The Ocean
“The shimmering azure surface is no more… the whales sing no more… the clown fish play no more… the paradise islands are no more…”
Our oceans are dying. A crying mother earth pleads to her most intelligent child to stop destroying his aquatic garden. Alas! That selfish offspring, blinded by greed has forgotten his mother’s language and chooses to remain unconscious of her silent sighs that surround him.
According to WWF Global, “Plastic garbage, which decomposes very slowly, is often mistaken for food by marine animals. High concentrations of plastic material, particularly plastic bags, have been found blocking the breathing passages and stomachs of many marine species, including whales, dolphins, seals, puffins and turtles. Plastic six-pack rings for drink bottles can also choke marine animals.” Even humans consume micro-plastics along with the contaminated sea salt they use with their food.
Asian Grammar School, Gothatuwa New Town, Colombo, with a history of 17 years, is a ‘Green’ institution. Even the colour theme symbolizes the ‘eco-friendly’ policy of the school. Lunch sheets are banned inside the school, and the students are constantly trained to conserve natural resources. So far, the school has implemented tree planting campaigns, projects to clean the surroundings and even placed dustbins along the main road leading to the school.
Going by the theme for 2018 'Beat plastic pollution' and the slogan 'Moving towards a plastic free future', Asian Grammar School initiated a “Cleaning and Awareness Project” at the Galle Face Green throughout the month of June, commemorating the World Environment Day.
The team, comprising the Principal, Chairman, teachers and the students along with their parents worked tirelessly to clean the once beautiful landscape with the hope of bringing back its former beauty and to lend a helping hand to those who strive to cure the oceans.“ Earth is our ‘home’. ‘Nature’ is our mother. The seas are the ponds. The springs are the fountains. The forests are the gardens. The flora and fauna adorn the gardens. We are members of this paradise created by her. Let us love and respect our beloved creator, care for her and protect her, for sake of the unborn…two-legged, four-legged, gliding, crawling, flying or green…blessed enough to call this heavenly planet their ‘home’…for it is we that possess the ‘elixir’ that will make our mother immortal…!
We breathe only as long as she does…! ”
Nawamalika Kulasinghe de Silva , Teacher, Asian Grammar School.
