Voice of Youth on Earth Day (April 22nd)

Earth Day  is celebrated every year on 22nd April to inspire awareness of and appreciation for earth's environment. It's a day to reflect on our planet, our environment and what we can do to help keep it healthy.

Children have the most important stake in keeping our planet healthy.  They'll still be the caretakers long after their parents and grandparents have passed away. So I request parents to make their children aware of Earth Day , it’s significance , their role in protecting environment and saving earth. Let them understand the important 3 Rs(Reduce , Reuse and Recycle) , let them use recycled material in their craft.

I would like to request all readers to demonstrate support for environmental protection on this Earth Day by adopting green habits , by starting recycling culture at their homes , in their families,,by using public transport or shared cars , by switching to CFL lamps and other energy efficient appliances , by pre-setting AC temperatures to 20 degrees , by planting trees , by disposing the waste mindfully , by cleaning up your surroundings as cleanliness is next to godliness. If we think twice before our every action ,  we could find a better and eco –friendlier option. We just need to have a will to protect environment and to heal the ailing Mother Earth . The most important realisation we need to have is that If we protect and take care of nature , it will also protect us.

Embracing Earth Day, I am going to use solar phone chargers for our family mobile phones. We are also going to save energy by having candle light family dinner every alternate day. I am also going to participate in Bee’ah Earth Day walkathon to show my support and solidarity towards environment conservation. These may be small efforts from my side but such small efforts collectively lead to big impacts . Nothing is more powerful than the collective action of a billion people.

UAE government is investing big times on sustainable infrastructure and green clean technologies but we as public need to co-operate with them to achieve UAE’s mission of becoming one of the most sustainable nation.

I have also written below poem on the occasion of “Earth Day” to share with readers:

Cultivate inner peace to save the planet,

After all this is the only living planet.

Where you have chocolates , ice creams ,candies

So many natural wonders holding this land is.

Cherish these wonders and resources,

Don’t spoil these by human forces.

Don’t cut trees , don’t peel off the beauty,

To protect Earth is our social duty.

Forests are the lungs of our land,

Helping it to breathe and purify the air,

Protect the forests and let the trees grow is fair.

We won’t have a society if we destroy the environment,

Help make a difference today , Protect the environment.

As one of the most popular youth community group , we actively promote positive environmental values . We are launching Earth Day contests online on our FB page and to commemorate Earth Day , we are collecting heaps of old/new good condition clothes and books and donating them to "Human Appeal International , Ajman" . This is our small effort to protect environment (by recycling clothes) and to improve the lives of less fortunate ones. Anyone interested in donating can contact us through our FB  Page

 https://www.facebook.com/studentsfortheearth?ref=hl

Arushi Madan

President of youth community group "Students for the Earth"