Thomex.com
While it has become fashionable to celebrate Days like Father's Day, Mother's Day, Friendship Day and Women's Day et al, Earth Day is certainly the one, which deserves everyone’s attention. This is largely because there is much at stake both for mankind and the life-giving planet, earth.
It was this concern towards the planet, that the Earth Day was observed by a group of people which included ambassadors, bureaucrats, corporate leaders and businessmen. Organised by Paharpur Business Centre and sponsored by Conference Spa, the event was held at 26, Prithviraj Road, at Kamal and Anita Meattle's residence.
The event which was held on Monday had Tajendra Khanna, Lt.-Governor of Delhi NCR as the Guest of Honour. The theme of the celebration 'Green is Green' began with screening of films on global warming and other ecological issues along with presentation by eminent people. Kamal Meattle who hosted the show gave an impressive presentation on the subject.
Tajendra Khanna stressed the need of saving the mother earth from the ravages of human activities. He said that the government has approved a massive plan for a clean Yamuna. Under the project, only clean and treated water will now reach the river. There is also a plan afoot to make sure that no garbage is dumped in the river, he said.
As the environment issues like global warming, climate changes and depleting natural resources assumes larger significance, the event stressed that unless the corporate world imbibes environment-friendly processes into its business operations, no substantial changes is possible.
The event however realised the fact that there was a general consensus among people about environmental issues. Today, most of the corporate have realised that environmentally responsible business can add up to their profit margin and will help them grow on sustainable basis in the long run.
Speaking on the occasion Kamal Meattle said, "Such small events go a long way in creating right kind of awareness as you impress upon your nearest group to take initiatives," he said. Meattle also emphasised the need to organise more such events on a larger scale so that more people could become a stakeholder in environmental issues.
Elaborating on the environmental issues, Meattle said, "Global warming is a larger threat than terrorism because it will affect each one of us. In India, Ganges would dry up by 2030, according to UNFCCC. It will be a disaster and catastrophe. Over 400 million people living in the Indo-Gangetic plain covering 3, 00,000 sq miles would be affected."
The Earth Day celebration was attended by large number of entrepreneurs and businessmen. Rajendra Varma of Varma Leather Factory & Tannery (P) Ltd who owns a factory in Kanpur said, “It was quite enlightening to know about the environmental issues related to various industries," he said.
Likewise, Vishal Singhal, Vice President (Marketing), CellStart said, "The ecological issues plaguing mankind is assuming serious proportion. It needs to be well-taken care of before it goes out of hand," he said.
Singhal said that such events bring people sharing a common cause under one umbrella and also work as a networking point where you get to meet people from diverse background. "This also helps you in promoting your business and fighting for a common cause at the same time," he said.
Lt. Col (Rtd) S John, who is an active social worker and works with a NGO said, "There is a solution to every problem if you follow an ethical stand based on truth and justice. While fighting environmental problems like global warming, one should take a stand based on righteousness. Then only mankind can overcome Himalayan crisis of such magnitude."
