RS Junior Regional Conference On Environment
This year our school was given the opportunity to hold the Round Square Junior Regional Conference 2009. The theme, which was aptly chosen was "Redefining Environment through sustainable Development"
The conference was kicked off on the 16th July 2009 with the informal opening, with an opening address by Suryadev Singh Rathore & Shreya Surana. The guest schools were then given an opportunity to perform on stage which turned out to be a great ice-breaker & a friendly base for the conference was established.
The actual conference began with a nature walk around our school which was followed by the naming of trees. The large variety of trees around the campus had all the delegates spellbound. The activities of the day continued with the formal opening started off by Nishant Makhijani & Dheeya Somaiya, followed by an invocation & the lighting of the lamp. The crown jewel of the evening was an enthralling dance on the theme of the conference. This was also a tribute to the king of pop the late Michael Jackson as the dance was performed on "The Earth Song".
On the same morning we had the first Key Note Speaker Ms. Livleen Kahlon and Ms. Taru Metha. Both speakers talked about the importance of a sustainable environment and what can be done to achieve it. The delegates were deeply affected by the words of the Key Note Speakers which was seen in the Baraza Group discussions that followed the speeches.
On the next day that is the 18th of July 2009 the tree plantation drive was held on the school campus with more than 1200 saplings being planted. Again The Key Note Speaker Mrs. S. Dasgupta spoke on sustainability and led an interactive session with the audience. The delegates showed their enthusiasm in the second session of the Baraza Group discussions provoking many a thought & idea.
During the conference, the D.C. team presented its environmental audit. In the air audit the school scored high for oxygen balance, since we have more than the required green cover but in terms of commuting we did not score high. In land audit D.C. scored very high as we have a green cover of 273 per cent. Yes it is possible! The waste audit showed that the 86 per cent of our waste, which is organic, is converted into compost. Our energy consumption is relatively high, as the energy audit showed but we have future projects in mind to bring it down.
After lunch the delegates were taken for some adventure sports and a camping trip to spend the night at Punjapura. where they played games and took part in a number of adventure activities.
The delegates after an exciting night at Punjapura came back the next day for the culmination of the conference. They took a green pledge & lit an earthen lamp for peace. They were also gifted a Neem sapling as an inspiration to keep the environment clean & green.
That night the D.C. mess showed its culinary prowess at the Principal's dinner, followed by a jam session; a fitting end to an excellent conference.
All in all the delegates shared new ideas & ways to help the environment & save the planet. The conference statement presented at the end was as follows:
“Sustainable environment can only be achieved by redefining progress that is dependent on extensive spread of awareness, along with a need to implement the reduction of individual and collective consumption of non-renewable resources, incorporating the exploration, development and use of alternative resources of sustenance, thus ensuring the longevity and good health of our Mother Earth, supported by a responsible governance of the blue planet.”
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