Mangaluru: Saplings Galore!1600 Saplings Offered Free during ‘Green Mangaluru Campaign’ by KACES

Mangaluru: Global warming may not be damaging the Earth as quickly as feared after scientists found that plants can soak up more carbon dioxide than previously thought. Living beings and plant life on this planet also undergo change accordingly. Man’s physical structure too changes from generation to generation along with the change in climatic conditions. Because of the growth in the population, a large number of trees are cut for fuel, and to reclaim land for agricultural cultivation. trees are also cut to make way for infrastructure. People have destroyed ancient trees in a similar way to shaving a man’s hair off. This is not simply the destruction of trees but it also means harming what belongs to the citizens. Similarly, the continuing decline in forests and greenery is adversely affecting the already changing global climate, thus upsetting the lives, not only of mankind, but also of all living beings.

In the name of modernity and development we have been cutting the trees without realizing its impact for the future. Increase of population, deforestation and continuous plunder of natural resources has not only increased the stressed the mother earth but has also led to Climate Change. India is facing the brunt of climate change and will see severe scarcity of water resources and food-grain production if we do not act now. Keeping this reality in mind , The Karnataka Christian Educational Society (KACES), Mangalore Special economic Zone( MSEZ), Mangalore Senior Citizens Association and Aruna Nursery had come up with this “Green Mangaluru Campaign/Hasiru Mangaluru Abhiyaana” to create awareness about the impact of climate change on all our lives.

Green Mangaluru Campaign programme was held at Bishop Jathanna Hall-KACES-Balmatta on Saturday, 13 June 2015 at 9.30am. The hall was packed with predominantly mixed audience comprising of teachers, lecturers, nurses, priests, nuns, students, entrepreneurs, and many others who had come to take home couple saplings to be planted in their homes, hostel compound, and in the area of their residence. The program began with invoking God’s blessings through a prayer song rendered by students of karnataka Theological College, which was followed by the welcome address by Ramesh Rao-Secretary of Mangaluru seniors Citizens Association, where he said that, “Although we are retired, we are not tired. We encourage and involve in various community projects, and awareness programmes like this one, where we can have a better, clean and green environment. Planting trees is good for the community, we can breathe clean, green and fresh air. With all these mega buildings coming up in the city, we are forced to breathe pollute air, since all the trees are axed down to make way for these concrete structures. We need to plant more trees in the place where they were chopped down”.

The campaign programme was inaugurated by chief guest, Manohar Prasad- Bureau chief of Udayavani daily, by handing over two saplings to the Principal of Hebich Technical Institute, Chethan R. After being felicitated by the organizers, Manohar Prasad addressing the gathering said, ” Coming to KACES brings back memories where the area was rich in greenery during his younger days, and still it is green. I compliment the management of KACES for maintaining greenery all around the area. I have seen that ministers come and plant trees at a said location, and within a year they plant more trees at the same location-you know why? Because after planting the saplings no one takes care and nurtures these saplings-they will dry up, and once again more saplings are replaced there. This should not happen- when we plant saplings we need to take care of them. This is a unique project undertaken by these various organizations to make Mangaluru look green, and I compliment the people behind this project for their creative thinking and awareness project”.

Dinesh Nayak from MSEZ in his key note address narrated about the various plants/trees/flowers/fruits that are grown in our district through power point presentation, which was highly applauded by the audience. Also speaking during the programme, Rev Dr Honey Cabral-principal of Karnataka theological College said, “”The Hasiru Mangaluru Abhiyaana is a small effort from our point to inspire people to commit themselves for this cause. In continuation of this program we will visit most of the Churches, Masjids, Temples Schools and Institutions and meet them personally and distribute plants. Most of the plants which are distributed are fruit bearing plants and also has commercial values. They will help us to restore the water resources in the ground.Through this program 1600 sapling collected from various places will be freely distributed to the public toady. In future, we will come up with project to distribute flower plants”.

To add some charm to the programme, environmentalist K Krishnappa who has participated in various environmental related programmes recited some slogans pertaining to save greenery around, and the audience repeated after him, who had a fun time. The vote of thanks was proposed by Rev Dr F Anil Kumar of KACES, and the programme was professionally compered by Rev Thomas Chindwal of KACES. After the formal programme, saplings were distributed to everyone who attended the campaign programme.

Also Read:

Mangaluru: The ‘Evergreen Man’! Environmentalist Krishnappa determined to Paint the City Green

Mangaluru: GO Green! Hotel Taj Gateway and Govt. ITI – Women Celebrate ‘World Environment Day 2015’