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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