Generate awareness to protect environment
Enormous
stress has been laid on natural resources since last few decades due to
ignorance and carelessness. Due to this stress, a number of environmental
problems have emerged on global, national and regional levels. These problems
are to be solved by the people on all the different levels through individual
and joint efforts. For this, all the different problems concerning natural
resources like water, soil, air, forests and others; and their causes are to be
understood properly by every one including common people. Those who already
understand environment, its manifestations, causes of stress etc. can device
programmes for conservation and implement those programmes involving common
people. For common people, some sort of stimulation towards conservation of
natural resources is necessary which can be done by creating awareness.
The
dictionary meaning of awareness – knows
or realizing something or knowing and realizing that something exists and that are important. In the
context of environment, awareness means; knowing about environment, realizing different types of environmental
problems caused by human activities and feeling those problems with a deep
sense of responsibility. The public awareness can be generated through
different types of programmes. What is
a public awareness programme?
Well, a programme formulated and
designed to make the public know about general processes of environment, its
different resources, need and ways of conservation of those resources etc., is
known as Public Awareness Programme.
The environmental problems
are numerous and these problems vary from place to place on global, national
and regional levels. Public Awareness Programmes are designed and conducted to
develop proper insights into the basic environmental concepts and issues listed
below.
·
The Biosphere and
its components like plants, animals, and microorganisms,
·
Physical
resources like water, air, soil etc.
·
Energy, its
resources and availability,
·
Human activities
causing stress on environment,
·
Nature, extent
and impact of human activities and all possible measures to avert the bad
impacts of these activities.
Institutions,
Organisations and Individuals Concerned With
Public Awareness Programmes
The Public Awareness Programmes concerning
conservation of resources like water, soil, air, forests, wild animals and
others, are being carried on by governments, non- government organizations,
local bodies, corporations, educational institutions, village Panchayats etc.Some
of these are being mentioned here for you-
·
International
Organizations like WWF (World Wide Fund for nature), Green Peace, PETA (People
for Ethical Treatment to Animals) etc. are running campaigns for the awareness
regarding conservation of nature and natural resources.
·
Indian
Organizations like: the Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi; Vigyan
Prasar, New Delhi, Govt. of India; Centre for Environment Education, Ahmedabad;
Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai; Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun;
Zoo Outreach, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu; several government agencies and non-
govt. organizations are running different types of Awareness and Conservation
Programmes in most effective ways.
·
Film Producers like Jacques Cousteau and David
Attenborough have made documentaries on several endangered species of animals
so as to stimulate sense of conservation among masses. Zoo 2000, Expedition to
the Animal Kingdom, Earth Watch etc. are names of some programmes designed to
generate awareness. Besides these, some Television Channels work round the
clock for generating awareness regarding everything related to the conservation
of environment.
·
A number of books
and magazines are being brought out by different organizations for the creation
of awareness about the conservation of natural resources. Down to Earth
(published by the Society for Environmental Communications, New Delhi), Journal
of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Hornbill (published
by BNHS- Mumbai), and Sanctuary (602, Maker Chamber, Nariman Point,
Mumbai) - are names of some important magazines in this regards. The “Silent
Spring” – the book authored by Rachel Carson, is a world famous book on the
Pesticide Poisoning.
·
The Vigyan
Prasar, New Delhi (India); has been running various types of programmes for the
popularization of science and conservation of environment across the country.
The Vigyan Rail is its latest effort to generate awareness about science and
environment.
·
The Central
Pollution Control Board ( Ministry of Environment and Forest, Govt. of India), Vigyan Prasar ( Ministry of Science and
Technology, Govt. of India), National Council of Science and Technology
Communications (Ministry of Science and
Technology, govt. of India), WWF-India etc. organizations are catalyzing
different programmes run by other organizations and functioning of various Eco-
clubs, Nature clubs etc. in different schools of India for the generation of
awareness and development of students as
environmentally conscious citizens of the world.
Key Words: awareness, Jacques Cousteau and David Attenborough,silent spring, Hornbill, Vigyan Prasar



