GUNTUR: Government Women’s College students showed the way to reducing carbon dioxide concentration in the environment by taking out a rally from their college to Dr.B.R. Ambedkar Statue at Lodge Centre on Saturday to show solidarity with the world community, which is fighting for the limiting of carbon dioxide levels to 350 ppm.
Mainly the current levels of carbon dioxide emission due to industries, vehicular traffic, deforestation and other anthropogenic activities, was 387, a life threatening level, the students said. Internationally October 24, was declared the International Day of Climate Action by Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) with a view to bringing pressure on the world leaders meeting in Copenhagan in December, said Teachers’ MLC K.S. Lakshman Rao, while formally flagging off the 150 students on their bicycles.
The college girls as part of Eco Club organised a seminar to understand the climate change and action needed with Botany and Zoology Departments taking active part along with other students listening to them.
The cycle rally with 150 students the college to the Ambedkar Statue and back attracted a large number people on the streets to know much more on the topic. The MLC said that all the countries were thinking about this problem and appreciated the step taken by the students to bring awareness amongst the public. Students carried placards shouting slogans on the measures to be taken for reducing CO2 and health problems.
Placards with logos of 350 were part of the rally at which Guntur Mayor Rayapati Mohan Sai Krishna congratulated the students and promised all possible help from the Corporation in this direction. A guest lecture-cum-seminar made the students understand about the seriousness of the carbon emission, the role and responsibility of the students in bringing awareness amongst the public.
Acharya Nagarjuna University Environmental Sciences Professor AVVS Swamy said forestation was essential for bringing down the CO2 emissions. University professor Z. Vishnuvardhan explained various activities that lead to alarming increase in carbon emissions.
Women’s College Principal N. Geethanjali presided, while Sampat Kumar, Convener, Eco club, and Seetharamaiah, Lecturer in environmental studies also spoke on the occasion.
At Bapatla, the day was observed on the premises of Genesis Institution. A `350’ human chain was formed with students and an awareness meeting organised.
The speakers urged students to try to bring down the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere from 387 ppm to 350 ppm. It was expected that the level would go up to 400 by 2016. This was resulting in rising temperatures, uneven monsoons , increased natural calamities and spreading of new diseases.
"We should try to get back to 350 ppm levels, which means we should go for solar arrays instead of coal plants, planting trees, increasing efficiency and decreasing waste," said the speakers. The students took a plege that they would stop wasting energy, water and stop using plastic goods. The meeting was organised jointly by Forum For Better Bapatla, Search, and Vikasa.
The meeting was presided over by Genesis Director KSS Prasad.Others who participated included K. Ramana Kumar, Ch. Pardhasaradhi, G. Venkateswara Rao. G. Koteswara Rao, T.V Subba Rao and P C Sai Babu.
