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| Friday, 11 July 2003 |
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"The Environmental impairment caused by human beings living in the entire world is a similar disaster to the damage caused to human lives through terrorism. As such, while struggling to eradicate terrorism worldwide it is essential to pay special attention towards environmental protection to secure human lives. Minister of Mass Communication Imthiaz Bakeer Markar said. He was speaking after opening the art exhibition 'Towards Beautiful Environment' organised by the "Soka Gakkai, Buddhist Association at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH) Colombo, on Tuesday. The Minister said that enhancement of technology resulting in globalisation and more developed procedure has caused environmental impairment "in such circumstances time has come to make changes in the activities carried out without paying attention towards the minimum facilities that should exist to have human lives", Markar said. The small countries of the world like Sri lanka have faced several problems with regard to terrorism similar to the most powerful countries like United States of America. Thousands of lives are destroyed by this terrorism. However, it has caused a massive impairment to the environment as a result of human activities. The world leaders identified this situation at the Environmental Summit held in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro. The impairment caused to the environment due to the improper behaviour of the humanity, is a massive harm than what is caused by terrorism or war throughout the world. Thousands of properties and hundreds of lives were destroyed instantly by the flood and earthslips that occurred recently. So what is the difference between this and the destruction caused by the terrorist bomb? In such a circumstance, now is the time to pay a special attention towards the protection of the environment. This cannot be done only by one Ministry or one organisation. The protection of the environment is a responsibility of all human beings. As such, the present Government has paid special attention on protecting the environment, which is under threat. Fifty years ago, there was 48% of forest cover in our country and it has been reduced upto 20% at present. If it is reduced upto 10% our country will have frequent earthslips. Then there was a 85% of water level of the earth and, it has been reduced to 25% at present. In an era, where development of the country has become a challenge for the protection of the environment, it is essential to have a balance between the development of the country and the protection of the environment. 'Therefore, now is the time to have a change in the attitude and these students those who are to bear the responsibility of the future, are the most suitable category to make an influence in this regard. These students should function as an organisation which emphasises the significance of the protection of the environment, to the elders. The opportunity to protect the environment for a better world could only be had by such procedures', Minister Markar said. Minister of Human Resources Development, Education and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku and Prof. Chandrasiri Palliyaguru of the Kelaniya University were present. The message of Daisaku-Ikeida, Chairman of the Soka Gakkai Buddhist Association was read on this occasion. This exhibition consists of environmental arts of children and will be held till July 12 at the BMICH. |
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