Sri Lanka greenest in region

Sri Lanka stood out as the 'greenest' in the region at a recent rating conducted among 141 countries by the World Economic Forum and researchers at Yale and Columbia Universities.

In the Environmental Health category, Sri Lanka was at 36th position, ahead of Australia and Malaysia. In the Green House Gases category, where carbon emission per capita and by GDP is measured, Sri Lanka occupied the 37th position; it stood well for a country with an economic growth rate of 6.5 per cent in the last two years.

All other fast-developing countries and the developed west were far lower in this category.

In the energy efficiency rating too, Sri Lanka maintained the 36th position. In the overall ranking where both social and environmental factors were considered, Sri Lanka ranked 66th, still far ahead of our neighbours in the region.

Dino with mouth like vacuum cleaner

Paleontologist Paul Sereno has unveiled a dinosaur found in the Sahara that has a mouth that worked like a vacuum cleaner.

The plant-eating dinosaur known as Nigersaurus taqueti has a featherweight skull armed with hundreds of needle-shaped teeth, the National Geographic Society said in a release.

Sereno, a professor at the University of Chicago and the National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, said Nigersaurus operated more like a Mesozoic cow than a reptilian giraffe, grazing on greenery that consisted largely of ferns and horsetails.

An exhibit on Nigersaurus, including the original fossils and a reconstructed skeleton and skull, opened in Washington, USA in the National Geographic Museum at Explorers Hall. The 110 million-year-old dinosaur was found by Sereno and his team in 1999.

Details of the dinosaur and its lifestyle are published in the online journal of the Public Library of Science as well as in the December issue of National Geographic's 'Extreme Dinosaurs' magazine.

United Press International

Decent treatment for people with disabilities

We have a lot of disabled or differently abled people in our midst. It is said that over 10 per cent of Sri Lanka's population is disabled in some way. But just because they are physically or mentally disabled, that doesn't mean they are of no use to society.

On the contrary, they have a lot to contribute to our society in every sphere from economy, culture and arts to sports. They are very much a useful part of our society and should be given their due role.

It is exactly with this intention that the International Day of Disabled Persons is observed on December 3 every year. It aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

It also seeks to increase public awareness about the gains to be had from getting their full contribution in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. The 2007 theme 'Decent work for persons with disabilities' has also been selected with the idea of promoting these objectives.

This is an issue which should involve parties from the governmental, non-governmental and private sectors.

Schools, universities and similar institutions can also contribute to promoting greater interest and awareness about disability issues among the public.

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Convention for the disabled

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 13, 2006, and opened for signature on March 30, 2007.

On this day itself, 81 member states and the European Community signed the Convention, the highest number of signatures for any human rights convention on its opening day.

The Convention was negotiated between 2002 and 2006, making it the fastest negotiated human rights treaty. It aims to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy human rights on an equal basis with others.

Appreciate the work of volunteers

Do you do volunteer work? There are many organisations both for children and adults that carry out volunteer work which benefits society in numerous ways.

Did you know that there was a special day to honour these volunteers? The International Volunteer Day (IVD), which is observed on December 5, aims to thank volunteers for their efforts and increase public awareness on their contribution to society.

The Day is formally known as the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development. Designated by the United Nations since 1985, it is celebrated by a large number of countries.

Celebrations in most countries are led by non-governmental organisations such as the Red Cross, scouts and others including the United Nations Volunteers.

Many of these volunteers engage in their services at considerable risk to themselves and make many personal sacrifices.

The UN General Assembly initiated the event with the motive of promoting measures to heighten awareness of the important contribution of volunteer service, thereby encouraging more people from all walks of life to offer their services as volunteers, both at home and abroad.

The Day also provides an opportunity for organisations involving volunteers and individual volunteers to work together on projects and campaigns promoting their contributions to economic and social development at local, national and international levels.

The IVD was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 17, 1985. Since then, governments, the UN system and civil society organisations have successfully joined volunteers around the world to celebrate the event.

Civil Aviation Day

Another important event celebrated this week is International Civil Aviation Day on December 7.

The purpose of the global celebration is to generate and reinforce worldwide awareness of the importance of international civil aviation in the social and economic development of States, and of the role of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in promoting the safety, efficiency and regularity of international air transport.

The Day had been declared in 1992 by the Assembly of the ICAO, a specialised UN agency, to highlight and advance the benefits of international civil aviation. Observations started on December 7, 1994, on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which established the ICAO.

It has been recognized by the UN since 1996. The UN has also urged governments, as well as national, regional, international and inter-governmental organisations, to take steps to observe the event.

The ICAO, an agency of the United Nations, lays down the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth.

Its Council adopts standards and recommended practices concerning air navigation, prevention of unlawful interference, and facilitation of border-crossing procedures for international civil aviation.

It also defines the standards for air accident investigation followed by transport safety authorities in countries signatory to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, commonly known as the Chicago Convention.