ARCHIVED MEDIA RELEASE
PA/23/2005 5 October 2005
Delhi students join hands to Clean Up the World
Student representatives from 10 schools in Delhi today presented the activities they carried out as a part of the 2005 Clean Up the World campaign (CUTW). Held at the Australian High Commission, New Delhi, the school representatives made presentations on the clean-up activities carried out using posters and audio-visual presentations.
The Australian High Commissioner, Mr John McCarthy, thanked the school children and staff for their involvement in the campaign. “The Clean Up The World campaign was started by an Australian sailor, Ian Kiernan, as a local activity in Sydney Harbour but has become a significant global event,” he said.
“It now involves over 35 million volunteers from more than 100 countries, making it one of the largest community-based environmental campaigns in the world,” Mr McCarthy added.
Now in its 13th year, the campaign is held in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) annually. The Australian High Commission and TEACH (Teachers Association for Children), New Delhi have collaborated in organising the campaign in Delhi in the last five years.
“It is very encouraging to see that the campaign, which has its origins in one Australian’s vision, has been taken on in earnest by school children in Delhi,” said Mr John Fisher, spokesman for the Australian High Commission in India. “Schools have taken the initiative in adopting parks and cleaning their neighbourhoods. They are leading the way towards a better cared for environment”, he added.
The schools that took part in the campaign this year include Springdales, Pusa Road; Shri Ram School, Vasant Vihar; Shri Ram School, Gurgaon, Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj; Tagore International, Vasant Vihar; St. Thomas School, Karol Bagh; Sanskriti School, Chanakya Puri; New Era Public School, Dwarka; St. Mary’s School, Safdarjung Enclave and Bloom Public School, Vasant Kunj.
As part of the campaign this year, the participating students organised clean-ups in their respective schools with the aim of creating awareness about how voluntary effort can help improve the environment. Some schools also organised painting and poster making competitions as part of the campaign.
For further information, please contact Mr John Fisher, First Secretary, Public Affairs, Australian High Commission on 011 5139 9900. Log on to www.cleanup.com.au for latest information on the global campaign.