The environment is one of the most important aspects to survive on this planet. Moreover, it is the only thing that can make life sustainable. Without this, we cannot survive even a single day. For instance, our skin will burn, our lungs will rupture, and our blood pressure would rise. Thus, we should take care of our environment and abandon all the exploitation that we are causing. The United Nations Environment Program initiated an awareness program for this purpose. We observe June 5th every year, as World Environment Day, otherwise known as Eco-day. We celebrate it with a theme that brings out awareness about positive environmental action.
2020 World Environment day is going to celebrate the theme, “Time for Nature”. This theme provides an essential infrastructure that supports life on earth and human development. This focus is expected to provide an opportunity for driving momentum and public awareness of nature as a key aspect in the lead up to the 15th meeting of the parties to the convention on “Biological Diversity”. This meeting was expected to take place in October 2020 but will be rescheduled for 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
World Environment Day has been a flagship campaign for raising awareness on emerging environmental issues. Some of which are marine pollution, overpopulation, global warming, and wildlife crime. It has grown to become a global platform for public outreach, with the participation of 143 countries annually.
This eco-day, we shall take a day off from work and join various campaigns to spread awareness about environmental protection. Moreover, most people plant small saplings in a barren land so that it may grow and flourish after some years. We take part in various processions to spread awareness of this day so that others can also take part in protecting our environment. Various debates, speeches, art competitions, rallies, and quizzes are held as a part of the awareness programs.
It’s an initiative to make the public aware of eco-friendly products and to create a clean and green pollution-free environment for future generations. The whole idea of World Environment Day is to create a natural and charming world that is free of pollution and scarcity of natural resources. One should always be conscious of their activities and strive to keep our surroundings clean and healthy, protect natural resources, and use them in a careful and effective manner. Banning plastic, recycling E-waste, saving water, planting more trees, and saving wildlife and animals are some of the steps which can lead us to make the environment better.
The time has come for us to realize that we are co-travelers on the journey of life. How we enjoy and perform on this journey depends on how we look after the only vehicle that looks after the planet “EARTH”. We owe it a debt of gratitude to protect, improve, and sustain it. Tomorrow when the sun rises, I will pray we will wake up to a new day. A new day of love, hope, and optimism. We must awaken our collective conscience. We must stretch out our hands not for more profit or possession but in compassion and cooperation to make our planet a better home.
The power of saving and beautifying planet earth cannot lie with the government, enterprises, or any other organization. It lies in the individual’s hand, including yours and mine.
"Go Green,there is no planet B"
Written by – S.T. Jegapragashan
Image credits:
- Featured image:https://bit.ly/2ZYwp0r
- Image 1: https://bit.ly/2zT4pRm
- Image 2: https://bit.ly/2XTLIVv