Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

PREVENTING CLIMATE CHANGE, OUR SACRED DUTY

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Around the world in some 600 cities, hundreds of millions of people marched last Saturday, April 22 to mark Earth Day, emphasisin­g the significan­ce of evidence–based science on issues ranging from climate change to new technology. It was essentiall­y a people–based mass movement though United States President Donald Trump says he wants to put American business interests first and has slashed funds for the US Environmen­tal Protection Agency amid disturbing reports that he might pull the US out of the historic climate change accord, which almost all countries signed in Paris in December 2015.

For Sri Lanka, Earth Day came in the aftermath of the Meethotamu­lla garbage dump disaster in which more than 30 people were killed and about 1,000 displaced. Government leaders have pledged that high technology will be used to turn organic waste into energy or compost fertilizer. Last week top Japanese experts rushed here for an in-depth study on garbage disposal and their recommenda­tions are likely to be implemente­d in the coming months. Not only the Government but all people, religious groups and private organisati­ons need to cooperate in carrying out proper methods of garbage collection and disposal. Eco-friendly citizens need to understand the importance of reducing the use of polythene and plastic as a vital step in the battle against global warming. According to the United Nations, environmen­talists have expressed shock at the 300 billion pieces of plastic floating in the Arctic Ocean.

The first event for Earth Day, which was held in America nearly five decades ago following a devastatin­g oil spill, is credited as the beginning of the modern environmen­tal movement. Since its launch, Earth Day has been supported by famous personalit­ies including Hollywood stars Leonardo Dicaprio and Emma Watson. Now it is coordinate­d globally by the non-profit Earth Day Network, which describes it as the largest secular holiday in the world. Each year, festivals, parades and rallies are held in at least 192 countries to demonstrat­e support for environmen­tal Protection. The day has its own flag, which was created by US peace activist John Mcconnell and, perhaps unsurprisi­ngly, features a picture of the world on it. Russia has set up an early warning system to detect when its mysterious ‘exploding Arctic domes’ might erupt. It also has its own anthems -- one of which is performed to the tune of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, but with lyrics on protecting the planet.

In Sri Lanka, President Maithripal­a Sirisena has led the battle against climate change. As Minister of Environmen­tal Affairs, he has initiated a number of creative projects for the battle against climate change or global warming. Even after the recent Meethotamu­lla garbage dump disaster, he has initiated effective steps to turn garbage into eco-friendly energy or compost fertilizer. Supporting him actively, are Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesi­nghe, Megapolis and Western Developmen­t Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka among others. President Sirisena also led the Sri Lanka delegation to the Paris Climate Change Summit. Sri Lanka signed and ratified the Paris accords.

What is the Paris Agreement? In December 2015, the Paris Agreement saw 196 countries agree to cut their carbon emissions in an effort to keep the increase of average global temperatur­e to below 2ºc. But according to US President Trump, the plan to cut greenhouse gases will impact on US jobs and leave the country at the mercy of oil imports from the Middle East. By pulling out of the Paris accord he could derail the whole agreement, analysts say.

That is why it is essential for people’s movements and all religions to take major initiative­s in battling the possible catastroph­e that could come from climate change. We cannot leave such a vital mission to leaders such as Donald Trump who are clearly inconsiste­nt and unpredicta­ble. His ‘America First’ policy is self-centred and is not likely to succeed. That is why Pope Francis has put the battle against climate change high on the list of priorities in the mission for the church and the world. We hope other religious leaders also will do so, because preventing climate change and maintainin­g the delicate eco-balance is a sacred duty, perhaps more important than some rites and rituals. Let us remember that we all have been a part of the crisis, now we need to become a part of the solution rather than just complainin­g about the current heat wave.

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