US official calls to join hands for pollution-free environment

Julia Fendrick, Assistant Cultural Attache, US Embassy has said that it is our responsibility to join hands for ensuring pollution-free global environment. "Environment movement is the story of citizens, who joined hands and demanded of their respective governments to provide health, food and water facilities, besides taking action against the polluters to ensure clean environment," said Julia Fendrick.
She said this while addressing a ceremony organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in collaboration with US Embassy at Helen Keller Community Friendship Centre in connection with Earth Day here on Friday. She said that the Earth Day started when a dirty River Cuyahoga in Ohio caught fire on June 22, 1969, due to oily pollutants and Senator Gaylord Nelson next year called all the affectees to observe Earth Day on April 22, 1970, and participate in cleaning the river.
Since then, Earth Day is being celebrated every year across the world. She appreciated that by planting flower saplings and trees here, the students converted the area into a beautiful garden. She thanked volunteers from schools for supporting this innovation. She also recognised assistance from Ministry of Social Welfare in this respect. She asked the students to repeat the exercise at some other place on the Earth Day next year.
On this occasion students from local schools, including special education institutions, who had participated in developing the park adjacent to National Library and Resource Centre, Special Education, were awarded certificates. Dr Arshad Ovais Qazi, Director of Directorate-General of Special Education, apprised the audience about his centre established in 1995. He specifically mentioned books, computer lab and electronic journals.
He said that the Centre is fully functional for special children visually impaired in particular. He lauded the services of US embassy in this respect, which includes books and furniture. He also applauded the assistance from SDPI in this respect, which helped in greening the park. A slide show depicting the children working in the park in connection with the Earth Day 2010 was also screened on the occasion.