World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5 every year by people all across the world to raise global awareness about the importance of a healthy and green environment in human lives. This day is celebrated to encourage people from all walks of life not only to actively participate in the celebration, but also to become active agents in developing environmental safety measures. It is a day to encourage people to make their nearby surroundings safe and clean in order to enjoy safer, cleaner and prosperous future. The 2016 theme for World Environment Day is “Zero Tolerance for the Illegal Wildlife Trade”, as the increasing illegal trade in wildlife is eroding earth’s precious biodiversity and pushing the whole species towards extinction.
Like other parts of the world, World Environment Day was also observed across the country with the aim to protect environment and motivate people to be a causative agent of change against the deteriorating quality of environment for the future generations. In connection with this year’s theme, a number of activities and events were organised by different government and non-governmental organisations in Lahore in a bid to highlight the importance of the day besides raising awareness on illegal trade of wildlife and eco-friendly initiatives for better environment. Celebrations included an awareness walk, plantation, camping, public briefing, leafleting and a massive cleanup operation.
All this is a welcome step as little things can make a big difference. Making a difference in how we do things in our daily lives can also help a lot. Therefore, we must join hands with the government to save the environment and every effort should be made for maximum tree plantation. If we had kept a check on ourselves as nations and individuals, we could have had a much less damaging effect on our planet. Yet no political movement is more vital and timely than modern environmentalism because we must save ourselves from our own immediate folly.
Syed Ali Qasim
Lahore