EPD to observe Earth Day with zeal

LAHORE, April 15: The Environment Protection Department (EPD) will hold a paintings exhibition-cum-competition based on recycling in collaboration with the Children's Library Complex and a seminar to observe Earth Day on April 22. Students from around 50 public and private schools will participate in the art competition while the seminar will be organised at the Punjab Institute of Language Art and Culture (PILAC) in which officials of government and non-government organisations, academicians, industrialists and general public will participate. The seminar will address issues such as promoting alternative energy resources, starting indigenous tree plantation, reducing garbage and controlling pollution by skipping private cars and preferring public transport for travelling. The department has been observing the day since 1996. It has sensitised officials of Government College University, Lahore College for Women University, Kinnaird College, LUMS and Punjab University to organise separate events to educate students as well as the masses. The Aitchison College Lahore will also organise an environmental carnival to observe the day. All district coordination officers have been requested to join hands with the EPD and arrange activities in line with theme of the Earth Day by involving academia and government and non-government organisations and the general public. The day was first observed by United States senator Gaylord Nelson and Dennis Hayes in New York in 1970. A campaign titled "A Billion Acts of Green" has been launched in connection with the 41st Earth Day. It is the largest environmental service campaign in the world for steadily building commitments by individuals, corporations, and governments in honour of Earth Day. The campaign inspires and rewards both simple individual acts and larger organisational initiatives to take further steps to achieve the goal of measurably reducing carbon emissions and supporting sustainability. The goal is to register one billion actions ahead of Earth Summit scheduled to be held from June 4 to June 6, 2012 in Rio de Janeiro.