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St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirapalli, observes week-long Eco-Human Solidarity Program
St. Joseph’s College, Trichy observed a week-long Eco-Human Solidarity Program from October
1 to 7. The 166 year old premier institution undertook a host of events involving its staff, and
students to create awareness among people of the need to protect and preserve ecological
balance of the earth and protect nature as part of the week-long celebrations.
This program is specially organized as part of the option made to dedicate the year 2009-2010
as the Eco-Human Solidarity Year by the Jesuits of Madurai Province working in Tamilnadu
during their Province Assembly held in December 2008 in Trichy.
The entire Jesuits and staff at St. Joseph’s College fraternity aimed to create an awareness
among students and people the grave threat climate change and global warming pose to
humanity due to man’s interference with nature and unbalanced exploitation of natural
resources, and the rise of fundamentalism that threatens unity and solidarity.
The first day of the week-long celebrations started off with administering of pledge to staff and
students, eliciting their commitment to protect and preserve the ecological balance of the
earth, promoting harmony between cultures and religions. Posters and quotes emphasizing on
environment protection and ecological conservation were exhibited all over the campus and in
classrooms to create awareness.
On the second day, in collaboration with the SHEPHERD (Science and Humanities for People’s
Development) Department, the college students planted saplings in the 70 villages adopted by
the college and within the institution premises. The students and staff also conducted training
and awareness programmes on vermi-compost preparation for the self help group members at
the villages adopted by the institution besides organizing street play and cultural programmes
on themes relating to environmental protection.
On the third day of the week-long of the Eco-Human Solidarity program, an inter-departmental
slogan competition, poetry and painting on environmental issues were conducted in the
college.
On the fourth day, the NSS, NCC and Volunteers undertook a massive campus cleaning
programme. Rev. Fr. S. Britto, Secretary of the college and also the Co-ordinator for EcoHuman Solidarity Program for Madurai Jesuit Province institutions said the college had decided
to celebrate Eco-Human Solidarity Week every year in the first week of October hereafter.
On the fifth day of the week-long program, the staff and students observed a pollution free day
in the campus. It was worth noticing the tremendous support from the staff and students who
usually come to the college either in two-wheelers or four-wheelers observed a “pollution free
day”. The staff and students attended the college by depending on public transport. This
gesture would go a long way in saving fuel and sparing others of pollution.
By observing pollution free day, they sought to nurture Mother Earth as custodians of human
solidarity and ecological conservation. Students in respective departments exhibited paintings,
slogans driving attention of one and all to the awareness of the grave threat climate change and
global warming pose to humanity due to man’s interference with nature and unbalanced
exploitation of natural resources, and the rise of fundamentalism that threatens unity and
solidarity.
“Unprecedented depletion of natural resources, desertification, global warming, pollution and
widespread displacement of people caused by ill-conceived development initiatives the world
over calls for urgent intervention. Rather than being passive spectators to the violation of
human rights in our country, we also need to counter the fundamentalist ideologies that tarnish
the secular and pluralistic image of the country,” said Principal Rev. Fr. R. Rajarathinam,
referring to the statement of the Jesuit Madurai Province Assembly held at the College last
year.
On the final day on Wednesday, staff members and students will desisted from using plastic
materials inside the college campus. The entire week-long Eco-Human Solidarity program
culminated with the thanksgiving Eucharist presided over by the Rector of the College, Fr. P
Suasi. Fr. John Britto – the Secretary of the college who is also the brain behind the entire
week-long program in the college called upon the staff and students to dedicate their
commitment to save the Mother Earth.
Gerald D’Souza, SJ