International Mountain Day

11^th December, 2007

International Mountain Day celebrations at Government High School, Dhani Syedan, Jammu & Kashmir, India

CEE Himalaya celebrated World Mountain Day at Government High School, Dhani Syedan this year to share the Global Climate Change and its impact on the local environment and the planet as a whole, with deliberations focused on the theme - ‘Facing Change: Climate Change in Mountain Areas’. The school, being reconstructed as Anandshal by CEE after the devastating earthquake in 2005, is surrounded by mountains, which have lost all its vegetation due to increased human activities such as deforestation and mining. Teachers students and village communities participated in the day long celebrations. It was for the first time that such event was being organized by any organization in the village Dhani Syedan which is a remote village close to the line of control in Baramulla District. People were overwhelmed with the problems faced not only by the locals but by the world mountain communities.

Mubashir Sultan Zargar from CEE Himalaya briefed the audience about the purpose of celebrating the event and also the reason for selecting Government High School, Dhani Syedan as the venue. In his introductory speech he explained about the rich biological diversity that mountains harbour and he also compared the past scenario with the present in respect to the changing climatic conditions. He also appraised the children about the dangers that the mountains face with the modernisation and unplanned development. He explained that increased deforestation has resulted in soil erosion; land slides, flash floods etc. He appealed to the children not to follow the footsteps of those who destroy the forest land, instead plant more trees and protect the mountain.

Ayoub Dar, the vice principal of the school explained the children on how everything in this planet has been well placed by the almighty. He said that mountains play a balancing act on this plant. He said that increased mining for human needs has not only destroyed the mountains but also the lives of the people who live in these areas. He also requested the children to become responsible individuals and not further damage the mountains.

Later Vinay Iyer from CEE Himalaya forwarded the thoughts shared by the previous speakers. In his address to the audience he explained how increased human activities have resulted in global warming and climate change. He gave them live examples of how the increasing vehicular traffic is polluting the virgin local environment. Tremendous increase in the burning of fossil fuels for fulfilling energy needs, transportation, industrialization etc and other activities like deforestation, intensive fertilizer based agriculture, unplanned development result in potentially contribute in raising the temperature of the earth which in turn is resulting in melting of the glaciers in the mountains.

A painting competition was organized for the school children to express their perception about the mountains on the theme ‘Save Mountains’. Twenty two children participated in the painting competition and creatively drew their thoughts on paper. Prizes were distributed to the winners of the competition.

An extempore speech was also organized where the students spoke for 2 minutes on the spot on given topics related to climate change and mountain concerns. Best speakers were given the prizes. The celebration of World Mountain Day proved to be very effective in sensitizing the mountain community of Dhani Syedan. People responded positively to the initiative and pledged to take all necessary action to protect the surrounding mountains.