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World Environment Day 5th June 2007
Care for Humanity by Protecting the Earth
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World Environment Day

World Environment Day - Tip of the day

Caritas Sri Lanka in its' aim to promote food security and Sustainable Agriculture through Organic Farming has chosen the theme ‘ Care for Humanity by Protecting the Environment' for World Environment Day 2007 . At an age when many people suffer from various illnesses due to the consumption of genetically modified products, the theme, which is based on “ Sustainable Agriculture through Organic farming” is relevant even for today.

Caritas Sri Lanka – SEDEC, the National Centre in collaboration with Caritas Kurunegala - Janasetha, one of the local Diocesan Centres of Caritas Sri Lanka, organized a trade fair and exhibition to mark World Environment day. It was held on the 5th and 6th of June 2007 at the Malkaduwawa Public Grounds, Kurunegala. Around 300 small farmer group members representing all the Dioceses together with Animators, National Centre Staff, 500 school children representing 13 schools from grade 6 to grade 11 and representatives from Government and Non Governmental Agencies were invited to participate in this programme. The trade fair and exhibition was open to the public on both days.

The main objective of celebrating such an event is to disseminate information on sustainable agriculture through organic farming in order to protect bio – diversity and farmer's and seed rights. It was also organized with the aim of highlighting the importance of World Environment Day and Caritas Sri Lanka's commitment towards the protection of the environment through various programmes

“We are gathered here today, linking the North and the South, as one family which loves and protects the environment,” said Rt. Rev Dr. Raymond Peiris, Bishop of Kurunegala, in his welcome address at the Caritas Sri Lanka World Environment Day celebration.

The day kicked started with a peaceful procession alongside the Malkaduwawa grounds amidst the backdrop of the Athagala rock ( elephant rock ). School children clad in white uniform, farmer group members representing all the Dioceses together with Animators, Caritas Sri Lanka National Centre Staff, gathered outside the Malkaduwawa Public Grounds carrying slogans on sustainable agriculture and farmers and seeds rights and on the protection of the environment.

A trade fair and exhibition was organized at the Malkaduwawa Grounds thereafter. Stalls displaying various environmentally friendly products were on display by representatives of small groups in each diocese. Various demonstrations by individual diocesan centers on the protection of the environment were also organized. Apart from those, street dramas, song and dances and skits on the protection of the Environment, Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers Rights were organized by various Diocesan Centres.

Sustainable Agriculture through Organic Farming is one the methodologies used by Caritas Sri Lanka's National Animation Programme to rebuild the lives and livelihoods of beneficiaries. The main focus of sustainable agriculture is to satisfy the needs of the present generation without compromising the interests of future generations by degrading the resource base. Sustainable Agriculture is defined more broadly as, economically viable, socially just, humane and adaptable.

At the trade fair 500 School children received plants in collaboration with the ‘ Ape Lanka Organisation ' and Caritas Kurunegala – Janasetha, the Diocesan Centre of Caritas Sri Lanka in Kurunegala. “Plant at least one seedling for every birthday to protect the environment” said Nisan Sanjeewa, a grade 10 student from Wellawa Central, Kurunegala, upon receiving a sapling from the chief guest, Mr. Nishantha Edirisinghe, Regional Range Officer.

“ We were able to share knowledge, learn new things about the protection of the environment, make friends and build better relationships among the Caritas network organizations,” said Ms. L Daisy, secretary of the ‘ All Girls Youth Society ' in Caritas Mannar – Valuthayam. She and her team had to travel from Mannar passing through nine security check points on their way to Kurunegala. They had to suffer many losses as their straw goods had damaged due to loading and unloading at various places.
 
 

Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers and Seed rights

 

As part of the objectives of the National Animation Programme of Caritas Sri Lanka's it has chosen “Sustainable Agriculture through Organic Farming” as one of its methodology in the environmental sector.

The main focus in sustainable agriculture is to satisfy the need of the present generation without compromising the interests of future generations by degrading the resource base. Sustainable Agriculture is defined more broadly as, economically viable, socially just, humane and adaptable.

From the time when Sri Lanka was known as the granary of the East our peasant farmers have used environmentally friendly cultivation methods. The farmers did not depend on chemical fertilizers and pesticides to increase their yield. These traditional methods preserved Mother Nature's soil, water resources and help to purify the air.

With the emergence of the Green Revolution many third world countries were caught up with the trend of yielding quick results through artificial fertilizer (Urea), Pesticide and Weedicide..

The major objective for introducing the green revolution was to increase the total agricultural production. There are mainly two main view points regarding the impact of the green revolution. One factor is that the green revolution is considered as the source for modernizing food production and alleviating hunger and poverty. On the other hand there are many socio-economic, environmental and geographical ill effects of the green revolution too. Some ill effects are stated below :-

  1. Many farmers are unable to make use of the new technology due to the increased cost.
  2. The decline of crop prices due to higher yields
  3. Health hazards due to the use of chemicals that are poorly managed.

Today, unfortunately Sri Lankan farmers too are compelled to purchase genetically modified (GM) seeds and are denied the purchase of traditional varieties of seed paddy. Hence they are forced to cultivate using genetically modified (G.M.) seeds. These G.M. seeds cannot be cultivated without the use of inorganic fertilizers, weedicides and pesticides. Therefore these seeds have to be imported at exorbitant prices. These inorganic chemicals pollute the soil, water and atmosphere and extracts nutrients from the soil without replacements. It also increases the salinity and severely damages the eco system.

In this regard Caritas Sri Lanka is in the process of empowering the farmer community on seeds rights and on other various issues introduced by the World Trade Organization (WTO)

We have introduced organic fertilizer such as compost, wormy compost and organic pest repellents, biological weeding practices as it was done in the ancient times. In addition we are promoting traditional verities of paddy such as “Suwandel”, ”Kaluheeneti”, ”Honarawalu”, through regional diocese in order to safeguard the Seeds Right of farmer.

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