Protect Our Environment: Bala
Fijians have been urged to work together to protect our environment. Minister for Local Government, Housing and Environment, Infrastructure and Transport, Parveen Bala made the plea yesterday during the World Environment Day celebration held at Churchill Park in Lautoka.
The theme for this year’s celebration is Connecting People to Nature.
“This year’s Environment Day theme is a call to inspire you and me to better connect ourselves with mother nature.”
After yesterday’s launch, Mr Bala said they would continue to organise free natural environment cleanup campaigns based on the theme “Team up, clean Fiji starts with you.
“The environment activities kick starts today and is an important opportunity to take action to protect and save our environment with the assistance and communities, business houses, stakeholders, youth groups and schools,” he said. Mr Bala said they have also carefully chosen 10 national participants across the country where communities and schools organise field visit so that people could reconnect with the environment. “We will also appoint community environment committee in all the districts. Here I would urge communities to take part in your own respective districts so that you can be part of the committee and play a role,” he said.
Mr Bala said they would also organise the school awareness programmes.
“This is where our officials will visit schools and run programme activities such as essay and quiz competitions and other related sessions,” he said. Mr Bala also announced the roll out of the climate change action plan for Fiji’s towns and cities. “The related checklist and models will be launched by the Department of Local Government and Environment,” he said.
Students from various primary and secondary schools in Lautoka marched throught the streets of Lautoka City, including municipal councils, to create awareness about protecting the environment. Jasper Williams High School Year Nine student Anamaria Lutusaqa said: “Our environment is our surrounding in which living organisms live on.
“We must throw rubbish into the rubbish bins to keep our environment clean. There is plenty rubbish bins available around us yet, some people will throw rubbish on the grounds.
Natabua High School Year 11 student Navitalai aLov said: “We can protect our environment by using recycle, reuse and reduce methods. “Most of the time people throw the waste materials but if they use reduce, reuse and recycle method, they can protect our environment,” he said.
Lautoka Primary School Year Eight student Davinnah Lewavinaka said: “I am happy with the World Environment Day celebrations here at the Churchill Park.
“At the celebrations, I have learned ways in which we can keep our environment clean.
“I would like to tell people throw your rubbish into the rubbish bins,” she said.