World Environmental Day Exhibition 2017

Although World Environmental Day (WED) occurred on 5^th of June in every year, we are practicing environmental conservation continuously as Eco Friendly Volunteers. Therefore every day is an environmental day for us. However, we were invited to create awareness on WED 2017 on “conscious consumerism & connecting with Mother Nature” by District Secretariat, Matale. We cordially accepted the invitation since ECO-V is willing to evolve knowledgeable green thinkers among the society.

We arrived to District Secretariat, Matale in the morning of 5^th and started an awareness program with our conscious consumerism exhibition unit which was an outcome of the Diakonia project last year. 

The feed backs of the District Secretariat staff who participated in this exhibition was very positive and we realized that their motivation on our program was very high. After learning about sustainable living with eco-friendly routines from ECO-V staff, they asked about natural products instead of artificial products. We were very happy about their positive green modification.

Besides from District Secretariat staff, residents of Matale area, police & army officers, School teachers, students and persons who work in various sectors also visited and discussed with us asking many questions. We talked about Sugar level of fizzy drinks, meanings of E/INS numbers in Junk foods, impacts of plastics & polythene, Domestic waste management & Natural products. After the school time, some parents who have visited the exhibition in the morning, came again with their children and asked about some junk foods which are habituated to eat by their children. That was the best thing which I felt because I realized that consumers in our country are misled by deceptive marketing tactics and their self-instigation to knowing the truth about junk foods and ingredients of them are very high, but there is no opportunity. So I believe that we could do what we can for our consumers.  

While doing the exhibition by us (Waruni, Lakmini, and Chapa), Mrs. Kanchana went to the Ovilikanda Maha Vidyalaya which is declared as a Sustainable village by the Sri Lankan government. There was a student camp organized by government to celebrate WED and Ms. Kanchana was invited to give a lecture on “connecting with Nature”.  

The 2^nd day morning (6^th of June) we started the awareness program with our exhibition unit at Christ Church college, Matale. Students, academic staff and non-academic staff visited to get the awareness on conscious consumerism. We had to spend few super busy hours since students were coming continuously as a parade representing their classes. During this period, Ms. Kanchana delivered another presentation for 150 students on the topic of “Connecting with Nature” which is the theme for WED this year.

Finally we could make eminent Environmental day in Matale area with making green thinkers. I’m absolutely happy about these two days since I could take part to spread knowledge among society although I had to talk endlessly. It was not a struggle, but a satisfaction.