Schools celebrate Environment Day – The National

SCHOOLS across the country commemorated this year’s World Environment Day last week with a variety of activities, including tree planting. In Gembogl, Chimbu, Conservation Environment Protection Authority (Cepa) special project manager Sanson Mark urged students, teachers, school boards and parents to be environmentally conscious. “God first created the environment before creating man to take charge of the environment,” he said.

“So we all need to care for, protect and conserve the environment for future generations.” Mark said this during the launch of the World Environment Day 2021 (WED) celebration on Wednesday by 10 primary schools from Chimbu to Gembogl. The children of the Kundiawa Pikinini school-library have committed themselves as “eco-warriors” in accordance with the theme of World Environment Day 2021 “Restoration of ecosystems”. The young eco-warriors displayed posters they had drawn, performed skits and read poems and participated in other activities they had planned over the past two weeks. The children, aged five to eight, performed in front of the Chimbu Education Division office and were led by school principal Rose Kum and her team. In addition, a Four Square primary school in Kundiawa also organized similar activities to celebrate the day. In the center, students from Porebada Primary School and Redscar High School participated in the coastal marine cleanup to commemorate World Oceans Day. The clean-up began in the school area and down to the beach where environmental protection staff from the National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA) joined the students to clean up the waterfront.

Environmental protection official Pawa Limu said the cleanup was part of their responsibility to protect and educate people about marine life and ocean cleaning. “We used to go to the Maritime Provinces to clean up the oceans, but due to Covid-19 we couldn’t, so instead we visited places in the center,” he said. Porebada Deputy Principal Kute Nokae thanked NMSA for recognizing their school among many to help with the cleanup and also educate students about the importance of marine life and an ocean and a beach clean. Several primary schools in the National Capital District on Friday planted around 300 tree seedlings to commemorate World Environment Day.

The learning centers of the Buk Bilong Pikinini library in Lae, Morobe; Goroka, Eastern Highlands; and Lorengau in Manus, were also selected to participate in the commemoration sponsored by financial group Bank South Pacific (BSP). As part of its “Go green” campaign, BSP appoints eco-ambassadors from each of its agencies to take the lead in annual programs. BSP Green Ambassador Eric Tassman, who visited Sevese Morea Primary School, said BSP Waigani Drive branch was excited to be part of the celebration by promoting this year’s theme.

BSP Corporate Sponsorship Officer Amelia Minnopu said World Environment Day is celebrated annually on June 5 and “our selected branches are observing the day with tree planting programs today. “. “At NCD, we selected St Theresa, Boreboa, Ted Diro, Taurama, Kouderika and Severse Morea primary schools to participate in the celebration,” she said. “Children from the Buk Bilong Pikinini Library Learning Center in Lae and Goroka, supported by BSP, also joined us. “Tomorrow (Saturday), BSP Lorengau will be leading a cleaning program as part of its Lukautim Solwara initiative around the city’s waterfront with the children Lorengau Buk Bilong Pikinini.” Minnopu thanked PNG Forestry for providing tree seedlings for the tree planting program.