World Environment Day: 5 June 2009
"Your Planet Needs You to Unite to Combat Climate
Change"
The Asian Institute of Technology and United Nations Environment
Programme - Regional Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific (UNEP
RRC.AP) marked World Environment Day (WED) together on June 5 through a
series of activities including a tree planting ceremony and painting
and photo competitions.
AIT and UNEP RRC.AP, which is located on the AIT campus, are
celebrating auspicious occasions this year. The month of September
marks both the Institute's fiftieth anniversary and its twenty-year
anniversary of partnership with UNEP RRC.AP. This year's World
Environment Day celebration was an occasion for both partners to join
forces to draw attention to the plight of the world's environment.
The day began with AIT President Said Irandoust presiding over a tree
planting ceremony held near the Queen Sirikit Arboterum Garden and AIT
Golf Club. With the active participation of over 80 participants from
both partners, approximately fifty trees comprising 8 indigenous
species were planted. President Irandoust was invited to this event by
Mr. Mahesh Pradhan, Director of UNEP RRC.AP.
AIT's Vice President for Development and Resources, Dr. Khin Ni Ni
Thien (pictured above), opened the morning program on behalf of the
President at Korea House.
Dr. Khin Ni Ni Thien noted many future activities that both AIT and
UNEP RRC.AP are committed to push through, such as reintroduction of
environmental studies and the revival of an Environmental Club next
school year. She commended AIT for trying to adapt to new demands
resulting from the global economic crisis by engaging young people and
future professionals to search for local solutions with global
dimensions. She added that although much is written and spoken about
climate change in scientific circles, little information filters
through to other levels. AIT's efforts to do so on environment and
climate change adaptation through teaching and learning should go some
way to correcting this fact, she said.
Mr. Mahesh Pradhan, UNEP RRC.AP Director, presided over the variety of
activities, one of which was a rendition of the song "Paraiso" by Smoky
Mountain.
Vice President for Development and Resources, Dr. Khin Ni Ni Thien,
(center) and UNEP RRC.AP Director, Mr. Mahesh Pradhan with children
from the AIT Community School.
The winners of the painting, photo and slogan competitions (pictured
above) were also announced, and follows:
Painting Contest:
First Prize: Tara Grace Gallardo
Second Prize: Handel Dale Gonzales
Third Prize: Kuldeep Bulbule
Consolation prizes: Hannah Dante & Fahreen Asim
Photography Competition:
First Prize: Ms. Aiden Gonzales
Second Prize: Mr. Manjula Siriwardhana
Third Prize: Mr. Muhammad Arshad
In closing, Mr Pradhan congratulated all the winners, participants and
organizers of the event. He emphasized the importance of the special
partnership between AIT and UNEP through the joint AIT/UNEP Regional
Resource Centre for Asia and the Pacific, in particular this "20-50"
celebration this year. He was optimistic that this partnership could be
further strengthened around the following three pillars: education,
research and outreach.
"This year, 2009, is a landmark year for Climate Change, bearing in
ming the upcoming Copenhagen talks in December. As a community, I want
to remind you all of your important role and responsibility to
help by making conscious efforts to decrease carbon footprints,
and at the same time increase environmental handprints", Mr. Pradhan
added.
The celebration wrapped up with a special Green Vegetarian Lunch at
the AIT Cafeteria.
World Environment Day (WED) was established by the UN General
Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the
Human Environment. Commemorated yearly on 5 June, WED is one of the
principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates
worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention
and action. The theme for WED 2009 is 'Your Planet Needs You to Unite
to Combat Climate Change'. It reflects the urgency for nations to agree
on a new deal at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen
some 180 days later in the year, and the links with overcoming poverty
and improved management of forests.
More information on UNEP activities relating to WED can be found at
the following links:
http://www.unep.org/wed/
http://www.rrcap.unep.org/event/