World Environment Day, commemorated on June 5 every year, is meant to stimulate worldwide awareness of environmental issues and promote actions to bring about positive changes.

Amrita is happy to participate in a big way. Chancellor Amma has dedicated June 5th 2009 through June 5th 2010 as a Green Year to inspire all to do the maximum possible for restoring the
lost harmony of Nature.

Every one of the M.A. Centers, Schools, Colleges, Institutions are to be involved in some way or another.

For instance, at the Amrita School of Ayurveda, a full-day’s program is planned. There will be planting of tree saplings by children and prize distribution for painting, essay-writing and poetry competitions conducted this past week with World Environment Day as the theme. Dr. Velayudhan, specialist in medicinal plants, has been invited as Chief Guest.

In the build-up to this, over the past several months, all Amrita campuses have seen many, many efforts by students to try and make a change. For instance, student members of the ACM Student Chapter at the Amritapuri Campus, decided to say no to flex hoardings when they learned of the harmful impact on the environment. Students at the Amrita School of Biotechnology brought out India’s first eco-friendly college magazine, setting a fine example for all to emulate.

Amrita Sanjeevani, the seva association of the campus, organized a Youth Parliament that led to many initiatives including educational workshops on organic gardening and global warming and an awareness program about food wastage on World Food Day. The association will mark World Environment Day 2009 with the release of a monthly wall newspaper focusing on Global Climate Change.