The Hindu : New Delhi News : Tackling tomorrow’s challenges today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 26, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

Tackling tomorrow’s challenges today

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Triggering change: NDTV Chairman Prannoy Roy (middle) with Union Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Kapil Sibal (right) and TERI Director General R.K. Pachauri (left) at the launch of NDTV’s environment campaign in New Delhi on Friday.

NEW DELHI: A nationwide environment campaign to confront the dangers of climate change and global warming brought together an enviable crowd from the political, corporate, non-government and media world at a function here on Friday evening. The event marked the launch of NDTV’s nationwide environment campaign, “Open Up Tomorrow, Today”, in partnership with Toyota.

The initiative turns the spotlight on environmental concerns that threaten the future of earth and encourages the public to make important lifestyle changes to move towards a greener tomorrow. The highlight of the campaign will be a 24-hour telethon that will be aired across all NDTV channels.

“Open Up Tomorrow, Today” sets out to garner public support and voice. Keeping this aim in mind, NDTV has developed interactive programmes wherein viewers can participate by voting, contributing financially and coming up with ideas to improve the environment.

Stating that it was the responsibility of every individual to contribute towards protecting the environment, Union Minister Kapil Sibal said: “This is an issue on which the Government is not at loggerheads with anybody and is open to working with all towards ensuring that our children inherit a resourceful and environmentally sound planet.”

Highlighting the need for collective action, NDTV Chairman Prannoy Roy said: “India’s environment is in danger because of reckless degradation of natural resources. Collective action is the call of the hour. It is for the Government, the industry, the media and the public to come together and effect a change. We at NDTV believe that it is our responsibility to not only initiate a public movement but also ensure that it gains in momentum across the nation. Our environment initiative ‘Open Up Tomorrow, Today’ will leverage greatly from our partner Toyota.”

Nobel laureate and member of the initiative R.K. Pachauri said: “The participation of NDTV and Toyota at this juncture will help many individuals in the country gain an insight into the magnitude of this issue. Meeting the threat of climate change requires unprecedented public awareness.” The campaign will be officially launched next month.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi