Becoming Eco centric from Ego Centric thinking and Zero waste generator to minimize your impact on Mother Nature ....

We at ECO-V gained the recognition as a group who has been involved in sustainable waste Management and  a group who "walk the talk". The main reason was that media highlighted our zero waste practice soon after collapsing of garbage mountain at Meethotamulla area that has been maintained by the Colombo Municipal Council. This incident killed 30 more people on the 14th of April 2017 when the whole Nation was celebrating traditional New year. The whole country was shocked and almost everybody in the country started discussing about the negative impact of human being on Nature (of course some started blaming government as usual) . Since BBC Sinhala channel did a news clip on Kanchana's zero waste practice for last 16 years, many understood that its the best practical solution that an individual could maintain.
http://www.bbc.com/sinhala/sri-lanka-39665989. This news clip went on viral on face book and it has over 655,000 views and more than 27,000 shares.

Following this news clip many TV, News Paper and social media groups contacted her and invited for more dialogues, discussions and made inspirational stories around her and ECO-V. Not only that Kanchana was invited for different forums, policy change platforms and seminars for sharing her experience and idea. Therefore we as an organisation following our co principals and values which are well connected with Mother nature received a great recognition this year more than last for 16 years,

ECO-V was preaching about eliminating Ego centric  practices and becoming Eco centric person 

Kanchana was invited for a two and half hours of live discussion at one of the leading TV channels to share all these concepts and her practices. http://www.bbc.com/sinhala/sri-lanka-39665989

Another TV channel had a long story of her practices during prime time news.

One of the very popular celebrity and animal rights activist did series of video clips for her social media page which has over 1,080,000 followers. These were in Sinhala and English medium. Many people have followed and positively commented on the information that we shared. https://www.facebook.com/otaradel/videos/10154683222762183/ (15 minute discussion on 10R)
https://www.facebook.com/otaradel/videos/10154684725422183/ (short introduction for wormy compost and wormy wash)

https://www.facebook.com/otaradel/videos/10154685396447183/ (how to make compost from kitchen waste)

Now we are involved in spreading our positive messages in sustainability and Environmental Conservation in whatever the way we could. We encourage every single person to try their best to manage their own waste, by following 10R

With all these exiting events taking place ECO-V team was intensively involved in conducting usual awareness programmes and maintaining other actives in the office. I forgot to mention or write any blog about us moving to a new office premises in January 2017. We love our new home and will tell you more about that soon.

Mihimadale Hithethiyo 2017

“Mihimadale Hithethiyo 2017” was a 2 day residential Youth Camp which focused on “Climate Change and Green Leadership” conducted by ECO-V. This was held on 6^th and 7^th of May at Sarvodaya Institute of Higher Learning, Bandaragama with 25 participants.  Majority of the participants were youth who were trained during past few years with Youth Yathra programs (Training youth Green Leaders who take actions to adopt and mitigate climate change) and others were few of Leo club members of Piliyandala, Few of the youth joined through Face book notifications we posted. This youth force who were from Southern, Western, Sabaragamuwa and Northern provinces took part in this camp and gained environmental and spiritual experience.

Language barrier was the major challenge for us because 7 of participants came from Mannar and Jaffna. Most of them were speaking neither English nor Sinhala and unfortunately none of us could speak Tamil. But fortunately Newton from Jaffna (very active youth from our previous 6 yathras) who speaks good Sinhala, was with us as the translator. The camp was started at 9.00 am on the 6^th. After the breakfast youth did “ice breaker” activity which helped to be a good messenger and then they introduced themselves with each other.

After that youth got the opportunity to listen to a renowned environmental activist and a lawyer Mr. Jagath Gunawardhana on “Environmental Law & Public Responsibilities” and “Invasive Alien Species”. 

In addition, there was an exhibition set up as part of the training which conducted by Waruni, Lakmini and Chapa.

In the evening youth got an opportunity to do a fun game called “untie the puzzle” which helped to develop listing skills, following instructions and thinking pattern. Apart from they discussed about “EGO centric and ECO centric living” with Mrs. Kanchana in the evening.

One of most interesting hour of the day was the presentation and discussion on “Sustainable living and individual waste management” presented by Mrs. Kanchana before the dinner. 

On the second day morning all got together at sharp 5.45 am and had a delicious glass of Kolakenda (herbal porridge). Youth were very lucky to spend adorable morning with gaining spiritual consolation. They listened to bird singing and morning wind. They touched dew on grasses and did environmental meditation. They talked with trees and gave their compliment for everything which trees have done for us. They did “surya namaskaraya” (Sun salutation) with bathing morning sunshine. And finally they meditated with a musical instruments called whirlys’. It was a really inspiring and amazing morning for youth with unforgettable experience.

Early morning discussion on Mother Nature 

Meditating with whirlys

Environmental meditation

Talking with trees

Sun salutation

After the breakfast youth got ready to have a nature walk. While walking under flora awning, they learnt about trees, herbs, butterflies, bees, birds and environment. This was all about connecting with Mother Nature and understanding, learning and experiencing her through five sensory organs. In addition to that, they got an opportunity to voyage in traditional, zero emission, environmental friendly “palam paruwa” (floating and self-dragging boat) across the Bolgoda River.

Nature Walk

Bird watching

Plant Identification 

Green Garden Lizard (Calotes Calotes)

Common mime pupa

I’m sure that youth will able to think about Mother Nature in different ways after this amazing event. They will never spit on mother earth, or break a single leaf unnecessarily. They will give their compliment for oxygen which is given by trees. When they have a bath they will be thankful for every drop of water. Obviously they will be Nature lovers – Mihimadale Hithathiyo!!!