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Silent Valley movement to be commemorated

— PHOTO: S.K. MOHAN

SNAPSHOTS OF NATURE: Forest Minister Benoy Viswom having a look at the photos of nature exhibited at a function organised in Kannur on Sunday to commemorate the late environmental activist John C. Jacob.

KANNUR: Forest Minister Benoy Viswom has said that the State government will organise a function in Palakkad on November 15 and 16 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Silent Valley movement that set the stage for environmental activism in the State.

Inaugurating a function to commemorate the late environment activist John C. Jacob here on Sunday, the Minister said that environment activists from in and around the State would participate in a seminar and subsequent gathering to be held in Palakkad on November 15 and 16. Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh would attend the function. A nature study camp, classes and seminars were planned as part of the programme, he added.

Describing the Silent Valley movement as one that had helped in the creation of environmental awareness in the State, he said that the movement had highlighted certain vital issues concerning the ecology of the State that were relevant amid the global concern about global warming.

Recalling the late environmentalist’s leadership role in the Silent Valley movement, the Minister said that heightened environmental awareness created by the movement was one of the great achievements of the State.

The movement had led to the creation of the Silent Valley National Park. The Left Democratic Front government had declared a buffer zone around the Silent Valley National Park, he said adding that a lot more had to be done to ensure the protection of the biodiversity-rich park.

Terming global warming as a major threat to the planet, the Minister said that the climate change was likely to endanger society, food security, peace and economic stability.

Urging organisations and individuals to bring the issue of global warning to the forefront of public discourse, Mr. Viswom said that though there were no readymade answers to questions relating to development and environmental protection, the challenge had to be taken up.

Communist Party of India general secretary A.B. Bardhan’s recent statement that global warming was going to endanger the world should be seen as a beginning in this direction, the Minister pointed out. He said that the late John C. Jacob had spoken the language of the heart and conscience when he highlighted the environmental issues in the State.

The Minister presented the best wildlife photography award instituted by the Malabar Natural History Society (MNHS) to S. Kalesh.

Society for Environmental Education, Kerala, director T.P. Padmanabhan and social activist Civic Chandran were among those present at the function.

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