The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : On a mission to save Nature

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On a mission to save Nature

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: George R. Thomas has something to say about saving the Earth. But instead of just speaking about it, he prefers doing something about it. The EcoRun India is all about putting the speech into action. A solo run by an environmental activist to call attention to the burning issues affecting the globe.

“People of my age and before me are responsible for the reprehensible state of affairs of the Earth,” says Mr. Thomas, a mathematics professor based in Canada. It is us who have to do something to guide the younger generation away from the polluting ways that man has learned.

“It is difficult for a person my age to actually run every day,” he says. But, this is not for setting any record.

“It is to reach out to the people and to let them know why I’ve chosen this daunting run”.

With his run Mr. Thomas wants to start a discussion on the dangers of burning plastic and encourage the government to provide a solution so that people have a choice other than burning plastic.

Bringing in a change is difficult everywhere, be it America or India, said Mr. Thomas. But the government has to be strict about it and give people some time to change, he said. Slowly people would realise what is being done and how important these steps are to have a clean environment.

Recycling plastic is the only solution to prevent its burning. Another important step is to avoid plastic. “People find it difficult to give up the convenience of plastic. The government has to use the intellect of people and form a commission that would suggest an alternative and implement it effectively. There is no meaning in banning plastic without suggesting an alternative.”

EcoRun was started on November 3 from Kanyakumari and is heading towards Kollur Mookambika temple, covering 1,030 kms during the event.

Hailing from Kadampanand, in Pathanamthitta, the professor had started his career teaching physics at C.M.S College, Kottayam in 1967. He had also taken his postgraduate degree from there after completing his graduation from U.C. College, Aluva.

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