earthPoems
Celebration of LifeArchive for October 15, 2008
We voted for the environment
Stephen Hazell
One day after the federal election, it’s clear: Canadians voted for the environment. An overwhelming 62 percent of voters cast their ballots for parties that pledged to reduce greenhouse gases in Canada and combat global warming.
However, due to Canada’s unusual electoral system, the Conservative party has another minority in the next parliament.
It is now more important than ever for Sierra Club Canada to be a strong and effective voice for the millions of Canadians who voted for the environment by continuing to push the federal government to take serious action on issues like climate change, water, wild species and spaces, and environmental rights.
Sierra Club can be active in the political arena in ways that so many other environmental organizations cannot. Our non-charitable status allows us to advocate political action by government, Parliament, and voters, while charitable work funded by the Sierra Club Canada Foundation allows us to inform Canadians about the impacts of environmental inaction. That’s what allows us to be so effective.
Global Hand Washing Day today
LAHORE
Global Hand Washing Day will be observed on Wednesday October 15. The day’s theme is ‘Focus on School Children’.
The practice of hand washing with soap is on the top of the international hygiene agenda this year with the first Global Hand Washing Day. Several diseases, including diarrhoea and pneumonia, are caused if hands are not washed properly with soap before meals.
Children are more vulnerable to these diseases, therefore, the day is focused on them.
The day’s objective would be to inform parents of the importance of washing hands.
Environment Asia-2008 conference held at UET
Staff Report
LAHORE: Punjab Agriculture Minister Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh has said that work is underway to encourage the use of bio-fertilisers and bio-gas in Punjab to control environmental pollution.
He said this while addressing the inaugral session of a two-day International Environmental conference ‘Environment Asia-2008’, as a chief guest.
The conference held at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) was also attended by Federal Secretary Environment Khushnood Akhtar Lashari, University VC Lt Gen (r) Muhammad Akram, a large number of university teachers and students, environmental scientists and others concerned.
The minister said that the threat of environmental pollution was looming over our atmosphere, earth, water, soil and surroundings. Population explosion, industrial pollution, migratory trends towards big cities and other similar factors are affecting the environment adversely and call for immediate remedial measures, he added.
He lauded the efforts of the conference organising chairman Mian Fazal-e-Ahmad for promoting awareness regarding the issue. He said that the recommendations formulated at the conference would prove beneficial in formulating government policy regarding the subject.
Lashari also shed light on the issue and deliberated over the measures taken by the government. Later, the agriculture minister and other guests visited an exhibition displaying environmental friendly technologies and services offered. The minister appreciated their efforts and praised the use of the latest technology adopted by SPARCO for assessing intensely polluted areas.
University VC Lt Gen (r) Muhammad Akram, Mian Fazal-e-Ahmad and AR Saleemi were among those who addressed the conference. Shields were awarded to the people.
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