EARTH DAY 2016
Rajendran, N, Rao, M.S., Venkatadasu, S.P., Krishnamurthy, P., Godhavari, K.S.
The first Earth Day was celebrated in the United States of America in the year 1970 channeling
the energies of the massive anti-Vietnam war protests of the younger generation and the
awakened public awareness on environment by Rachel Carson’s New York Times bestsellerSilent Spring. Earth Day became global in 1990 with a massive mobilization of public opinion in
141 countries against the increasing environmental degradation and an indifferent attitude for the
consequences. The Earth Day Network (http://www.earthday.org/earth-day) co-ordinates this
global movement with the support of the United Nations, which has declared the 22 April as the
International Mother Earth Day in 1992. The Earth Day Network selects a theme for every year
for highlighting specific aspects for ameliorating the Earth’s environment.
The theme chosen by the Global Earth Day Network for the year 2016 is Trees for the Earth,
which is an important component of the broader theme of Caring for the Earth, envisaged by
the Ministry of Earth Sciences. This year’s Earth Day assumed special significance as
representatives from 170 countries gathered at New York on 22 April at the UN Headquarters to
ratify the December 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
The Geological Society of India has been celebrating the Earth Day each year for the last several
years with the active support provided by the Ministry of Earth Sciences as a part of the outreach
activity of both the agencies. This year’s programme encompassed three major activities: a)
conducting awareness programmes in
various higher secondary schools in
Bangalore on important aspects of Earth
Science and Environmental Protection in
the run up to the final Earth Day celebration
b)A Field Excursion for students was
organized on 21st April 2016 to learn about
different plant species specially nurtured at
the Biodiversity Park of the Bangalore
University that grow in a specific
environment and introduction to the
Geology and Rock Types exposed in a
quarry at the biodiversity park maintained
by the Bangalore University and c)The
culminating Earth Day program on 22nd
April, 2016.
Awareness programme at St. Sophia School,
Nagarbhavi
As in the previous years, awareness
programmes were conducted in a number of
schools in Bangalore covering thousands of higher secondary school children. The programme
was co-ordinated by Dr. S.P. Venkata Dasu, former Director, GSI and Dr. K.V. Krishnamurthy,
former Dy. Director General, GSI. Presentations on the formation of earth and its environment,
factors responsible for pollution of Hydrosphere and Atmosphere and measures to mitigate the ill
effects of human intervention were made by the above resource persons. This was followed by
interactive sessions with the students. A brief account of the importance of the Earth Day 22ndApril, was given and the global theme of the current year “Trees for the Earth” was
explained.
The Jnana Bharathi Campus of Bangalore
University is spread over an area of 1100
acres in which a Biodiversity cum Geo-Park
covering an area of 300 acres has been
developed in the year 2004 when about three
lakh saplings including many rare and
endangered species were planted. The park
includes Charaka-Shushrutavana (Medicinal
plants), Pancha-Valkala Vruksha Dhama Dr. S.P.Venkata Dasu briefing about the events in
(five bark bearing trees), bonsai and aromatic Bio-diversity Park.
plant gardens. For the activities of Earth Day
2016 with the global theme being Trees for the Earth, Bio-Geo park nurtured by Prof. T.J.
Renuka Prasad, Department of Geology turned out to be the most appropriate choice. Students
and teachers from about 16 schools assembled at 09.00 hrs in the NSS Bhavan of the University
located within the park on 21st April 2016. Students from Government Ayurveda College, Shanti
Pharma Degree College and Bangalore University also participated in the event apart from large
number of volunteers both from University and general public. The activities started with Dr.
S.P. Venkata Dasu giving an
introduction to the day’s events. Dr.
A. N. Yellappa Reddy, a noted
environmentalist and former Chief
Conservator of Forests, Karnataka
and a member of the advisory board
for the development of the Bangalore
University
Biodiversity park
explained the importance of the trees
with special emphasis on soil
protection and explained features of
different species of the trees and
plants. The students and teachers
Dr. A.N. Yellappa Reddy explaining to the children about
were taken around the Bio-Geo Park
the trees and soil
in smaller groups and Dr. S. Hegde,
Forest Research Institute,
Mr. Ramachandrappa and
other volunteers explained
in detail about importance
of
trees/plants
for
maintaining balance in the
atmosphere and supporting
life on Mother Earth. They
also
explained
the
measures taken for soil
conservation
by
construction of contour
bunds and check dams for
Teachers and children in the Bio-diversity park
recharging ground water.
The significance of termite-mounds as indicators of the moisture content of the soils in the
proximity of water bodies was also explained.
An abandoned quarry within the bio-diversity park with excellent exposures has been developed
into a geo-park by Prof. T.J. Renuka Prasad and colleagues from the Geology Department of the
University. Dr .K. V .Krishnamurthy and Dr. H.M. Ramachandra, formerly of Geological Survey
of India explained to the
students the different rock types
viz.,
gneisses
granites,
amphibolites, dolerites and
pegmatites exposed in the quarry
and their inter- relationships in
the
geological
evolution
applicable for a wider terrain
around Bangalore. They also
explained some of
the
geological structures like, folds,
faults and intrusive dykes. The
common rock forming minerals
like quartz, feldspars, micas and Dr. H.M.Ramachandra explaining the geological features.
amphibole were shown in the
field. The effect of weathering on these rocks and process of soil formation was also elucidated.
A quiz programme was conducted in NSS Bhavan located in the Bio-Geo park by Dr. P.
Krishnamurthy and Dr. K.V. Krishnamurthy in the afternoon. Students from different schools
were formed into six teams of four students each. The quiz was essentially focused on the theme
of the Earth day. The first prize was bagged by students of Bhavan Bangalore Press School. The
second and third prizes were won by students
of JSS Public School, and Jawahar Navodaya
Vidyalaya.
On 22nd April, the Earth Day program was
organized at the Ghanalinga Shivayogi
Sabhabhavana Auditorium, in the premises of
JSS Public School, Banashankari IInd Stage.
Smt. Rani Satish, a noted public figure and
currently Chairperson of the Hutti Gold
Mines Limited graced the occasion as the Quiz programme in NSS Bhavan in progress
Chief Guest. Dr. A.N. Yellappa Reddy,
Environmentalist and Chairman, Bangalore
Corporation Bio-diversity Board presided over
the function. The programme started with an
invocation by Shri. Karim, music teacher at
Bhavan-Bangalore Press School. This was
followed by watering of the plant by the
dignitaries as a symbol of worship to the Mother
Earth. Dr. M. S. Rao, on behalf of the
Watering of Plants by dignitories
Geological Society of India extended a hearty
welcome to the guests, students and teachers.
Dignitaries of the occasion were felicitated. He outlined the history of the Earth Day celebrations
and this year’s theme “Trees for the Earth”. This was followed by a film show of 45 minute
duration on Planet Earth, the course of evolution of life over the 4600 million year old earthhistory. The film depicts the events from the formation of earth, origin of life, and the cyclical
periods of mass extinctions and their causes, evolution of human beings and highlights the
environmental degradation due to anthropogenic activities.
This was followed by technical session with two speakers. Dr. K.V. Krishnamurthy, former
Deputy Director General, Geological Survey of India delivered a talk on “Man and
Environment” wherein he highlighted the effects of civilization, industrialization, mining and
other activities. He also made suggestions for how to mitigate adverse effects on environment.
Mr. K.S. Naveen, Science Communicator and Environmentalist made a presentation on “From
Geology to Tree Species – an Interesting Link”. In his talk he gave examples of the
distribution of tree species with respect to geomorphic and lithologic set-up and drifting of the
continents. Prof. K.R.Y Simha, Indian Institute of Science made a stimulating interactive
presentation on Earthmatic, an exercise on application of arithmetic in earth science and gave
some examples.
This was followed by two students conveying their
impression of the two day events and gave their own
ideas on protecting the mother Earth. This was
followed by observations by a teaching faculty of the
Bhavan-Bangalore Press School.
Prof. T.J. Renuka Prasad in his address outlined the
steps being taken over the years in developing and
protecting the biodiversity in the park and the
educational value of such parks in sensitizing young
minds on the vital role played by plants/trees in
sustaining all forms of life and the need for their
protection and conservation as well as afforestation
measures to remedy some of the damage caused by
human greed.
Smt. Rani Satish, in her address appreciated the effort
of the Geological Society of India and the Ministry of
Earth Science in organizing the event and furthering of
A student presenting his impressions
a noble cause. She also emphasized in her talk how
about the earth day.
mining industry is responsible in creating
environmental imbalances that need to be restored and landscapes are rehabilitated post-mining.
She stressed the need to popularize Earth Day programmes in a much larger scale involving
participation of urban as well as rural school children
and assured her support in such an effort.
In conclusion, prizes were given away by dignitaries to
the prize winning teams. A rolling trophy was instituted
for the first time for the first prize winning team.
Dr. Yellappa Reddy, in his presidential address, pointed
out that to recover 1 gram of gold from nature, we have
to remove more than a tonne of rock material, which is
then crushed and treated with adverse impact on the
environment. He narrated how the greed of man for
possession of more and more of valuable metals like
The first prize winning team receiving
the shield and prize
gold is in-turn spurning the environmental imbalance
and suggested that people should shun from possessing
gold. He also quoted from the Vedas about the importance of trees and their medicinal value.
Dr. K.S. Godhavari, Secretary, Geological Society of India proposed a hearty vote of thanks. On
behalf of Geological Society she profusely thanked all those who were involved in making the
program a grand success.
She specially thanked Dr.
R. Srinivas, Professor, Incharge, NSS Bhavan for
providing the facility for
conducting quiz program.
She
also
thanked
colleagues
from
Government
Ayurveda
College
and
Forest
Research Institute for their
active participation in the
activities of Earth Day
Program.
As a first step in Caring
for Mother Earth and
protecting all forms of life
from hazardous waste
generated
by Dr. A. N. Yellappa Reddy delivering Presidential Address
anthropogenic activities, a
new step is being introduced to educate the public and the children about the hazards of the
electronic wastes, especially the lithium ion/Ni-Cd batteries extensively used in electronic
gadgets that are disposed off carelessly. These electronic wastes contain number of hazardous
and toxic elements such as Cd, Li, Ni, Hg, Pb etc., which finally end up polluting the earth and
ground water due to unscientific disposal. In order to make the children aware of these ill effects
and to involve them in some sort of practical activity in collection of the used button-cell
batteries, the Society has provided safe containers specially made for this purpose to some of the
schools and educated them about the procedures for collection and safe disposal only through
authorized recycling agencies. M/s. Saahas Zero Waste, an NGO with experience in e-waste
management in Bangalore, has been co-opted to assist in this effort. Although we celebrate the
Earth Day on 22 April each year, we have to in practice all through the year, contribute our
individual mite, however small an effort it is, to the common good, which was the message
conveyed to the young minds.
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