Tree planting programme

You may have tree planting ceremonies in your schools. Even if you don't, this shouldn't discourage you from planting at least one tree on your own. The students of Laggala Pallegama Ranamure Model Kanishta Vidyalaya got this opportunity recently; 5,000 plants high in timber and food value, raised at a nursery in this school, were distributed among these students.

The ceremony to distribute plants was organised by the Kandurata Development Bank as part of the government's environmental protection programme. The planting of 10 million trees throughout the country has been envisaged under this programme.

Officials of the Forest Conservation Department, who saw the success of the plant nursery, agreed to provide half an acre of land to the school for a plant nursery; it will be named Ranamure Vidyalaya Student Model Forestry Project.

They will also provide the students with the required seeds as well as the guidance and supervision for successful tree planting; afterwards, they will purchase the plants from the students.

Books and library equipment worth Rs. 50,000 were also donated to this school on the same day by the Kandurata Development Bank.

Solar power for Moneragala

Of late, we have been reading a lot on the power crisis and solar power generation. The latest news to come out in this regard is the installation of 300 solar systems in homes owned by low income families in the Moneragala area.

This project will provide the required energy to 300 households in remote areas in Wellawaya, Madulla and Siyambalanduwa in the Moneragala district. These households lack access to electricity and do not have any plans or the means to gain electricity in the near future.

The project has been launched with the objective of facilitating the children in the area to carry out their studies in the night without any disturbances. Currently, the children in these households study with the aid of kerosene lamps, which do not provide enough light and is also a danger.

The project was co-funded by Hellenic Aid of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, approved by the Social Services and Social Welfare Ministry and supported by the Women's Empowerment and Child Development Ministry. The project had been implemented by a Greek organisation named Athens Network of Collaborating Experts.

This organisation plans to launch another similar project in this area in response to the growing demand of other needy families.

Golden girl strikes gold again

All of you would remember Sarala Kariyawasam, the child artist who appeared in Deepa Mehta's internationally acclaimed movie 'Water'. Now, she's in the news again, having won the 'Best Child Actor of the World in an International Feature Film' award presented by Hollywood's Young Artist Foundation.

"Sarala performed an absolutely outstanding role in a brilliant film that should have been given more recognition by Hollywood," said Maureen Dragone, President of the Foundation, which held its 28th consecutive year of awards recognizing and honouring talented young child artists all over the world.

The jury of the Foundation said, Sarala has been named the 'Leading Young Actor or Actress for the Best Performance in an International Feature Film', for the current year.

This is the highest award any Lankan child has ever won in any performing arts in Sri Lanka's history.

Girl Guides camp

The 90th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association was celebrated recently by the Badulla District Girl

 Guides. Ninety Girl Guides and officials from schools in the Badulla district took part in the celebrations which included events such as camp-fire, cooking sessions, games, fitness events, dramas, trekking and singing.

The event was organised by Girl Guides Commissioner, K. J. Gamage, Deputy Commissioner, J. Jayawardena and Guiding teachers of Little Flower Convent, Anoma Weeraratne, St. Joseph's College Ms. Kanthie and Bandarawela Central College, Irene Karunatileka, with the help of the district Girl Guides.

The hot topic of melting ice

The environment is very much in the news these days with many projects being launched and carried out towards a cleaner environment. Still on the same theme, we are commemorating the World Environment Day (WED) on June 5.

The occasion is one of the main events used by the United Nations to create worldwide awareness about the environment and enhance political attention and action in this sphere.

So, are we focusing on anything specific this year? The theme selected for this year, 'Melting Ice - A Hot Topic', also extends support to the International Polar Year. The 2007 WED theme also focuses on the effects that climate change is having on polar ecosystems and communities, and the consequences that will be felt around the world.

The main international celebrations this year, spearheaded by the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP), will be held in Troms, Norway. The programmes of the day will be directed towards giving a human face to environmental issues, empowering people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable(fair and just) development, promoting the understanding that communities are vital in changing attitudes towards environmental issues, and advocating partnerships which can ensure all nations and people enjoying a safer and more prosperous future.

The WED was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution which the General Assembly had adopted on the same day, resulted in the creation of the UNEP.

Some of the events organised to commemorate this occasion are street rallies, bicycle parades, green concerts, essay and poster competitions in schools, tree planting, recycling efforts and clean-up campaigns.

Protect and preserve the oceans

Do you know how important the world's oceans are to the well-being of humans and other forms of life on earth? If you thought that the oceans are just large bodies of water, think again!

Our oceans provide us with most of the oxygen that we breathe, feed us, regulate the climates on our planet, gift us with a bounty of medicines and provide us with limitless inspiration in many walks of life. But for all that the oceans do for us, have we treated them well?

The answer is a loud No. We have treated the oceans as a garbage dump, destroyed the fish populations and other important habitat, affected the balance of the ocean system and basically, taken the oceans for granted.

This is what the World Ocean Day, celebrated close to June 8, tries to rectify. The day gives us an opportunity to celebrate the oceans and our personal connection to the sea.

World Ocean Day was established in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The events and activities of the day are organised by the Ocean Project and the World Ocean Network.

They work with aquariums, zoos, museums, conservation organisations, universities, schools and businesses to use the occasion to create awareness about the oceans, their importance and what we can do to protect and preserve them.

Although not yet officially designated by the United Nations, these organisations are working to have June 8 UN-designated as World Ocean Day.

Stop the aggression of children

Most of you children may be lucky enough to lead a comfortable life with your parents and siblings.

While you are enjoying the gifts life has offered you, did you ever stop to think about the more unfortunate children who may be resigned to a life of poverty and hardship?

Children just like you are suffering in refugee camps, having lost everything they owned and even their beloved parents to the cruel war. They as well as those slaving away as child labourers and street children face a life of misery.

The International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, commemorated on June 4, acknowledges the pain of children around the world who are the victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse, and emphasises the commitment of the United Nations to protect the rights of all children.

The Day celebrates the many people and organisations working towards protecting and preserving the rights of the world's children.

The day tries to focus the spotlight on child abuse and do whatever is possible to protect children around the world. The Convention on the Rights of the Child play a leading role here, providing a basis for international negotiations and action.

The UN General Assembly, "appalled at the great number of innocent Palestinian and Lebanese children victims of Israel's acts of aggression (hostility)", decided to commemorate June 4 of each year as the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, on August 19, 1982, at its emergency special session on the question of Palestine.