St Aloysius ITI Honors Jesuit Priest Fr Kamath and Environmentalist Krishnappa on W.E.D

St Aloysius ITI Honors Jesuit Priest Fr Kamath and Environmentalist Krishnappa on W.E.D

St Aloysius Industrial Training Institute {SAITI} Honors Jesuit Priest Fr Santhosh Ravi Kamath SJ , for his love towards Environment and nurturing plants-and also for completing 60 years serving in the Society of Jesus {SJ} Congregation; and also Environmentalist Krishnappa P for his enormous contribution towards Clean and Green projects in Mangaluru on World Environment Day {W.E.D} on 6 June 2018 at the Institution Roof-Top Hall.

Mangaluru: Ever since its conception in 1974, World Environment Day has had a special theme relating to the pressing environmental concern at the time. The theme for the year 2018 is “Beat Plastic Pollution”, and is a call for individuals to take charge of their surroundings and realize the severity of using plastic in daily life. This year India will be hosting the World Environment Day, which is one of the most important days observed by the UN worldwide. A platform for encouraging awareness and propagating the need for protecting the environment, World Environment Day was celebrated on June 5.

Plastic, which is rampantly polluting our water bodies, harming marine life and posing a threat to human health, has been one of the major concerns of environmental bodies this year. Though a large part of the population depends on plastic for their daily use, nearly one-third of it is not disposed off properly and ends up clogging drains and choking the environment. Plastic can persist in the environment for nearly a thousand years before it fully disintegrates and keeping this in mind, many organizations and governments are always on the lookout for alternatives to tackle this menace.

Through this day, UN is making an effort to urge governments, industries, communities and people to unite in the fight against plastic and explore alternatives that are sustainable. With plastic making up ten percent of the total waste generated, half of it used is disposable or single-use. This presents a major problem as it is non-renewable and its manufacture and destruction exposes individuals and environment to many toxins, including carcinogens. World Environment Day is a call for the awakening of individuals to take charge of protecting their environment and to realize the severity of plastic usage in daily life. So, how are you helping the environment?

As they say “Better Late Than Never”, even though World Environment Day is celebrated on 5 June worldwide, including India, which is playing a major role in this year’s WED Theme, SAITI observed this Day a day later, in order to bring awareness about the harmful effects of littering plastic materials, with the WED 2018 theme “Beat Plastic Pollution”, thereby trying to promote a Plastic-Free Future. World Environment Day is the UN’s most important day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment. Above all, World Environment Day is the “people’s day” for doing something to take care of the Earth. Every year World Environment Day is organized around a theme that focuses attention on a particularly pressing environmental concern, and this year the theme being “Beat Plastic Pollution”.

Believing in the thought-provoking words of Robert Swan who said, ” The Greatest Threat to Our Planet is the Belief that Someone Else Will Save It”, and to save the Environment in order to keep it Clean and Green, SAITI which organized the World Environment Day began with a prayer, followed by a welcome dance by the SAITI students. Following the welcome address by Gyaral Milton Lobo, a student of MMV trade, the programme was inaugurated by planting a sapling by the Chief Guest Venkatesh-Deputy Range Forest Officer, along with other dignitaries on the dais namely- Fr Santhosh Kamath Sj- Former Superior of Fatima Retreat House-Mangaluru, Krishnappa P- Environmentalist, Fr Eric Mathias- Director, Vincent Mendonsa-Principal, Roshan D’souza- Vice Principal, Romius D’souza- Training Officer, and Thilak- Student Council President -all of SAITI.

Addressing the gathering Chief Guest Venkatesh said, ” June month is the right time to celebrate World Environment Day, due to the arrival of monsoon season. For few months the soil is all dry due to the scorching summer weather, and once it rains its a relief for the plants and trees- and for that matter, even human beings too. It’s not just enough to plant a sapling and then forget it- it needs to be nurtured and watered. Until the monsoon ends in October and November, we don’t have to worry watering the plants, but later we should care for these plants, if not they will die. It’s sad to note that due to infrastructure and widening of roads many trees are being chopped down, but we need to stop it. Also, this year WED theme being “Beat Plastic Pollution” we should recycle plastic materials rather than litter them around. Plastic is necessary, but we need to limit the use of plastic. If we all work together, keeping the environment in mind, we can have a better and cleaner environment to breathe. We are experiencing changing pattern in climate. Untimely and lesser rainfall, very hot weather, scarcity of clean air, etc are the results of deforestation.

On the occasion, two persons were felicitated, Fr Santhosh Kamath SJ on the occasion of completion of his 60 years in Jesuit order, and also Krishnappa P for his support and contribution towards clean environment. Addressing the gathering Fr Santhosh said, “I am not a professional environmentalist, but I love to take care of the environment and protect nature. I love nature. I was born in a place where the surrounding was a dense forest, and during my school days, I have walked through this dense forest. That’s how I developed my love towards trees and green nature. Early morning I get up and bow to the trees. We should consider forests as temples. It is a grace of God to us. It’s sad to note that a bunch of trees were axed down on the stretch of Kankanady road for road widening-which literally hurt my feelings. We need to protect trees since they give us oxygen and clean air. I don’t want to stress more on pollution by plastics because these days everything is made of plastic. Let’s use plastic wisely, and try to recycle and not litter them”. During his speech, he showed a glimpse of his multi-lingual ability and left the audience spellbound. His jovial and illustrious speech received loud applaud from the audience, especially the girls?

A well-known environmentalist Krishnappa was also felicitated during the programme. In response Krishnappa made the audience repeat some thoughtful slogans after him pertaining to Environment, and everyone liked his concept- he also insisted that in future that students when celebrating their birthdays not to spend lavishly on parties, instead plant a sapling which would help the nature and society. Saplings were distributed to the dignitaries by Romius D’Souza, convener of the programme. The chief Guest in turn distributed the saplings to the student council members. All students under the leadership of student council President Thilak took a pledge to nurture and preserve nature.

In his presidential address, Fr Eric Mathias SJ- Director of the institution said, “Today we felicitated two nature lovers who worship nature. Nothing can change if the slogans remain just the words. We need to turn our words into actions. Due to the initiative of Salumara Thimmakka, today people in some parts of Bengaluru are getting clean air. Plants and trees never live for themselves. They give us clean air, fruits, shade, etc. We should learn from these trees to lead a selfless life and serve others. Even though the theme this year is ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’, but we see that the saplings are wrapped with plastic foil. I urge the forest dept that next time they use cloth wrappings, in order to keep the theme true”.

Vincent Mendonsa- Principal, Roshan D’Souza- Vice-principal of SAITI, and Sharath Kaniga -Deputy Forest Range Officer were also present during the celebration. Students presented a cultural programme with a hip-hop dance. The vote of thanks was done by compere Adolf Rodrigues. The programme concluded with the National Anthem, and everyone was treated with a delicious sweet while they exited the hall.