By Meghna Deb Roy
SHILLONG: The Partners of Pla Iew Club organized the Green Ambassador’s Campaign called ‘I have a dream: Green and Clean Meghalaya’, on Monday at MUDA complex. An Extempore Speech competition, concerning the environment, was held in which various schools including St. Edmund’s, Pearly Dew, St. Xavier’s Secondary School, Laban Bengali Girl’s School and BK Bajoria besides others took active part.
The President of the Club Nicholas Kharnami, said, “We believe in things that are practical. Each of us are responsible for our environment”. He encouraged the students to speak their mind out about the fast deteriorating environment. The guest for the occasion, Naba Bhattacharjee said, “The young generation should come forward as crusaders of change. They will take the crusade forward and make Shillong benign”.
The Campaign served as a platform for the students to raise various issues on the environment. It was also a campaign against plastic usage. The Campaign supported the Save Rivers- Save Life movement as well.
The topics on which the participants had to speak were many ranging from Green House Effect, Significance of the Environment, I am a River as the River is for me, If I was a tree, Waste Management at home and within Locality, Jhum/Shifting Cultivation etc.
While the participants were given time to ponder over their subjects, a musical performance by B. Kharkongor was presented.
“It is our duty to plant trees. If we cut two, we should plant three”, said Nikha, a participant. ‘We should replace plastic bags with Jute bags”, said another participant. The issues of Water, Air, Noise and Soil pollution were raised. An appeal to replace Deforestation with Afforestation was made.
Realizing the rate at which our natural environment has been failing, a request to stand up and make a change was made. “We have to dare to dream and dare to live that dream”, said Mallik.