Be an eco-warrior and save Mother Earth

EVERY year, the World Environment Day (WED)is celebrated on June 5. The United Nations is the main force behind the celebration of this day in the world for awareness and action for the protection of our environment. First held in 1974, this has been a flagship campaign for raising awareness on emerging environmental issues — from marine pollution, global warming, to sustainable consumption and wildlife crime. 

Each year, more than 143 countries focus the attention of their countrymen towards the growing menace of pollution and environmental degradation. The World Environment Day has a new theme that major corporations, governments and celebrities worldwide adopt to advocate environmental causes. In 1974, the first WED was held with the theme "Only One Earth." 

In 1987, the idea for rotating the centre of these activities by selecting different host countries began. During 2011, India was the host for this day, with the theme: “Forests: Nature at your Service”. Thousands of activities were organised worldwide, with beach clean-ups, concerts, exhibitions, films festivals, community events and much more.

We should not celebrate WED only for a single day but should raise the awareness about wonders of the earth's magnificent biodiversity and campaign to raise consciousness about how we can save our planet from further harm. It is also a day of reckoning — a day to think about what we can do to make this world a better place to live in and how each of us can make a difference. We should try and make an effort to limit our electricity consumption and curb our tendency to depend on products that are not eco-friendly.

Environment education

Imparting environmental education, especially at an early age, is crucial since has a significant effect on how people form attitudes towards the environment. Educational programmes designed to enhance awareness about environmental issues and ethics must be developed and applied at all levels of society through all available and practical means. NGOs must serve the role of a “watchdog” and must be prepared to assess and evaluate policy decisions. However, where necessary, these should also formulate as well as propose alternative environmental and development policies. The programmes of WED can only become successful with the association of all citizens and sincere efforts toward this end are required. It can become fruitful if goverment and educational institutes actively take part in implementing this activity. 

How you can mark the World Environment Day

• Try to weed and fertilise public trees and gardens.
• Eat organic food and make a meal only of locally grown products.
• Collect trash in your community.
• Think of ways, with parents and friends, on how to use solar energy and reduce electricity bills.
• Plant a tree in your area with the intention that you will take care of it at least for four to five years.
• Adopt an area with your friends in a village or city and work to improve the environmental health.
• Hold an educational forum about global environmental issues and invite speakers.
• Dispose hazardous waste like batteries, paint cans, old electronics in recycling centres as they could prove disastrous when disposed openly.
• Leave your car for two days and drive a bicycle.
• Learn how composting works. The organic waste that ends up in landfills can be a great source of nutrients for your plants and can help them growing and shine.
• Wear green clothes. Show to the world that you care for Mother Earth.
• Create beautiful handicrafts from recycled material and gift it to your friends or relatives.
• Make a commitment to yourself like you make a New Year's resolution to do one thing differently. Ensure that you benefit the environment.

The writer, a former Indian Forest Service officer, is also President, Nature Conservation Society, Punjab