Earth Day: Legal services, students want citizens to take care of the planet

[caption id="attachment_245183" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Winners of an Earth Day-themed painting competition; and participants, and organisers seen here at the KDLSA-organised programme, on April 22 in Kohima.[/caption] Kohima, April 22 (EMN): Members of the legal fraternity and students observed Earth Day, April 22, to promote the message of conservation, responsible use of earth’s resource, and taking care of the environment etc. The Kohima district legal service authority (DLSA) organised a painting competition for school children in Kohima in commemoration of Earth Day. A government polytechnic institution also observed the event with various events. The painting competition at the DLSA-organised programme was conducted with the theme “Protect our species,” updates stated on Monday. Giving a presentation on environmental laws, panel lawyer Nagali Shohe highlighted that concerted efforts to ensure protection of the environment was made under the leadership of the then prime minister of India Indira Gandhi. In 1976 provisions such as Article 48 (A) for protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forest and wildlife were added to the 42nd amendment of the Indian Constitution. Shohe said that Article 51 (A), fundamental duties for all the citizens of India to protect and improve natural environment, was added. Shohe spoke also on the importance of Earth day. The first Earth day was observed in the year 1970 started by Gaylord Nelson and Danish Hayes as the first organisers. In the painting competition, Medovituo (no surname given) from Ruzhukhrie government high school was adjudged the winner. Alovito Chophy from Chandmari higher secondary school and Thepfuthoutuo John from Ruzhukhrie government high school bagged the second and third prize, in that order. Two consolation prizes were also given, one each to Avino Koso from John government secondary school and Neiketouzo from Dr. N Kire higher secondary school. The Mokokchung district legal service authority also conducted a painting competition with a similar theme. Altogether 78 students from nine schools participated in the competition, the updates stated Rishiben Walling of Queen Mary higher secondary school came in the first position; Sentirenla Jamir from Imsutemjen Memorial higher secondary school and Nungshibenla from Children school came second and third, in that order. [caption id="attachment_245184" align="alignleft" width="300"] Members of the government polytechnic at Kohima observed Earth Day by organising competitive activities besides going on a publicity rally in the town.[/caption] Government polytechnic, Kohima Members of the government polytechnic institution at Kohima also observed Earth Day by organising an essay-writing competition, a drawing competition, and a slogan-writing competition and rally. The theme for the event was “Protect our species,” a press release from the organisation stated on Monday. The event was conducted on April 22. It was supported by the ministry of Earth sciences, the updates stated. The principal of the institute Keyiekhru Rhutso addressed the participants during the programme and gave away the prizes to the winners of the competitions. The institute stated that it observed Earth Day to promote ‘safeguarding the environment.’ It was conducted to raise awareness about the ‘accelerating rate of extinction of countless numbers of species,’ the institute stated. Meriyani, Nyanbemo and Hikali (no surnames given) won the first, second and third prizes, in that order, in the drawing competition. In the essay-writing competition Cholsenu Sophie, Lisi Y Sangtam and Hopisenu (no surname given) bagged the first, second and third prize, in that order. In the slogan-writing competition Imnuklong, Chubakumba (no surnames given) and Lovi S Chikhe bagged the first, second and third position, in that order. A rally was also conducted in the morning, the organisers stated. Earth Day Earth Day is an annual event that is observed on April 22. Worldwide, various events are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First celebrated in 1970, Earth Day now includes events in more than 193 countries, which are coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network. On Earth Day 2016, the landmark Paris Agreement was signed by the United States, China, and some 120 other countries. This signing satisfied a key requirement for the entry into force of the historic draft climate protection treaty adopted by consensus of the 195 nations present at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris. In 1969 at a UNESCO conference in San Francisco, peace activist John McConnell proposed a day to honor the Earth and the concept of peace, to first be celebrated on March 21, 1970, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. This day of nature's equipoise was later sanctioned in a proclamation written by McConnell and signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations. A month later a separate Earth Day was founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in first held on April 22, 1970. Nelson was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom award in recognition of his work. While this April 22 Earth Day was focused on the United States, an organisation launched by Denis Hayes, who was the original national coordinator in 1970, took it international in 1990 and organised events in 141 nations. (Source: Wikipedia)