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| Sunday, 20 March 2005 |
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Junior Observer |
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News Business Features
Editorial
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World Water Day - March 22 : Water for Life Water, as we know, is essential for all living beings. Without this precious liquid, no human, animal or plant will survive on Earth. Water is crucial for all of us, not only to drink, cook, wash ourselves and our clothes, but also for development activities and to reduce poverty and hunger. It is vital for human health and well-being. As we celebrate World Water Day on March 22, we have to think how important water is to our lives and why we shouldn't waste it. We wouldn't waste a single drop of water if we thought of the millions of people around the world who didn't have access to safe drinking water. That is why the United Nations General Assembly, at its 58th session in December 2003, declared the years 2005 to 2015 as the International Decade for Action on "Water for Life". The goals of the Decade, which kicks off on Tuesday, are aimed at focusing on implementing water-related programmes and projects, increasing women's involvement in water-related development efforts and advancing co-operation at all levels to work towards water-related goals. A UN Summit in September will review the progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, which include reducing by half, the number of people without access to clean water and safe sanitation by 2015. Access to safe water and sanitation facilities are among the basic human rights. But did you know that there are still almost 1.1 billion people (20 per cent of the world's population) who don't have adequate access to water and 2.4 billion (40 per cent of the population) without appropriate sanitation? Each year, more than 2.2 million people, mostly children under five, die from problems associated with lack of water and sanitation. More than 6,000 children die everyday from diseases associated with lack of access to safe drinking water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene. In developing countries, about 80 per cent of illnesses are linked to poor water and sanitation conditions. At any time, half of the world's hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from water-borne diseases. This will be the second UN-declared international decade on water-related issues. The first, on Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation, observed from 1981 to 1990, brought water to over a billion people and sanitation to almost 770 million. However, much more needs to be done. A lesson learnt from the first decade is that human co-operation is essential to make headway in this regard, and that without this element, modern technology or other developments wont be of much use. UN Water organizes the annual World Water Day on March 22 and chooses the theme each year. The resolution to declare March 22 as World Day for Water was adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 22, 1992 and observing the day started in 1993. ######### Island-wide programmes for World Water Day The National Water Supply and Drainage Board, along with the Urban Development and Water Supply Ministry and other relevant government institutions, have organised island-wide programmes to commemorate World Water Day, which falls on March 22. The theme for this year's event is 'Water for Life'. The activities will kick off on the morning of the 22nd at Sausiripaya and will continue for a week, which has been designated as the Water Week. The highlight of the programme will be the ceremonial opening of 'Diyadam Piyasa', a water and environment-related education centre, at the premises of the Kalatuwawa Reservoir on the same evening. Working Director, Water Board, Sunil Sarath Perera told the Junior Observer that this centre will especially benefit schoolchildren, as they can learn about water, the environment and how they are related to each other. Perera said that a competition has also been conducted among students throughout the island, on recognising water resources. This programme, conducted for the first time, has been extremely successful. Six students per school took part in the competition along with a teacher who supervised their activities. "We plan to expand on this programme and increase the students' awareness of water sources," he said. Many other awareness programmes will be carried out throughout the country during the Water Week. There are also plans to inaugurate community water projects in the areas of Anuradhapura and Kurunegala, according to Perera. (IT) ########### Good Friday, when Jesus died on the cross Christians and Catholics all over the world will observe Good Friday on March 25. It is a day of sadness and marks the time when Jesus Christ died on the cross on the hill at Calvary. It is a time to think about his suffering on the cross. The cross is the Christian symbol of pain and suffering, as it is on the cross that Jesus, the Son of God, suffered, and died, fulfilling his mission of love, being a man for others, caring for those who suffered, sharing their pain until the very end. On Good Friday, church altars are left bare and candles are unlit. Only solemn music is played. Some churches are draped with black cloth to commemorate this day. On Good Friday we should think about why Jesus suffered for mankind. It is a day that should be devoted to sharing each other's suffering and helping each other overcome their suffering. ############ Art for conservation
Many movements are underway for the conservation of turtles. The British School in Colombo has launched a novel initiative to contribute towards this conservation drive. Under the guidance of their pottery teacher, Tissa de Alwis, students of forms 1, 2 and 3 have been taught to make glazed ceramic sea turtles to increase awareness about the need to conserve these creatures. It will also help improve the students' creative talents. These pictures of the ceramic turtles were taken by Tim Callahagn, a student of the school. ########### Developing education in the North-East The Education Ministry has initiated action towards improving the quality of education in the North and East. A Cabinet memorandum was to be submitted by the President, concerning the appointment of volunteers to teach Sinhala to Tamil students and Tamil to Sinhalese students in these areas. Action has already been taken regarding the appointment of 193 Sinhala medium volunteer teachers for the North and East. Provincial authorities have been informed of this move, according to the Ministry. A special team of officers will be ensuring that education activities in the North and East continue without any disruptions. Uniform distribution Meanwhile, the Education Ministry has obtained Cabinet approval to initiate work connected to the distribution of school uniform material for 2006, before the end of this year. All material will be either produced locally, or the raw material imported and processed locally by local textile manufacturers, so that the procedure is more streamlined. This practice was adopted last year too. Calling for tenders and related activities have already begun. The project is expected to cost Rs. 1,332 million. ############ Japanese blackboards for Lankan schools The Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) has launched a programme to distribute Japanese blackboards among small schools in Sri Lanka. The blackboards, known as Kakuban, will be distributed among the primary classes, from Grade 1 to 5. The first programme of the pilot project was held in the Maharagama Division of Sri Jayawardenapura, in the Western Province, last September. Ninety two blackboards were distributed on this occasion. The second batch of 121 blackboards were to be handed over at the Poonagavi Maha Vidyalaya, Kilinochchi in the Northern Province. These blackboards are attractive and durable, and if handled properly, can last for over 10 years. The supply of blackboards is the first step of the JICA project. As the second step, fully equipped model primary classrooms will be provided for selected schools. The effective implementation of the project is expected to minimise the difficulties and problems faced by Sri Lanka's primary students. |
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Turtles are an endangered species. Their population is dwindling rapidly
as they are killed for their meat and shells, and their eggs are hunted by
humans as well as other animals.