Environmental Education Carnival

The 3th Environmental Education Carnival was successfully held on the 13 November 2008 at Civic Centre. It was jointly organised by MBPJ, Global Environmental Centre and Sri Kelana Primary School to inculcate the love of school children on environment. To do that, educate them on the need of environmental conservation is important. This event saw the participation of 165 teachers and students from 6 schools in PJ. So far, a total of 800 students has been trained.

The participants were exposed to the environmental crisis we are facing now such as climate change, global warming, depletion of natural resources, pollution, deforestation, loss of biodiversity and etc. Various natural disaster and abnormal circumstances such as Tsunami, flash flood. earth quake and animal encroachment to human settlements were quoted to get the participants to refresh on the environmental crisis. It is not something unexpected and unaccounted for, it is the impacts of human wrongdoing or overdoing cumulatively. It is the collection of individual action.

For example, what will happen to the air quality of PJ if everyone reduces his/her CO2 emission? As every individual omits 9.7 tonnes of CO2 per year and we need 465 trees to adsorb the gas, the less the emission means fresher we are even though with fewer trees. Since the emission is difficult to reduce due to the affluent lifestyle, then we have no choice but to plant more trees. Hence, the proposed program to get every school children to plant a tree is definitely of help. Having said this, coming out with a concrete plan to motivate school children to plant, to manage, to look after and importantly to feel proud about "owning" the tree is critical. More importantly to plant at sites with no disturbances, either short term or long term. Perhaps considering to award "tree birth certificate" to the planter, to organise competition on the most well kept tree or the school planted with the highest number of trees are some of the good ideas.

We have also encouraged the participants to submit proposal for environmental protection project in their school. The response, however was not that encouraging. We have only received one proposal with the anticipation of five. Perhaps more structure approach of carrying out this need to be done. I believe it is a good initiative to stimulate environmental projects in the school and to motivate school children be more creative. Ultimately, this will help the school in achieving sustainable school, and collectively a sustainable PJ.

Some might think that environmental education is important but not urgent. They wonder why LA21 PJ has spent much efforts for the environmental education. I beg to defer. While soft approach for adult might not be effective as their perception and attitude is difficult to change, exposing children to the environmental crisis can lend them toward caring about environmental. It is important to teach them and to let them know the good of doing gently and nicely toward our environment from the young age. This will bear fruit when they grew older or if not started to remind their parent of doing the same. Well, it is a long term endeavour, believe me.