We can PROTECT Ourselves - Be a part of change.

EVERY INDIVIDUAL CAN HELP SAVE THE OZONE LAYER Just as every drop in the ocean matters, the contribution of every member of society, however small, matters when it comes to protecting nature, Deputy Inspector General Visakhapatnam Range Swati Lakra said. She was the chief guest at an inter-school elocution competition organised by The Hindu in association with ESSAR Foundation at Visakhapatnam Public Library here on Saturday. “Everyday we need to think and rethink before using plastics and throwing waste. Though the concept appears to be vast, at the micro-level every individual can do something about preserving nature,” she said.Topic The topic for the final contest among 10 winners of the preliminary round was ‘protecting our atmosphere for generations to come’. Professor of Andhra University Department of Journalism and Mass Communication P. Bobby Vardhan and professor of AU Department of Environmental Sciences K. Kameswar Rao were the judges. Urvish Gehlot of Visakha Valley School got the first prize and K. Sahithi of Siva Sivani Public School the second prize and P. Rohit of VT High School the third prize. Venetia Francis of Kotak Salesian School, Aneesa Tanaz of Bhashyam Public School and V. Harshitha of Sri Prakash Vidyaniketan won consolation prizes. Points raised Contestants in the final round spoke about the causes for depletion of ozone layer blaming rising population, deforestation, mass pollution of air, water and atmosphere for it. They also stressed on the need to reduce usage of energy consuming machines, chemicals, plastics and those that contribute to high carbon emission.

DRIVE FOR A ‘SEA CHANGE’ A large number of naval officers, sailors and their families along with civilians participated in a drive to clean the beach as part of observing the International Coastal and Waterfront Clean Up Day on the beach here on Saturday. The cleanup drive had a tag-line, “Time for a sea change” and was intended to create awareness among the general public on the need to keep the beaches clean and to safeguard the environment. Eastern Naval Command and the Coast Guard organised the programme. Chief of Staff of ENC Vice-Admiral Sunil Lanba inaugurated the programme near the Kursura submarine museum. Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of ENC Vice-Admiral Anil Chopra was present along with Flag Officers and senior officers. A large number of pupils from the Navy Children School, the Kendriya Vidyalayas, PAPA Home and NSS volunteers from Andhra University, and members of clubs and service organisations like Lions Club, Waltair club, Walkers Club, Century Club and the Consumer Protection Council, joined the cleanup drive for the first time. The drive was also meant to support the efforts of the VUDA in making Visakhapatnam a clean city. According to a Navy press release, 2000 Naval officers, sailors and their families and 1,000 civilians participated in the cleanup drive.

  Regrads Nuthika Raja Pothan