ISLAMABAD: Colourful posters highlighting effects of global warming and crafts made by schoolchildren, using junk material, were displayed in the lobby of Aiwan-e-Sir Syed, on Wednesday.

The poster competition was part of the Earth Day celebrations, organised by Cheveron Pakistan and Pakistan Institute for Environment-Development Action (Piedar), with participation from 12 schools in the twin cities.

Students put up a vibrant show, presenting short skits and poems on the theme of environment and highlighted the importance of sustainable living and the threats facing the planet.

“Piedar’s Earth Day celebration is really a culmination of year-long efforts, made in collaboration with the schools, to give students environmental education. Students are taught about recycling, reusing, sustainable living, conservation and kitchen gardening. Through today’s event, we hope to demonstrate the wonderful things environmentally aware children are capable of,” Executive Director, Piedar, Ayub Qutub said.

Mr Qutub said the first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 in the United States and was a civil society event.

“Today is the 45th Earth Day and the slogan for this year is ‘It is our turn to lead’. It is an appropriate slogan as it invites young people and even marginalised communities, to lead efforts towards saving the planet,” he said.

Awards were presented to schools and teachers who actively participated in the environmental education programme over the year and practically applied the concepts taught.

Secretary Ministry of Climate Change Arif Ahmed Khan appreciated the skits and poems presented by the students and their grasp of the concepts of environmental education.

“I wish we at the ministry knew as much as you do,” he quipped.

He talked to the students about man-made activities which are contributing to global warming and said the new generation must make efforts to reverse the damage to the environment.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2015

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