World Environment Day is held annually on June 5 and serves to make the world alert about the environment and create action to address the needs of protection for our increasingly fragile planet. The day gives a human presence to environmental problems, empowering citizens to engage in projects to heal the earth and prevent further damage, help communities understand that it is their responsibility to make changes and that they can do it together, and to implore people to become partners in the cause of protecting the environment. This year’s theme, “Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with care” demonstrates the importance the world attaches to sustainable development. World Environment Day Promotes an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues. Conservation methods include addressing the climate changes on our planet, destruction of habitats, soil erosion caused by over development of land, the ozone layer, and the general protection of eco-systems. Any of the Earth’s ecosystems are nearing critical tipping points of depletion or irreversible change, pushed by high population growth and economic development. By 2050, if current consumption and production patterns remain the same and with a rising population expected to reach 9.6 billion, we will need three planets to sustain our way of life. Living well within planetary boundaries is the most promising strategy for ensuring a healthy future. World Environment Day is a celebration to reflect on these and to realise the benefits Environment bestows upon us; and a reminder of the fact that we have to save and protect our environment for our progenies. The idea is to promote awareness on the importance of preserving biodiversity, the need to identify issues related to environment and find out ways to take corrective action. The day is also a celebration of brotherhood, wherein people from different origins or locations come together and think about ways and means to protect environment collectively. As they come together, they pledge to make our planet a clean and green place to live in. This indeed reminds us of our “Existence”. It means the dependency of mankind on our planet earth and our relationships, responsibilities towards protecting, saving our Oxygen, without which we can’t live. This day has assumed a greater place in our lives by tuning attention from Comfortable living (Pizzas, Fuel, Cars, and Air conditioners) to the very foundation on which our entire mankind has been dwelling. We may have different opinions on various issues but our Planet, Environment doesn’t. If we imagine that there is no Planet, Environment, then where is the discussion to fight for comfortable living. Whatever we are, however we are and whatever we may be, our strength or development, does not equate with our lovely Planet and its Environment. We are just a single drop of this entire ocean called universe. All our relations are desperately related with and subjected to the very effects of this World, Universe. We have damaged our environment with impunity for our own needs or development by thinking that we are the owners of this Planet. We are just guests living at the mercy of this Planet and we have so many responsibilities to save, protect the place in which we are being given an opportunity only to live. Every year the World Environmental Day reminds us not only to create awareness, carving out developmental strategies, just holding brain storming sessions, but also ordering us for immediate action to protect environment and the planet. In addition, any type of consciousness raising activity has merits. World Environment Day is no different. It seeks to bring to all a heightened awareness and understanding of the environment and the problems that besiege it. Protection of environment has become a very important medium to address the problems affecting the whole world and which requires positive actions at global level as well as at local and individual levels. In this context, celebration of the World Environment Day can promote the cause of world environment protection by educating individuals on the measures they can take at the individual level. Rwanda, like other countries, marks the World Environment Day and dedicates its activities to raising awareness on environment and climate change. This was kick-started by the Minister for Natural Resources, Dr Vincent Biruta, in a news conference he held yesterday at the Rwanda Environment and Management Authority (REMA) offices when he met with the media fraternity to explain the significance of the World Environment Day to Rwanda’s socio-economic development. The people of Rwanda, from countryside to urban areas, are getting to understand the collective efforts required to maintain, improve and be involved in environmental conservation. Finally, celebrating the world Environment Day is very vital in that it helps to build solidarity and collective action. The more people can assume this point of view in their perception of any cause, in this case environmental consciousness, the better the chance local action can spurn into greater effects. oscar.kimanuka@yahoo.co.uk
