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| Tuesday, 13 May 2003 |
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Ambalangoda special correspondent "Sustainable Development is the biggest challenge the human kind has to face today. Vast strides have been made in every sphere as a result of the advancement of science and technology. Due to the insatiable nature of human beings, for discoveries and inventions, this trend of scientific research to promote development would continue forever," said the Chief Consultant of Soba Sumithuro ('Friends of Nature') community-based Environmental Conservation Organisation and Environmental Engineer, Ravi de Silva. He was addressing a workshop-seminar held at the auditorium of the Divisional Secretariat of Ambalangoda on Environmental Conservation, recently. The programme on Environmental Conservation to mark the 'International Earth's Day' was jointly organised by the staff of Ambalangoda Divisional Secretariat and Soba Sumithuro organisation. Development, if not sustainable, is disastrous and could gravely affect the natural resources and the human race, he said. The concept of sustainable development is not something novel to Sri Lanka, he said. Referring to the knowledge of hydraulic skills of the ancient kings of Sri Lanka, he said this country was known in the ancient past as the 'Granary of the East'. Long before the introduction of Western technical know-how, sustainable methods of agriculture and irrigation were found in ancient Sri Lanka, he said. After the industrial evolution and recent globalisation, imbalance of using natural resources has created numerous environmental constraints globally, affecting the whole human race, he said. United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in 1992, popularly known as 'Earth Summit' could be considered as the most important international conference held to discuss and to take important decisions on Sustainable Development, he said. During the 'Earth Summit' held in Rio de Janeiro, the Representatives of United Nations gathered, had produced a guideline document or an action plan known as 'Agenda 21', he said. 'Agenda 21' described the unified actions to be taken by nations in promoting sustainable development, he said. Some of the Global Environmental Issues affecting the humanity are 'poverty', 'human rights violations', 'pollution of the atmosphere', 'deforestation', 'desertification', depletion of biological diversity and exploitation of natural resources, he further said. Referring to the massive environmental hazards found in Sri Lanka, he said Awareness Educational Seminars of this nature were of paramount importance in the present context. The modern day Sri Lankans are unfortunately not environmentally conscious and all the leading cities and small towns could be seen full of garbage due to human action, he said. Speaking on the effect of toxic chemicals on the atmosphere he said 'Ozone layer' over Antarctic was depleted over the years due to Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used in industrial chemicals. Fortunately, Sri Lanka has already stopped industries using CFCs, he said. Garbage, if properly maintained, is a money-spinner, he said. In Sri Lanka, unfortunately, garbage comprised of both bio-degradable and undegradable materials could be seen dumped in mixed form, he said. In recycling garbage separation was very important, he said. |
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