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World Environment Day observed
By ALISON ANIS
THE Department of Environment and Conservation yesterday joined the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in PNG in commemorating the
World Environment Day, which falls on June 5 every year.
Secretary Dr Wari Iamo and UNDP resident representative Dr Jacqui
Badcock were among many who turned up to witness the event held to
celebrate the theme Save Our Sinking Island, which was in line with the
international theme Melting Ice – A hot Topic.
While the other parts of the nation and the world celebrated with
various activities including public debates, conferences, clean-up
campaigns and planting of trees, Port Moresby residents were engaged in
activities such as speeches, cultural dances, clean-up campaigns, radio
talk-back shows and drama.
Theatre performances by UPNG Arts students and cultural performances by
Trobriand Island group, Popondetta singsing group and the MOBDU singsing
group of Daru were the highlights yesterday marking the World
Environment Day.
“We celebrate this day to remind us of the effects that we, as human
beings, are causing to our environment and this comes along with the
responsibility for each of us as intelligent beings to protect our
environment and to ensure that our survival is guaranteed,” Dr Iamo
said, when addressing the gathering at the Sir John Guise Stadium
yesterday.
He said “each year we celebrate the successes and contemplate on our
failures on efforts to protect the environment”.
Ms Badcock said the changing climates and global warming, which was felt
everywhere, was a result of human activities happening around the world.
“We contribute as much to the destruction of the environment and global
warming, therefore it should be our responsibility to seriously address
the environmental issues we face as a result of the changes.”
 
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