and shrugged, ?What can we do? School is closed. We?re just kids. Adults who cut down trees and pollute our cities won?t listen to a few of us.?
Perhaps they have a point. But they?re feeling let down by negative action. What about positive action, we suggested, and they looked a little less skeptical. Here?s what some of us are planning to do.
Arjun is a bookworm. He resolved to read up as much as he can find in the newspapers on the environment, through the year. A couple of days later, he came up, much wiser, and told us about the two major environmental issues that have hit the news this week: all over the Far East, including Singapore and Japan, people are being encouraged to wear lighter clothes to work so that air conditioners can be turned down. That would save a lot of electricity! Riddhi liked that idea and has decided to convince her parents also, so that the two air conditioners they have on at night, can be marked lower.
In several parts of India, little programmes are on to encourage each of us to save some water we thoughtlessly waste. Shyamal has found out he can save a good deal by collecting only half a bucket of water and bathing with that. If he collects more, he may forget his resolution and use up more. And if you?re wondering if half a bucket can suffice, let me remind you of the years we lived in the distant hills. At least four times a year, a waterpipe would give way under a landslide or a tree that fell in a storm, and the whole neighbourhood would have to do with just a few buckets. That?s when we learnt, all your need for a bath, is five mugs of water. Think that one over!
Arjun told us about another concern that will be discussed over this week across the world: the urban environment and the role of parks. Kamayani agreed with the idea that each of us is using up and often misusing the environment we stay in and so, each of us is responsible for giving back something to our locality. She has started collecting seeds of trees, instead of asking adults to give her free seedlings.
The trick is simple: she goes on a walk twice a day with a parent, and looks for seed cases under trees like the gulmohar and laburnum and plants the seeds in little plastic bags and throwaway cups that would have otherwise littered the bin. She also plants seeds of the jamun and mango she and her family have been eating this summer. She will water and take care of her little nursery for a full year so that next year, when she gives them to the neighbourhood park or her school, they are old enough to live without her care.
So, what did you do for World Environment Day? Do write in and let us know. The most interesting letters will be published next week.
