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Protecting
environment politically |
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 The
historic city of Hyderabad entered into the history
of enviroment protection campaign by hosting the 8th
General Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians'
Conference on Environment and Development (APPCED).The
two-day conference concluded on November 15 with
the adoption of the Hyderabad Declaration that
called for bridging of disparities between the developed
and the developing economies in the present globalised
era.
The declaration acknowledged that developing countries
in the Asia-Pacific region lack resources and there
was an urgent need for transfer of environmentally sound
technology as well as aid on favourable terms from the
developed to the developing countries. It underscored
the need for the comprehensive implementation of the Agenda
21 as a programme of action for achieving sustainable
development. The meet urged the active involvement of
all agencies - public, private, NGOs, the media - to address
issues of environmental concern and to effectively utilize
the developments in the fields of communication and information
technology to promote environmental awareness. 
The Vice-President of India and Chairman, Rajya Sabha,
Krishna Kant inaugurated the conference at a solemn
function held in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly
Chamber. Later the Pleanary Sessions and deliberations
on the declaration were held in Hotel Taj Krishna.
In his inaugural address Krishna Kant expressed concern
at the growing environmental degradation for which he
felt that both developed and developing countries were
responsible. Unplanned
urban growth is yet another factor responsible for today's
problems.
Lok Sabha Speaker, GMC Balayogi, who was unanimously
elected as the President of the 8th General Assembly
of APPCED, He opined that environmental protection could
not be isolated from the general issues of development.Addressing
the distinguished delegates, the Chief Minister of Andhra
Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu enumerated various programmes
like "Clean and Green" being implemented with peoples'
participation in Andhra Pradesh for environmental protection.
Naidu said that economic development without environmental
consideration could cause environmental degradation. The
President of APPCED, Woo Taik Chung in his brief
address said that Parliamentarians could mobilize funds
for protection and conservation of environment. He felt
that both formal and informal education was indispensable
for an effective public participation to ensure environmental
protection. He recalled the efforts made by the international
community in Rio way back in 1992.
Delegates from 20 Asia-Pacific countries participated
in the conference.They elaborated various successful programmes
being implemented for the protection of the environment
in their countries in the second Pleanary Session on '
Environmental Ethics and Sustainable Development and Creation
of Public Awareness'. Lt. Gen. Opas Ratanaburi,
Leader of the delegation from Thailand, emphasized
the need to create a sense of responsibility to environment,
public education to change the attitude of the people.
Most of the delegates felt that incorporating the subject
of environment at all levels of curriculum and enhancing
public awareness and participation is theonly way to stop
the drastic degradation of environment.
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| Mohan G Jagan |
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