Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

They learn ways to nurture nature for a better future

— Photo: G.Moorthy

C. Gnanasekar and U.M. Umaiyorubagan.

MADURAI: All organisms in the universe lead a planned life. Are human beings, with a six sense, the same? This is a poser from U.M. Umaiyorubagan.

For this, C. Gnanasekar replied that men engage themselves in exploiting nature and make earth an “unliveable place.”

Umaiyorubagan and Gnanasekar, Plus-One students of Setupati Higher Secondary School, are passionate about protecting nature and environment and to make earth an ideal place to live for flora, fauna and human beings. They represented Madurai (as part of a six-member team from Tamil Nadu) at the National Conference of Young Environmentalists at Jam Nagar, Gujarat.

It was organised in January by National Bal Bhavan.

As part of the three-day conference, the students stayed at Aradhanandham, a Jain guest house before they ventured into an exciting learning experience.

On the first day, the students went to Madhopur Turtle Breeding Centre on the shores of Arabian Sea where they learnt about methods of breeding turtles.

“It was a rich experience when we let the baby turtles into the sea. Inadvertently, a thought flashed in our minds that we must contribute our part in protecting these animals as they too have a right to live on earth,” they said.

On the second day, the students visited National Marine Park where they were fortunate to meet rare marine species such as jelly fish, puffer fish, sea anemone, corals and crabs and also had a glimpse of breathing roots or pneumatophores.

On the final day, after a four-hour boat ride, they visited Dwaraka, Lord Krishna’s birth place.

The theme of the conference was ‘Marine Life.’ It also focussed on topocs such as ‘Effect of climate change on marine life,’ ‘Future of marine animals’ and ‘Threats to marine life.’

To test the gathered knowledge of participants, extempore speech, quiz, debate and environmental games were organised.

The students also involved themselves in cleaning activities on the coast, along with art and craft activities.

As many as 73 boys and 17 girls in the age group of 12 to 16 years from various States participated and learnt that they should nurture nature for a better future.

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