The year of promises, resolutions and pledges is gone. Now it is the Year of Action, Pohottuwa activists have declared and the UNPers are asking: Where's the Action?
The year kicked off under a One Million Tree Campaign with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa himself planting a sapling in the garden at his home.
'A Growing Tree for a Growing Nation' is the call of the organisers. Certainly, may a million trees grow and bloom. But being a sceptical observer of enthusiastic environmentalists for many years, it must be said that planting trees in the light of TV cameras alone won't make trees take root and grow. Trees must be nurtured, watered, protected for years if trees are to be green giants, years later.
In 1977 when JRJ swept the polls and took over, his enthusiastic supporters led by the then
Sramadana campaigns by environmentalists to keep
Environmental care and protection is not a one-off thing, we are all aware. Constant commitment and dedication is required. Today, in
Fifty years ago, as undergrads we walked under the shady green giants of
Under these giant rhododendrons, their comforting shade,
Strode daring desperadoes behind girls with tantalising …..
But the days of the last of these giants are numbered. They are all hollow at the centre and this is visible even to passing motorists. Come a strong wind or storm and
Protection of the environment requires sane and rational thinking. Political events may kick start emotions that lead to mass campaigns but only through dedication to the cause backed by rational thinking could lead to the objectives being achieved.
Time of transition
Are we now on the threshold of bringing back those glorious days that the Pohottuwa boys and girls keep telling us? Has the old order of talking a lot and not doing anything changed into time of positive action?
Apparently not very much has changed. True, it's just one day gone in the New Year (as we write this column) but it's one month since that much hailed momentous change occurred.
Former ministers have been remanded. One has gone to prison for a day and released while the other has followed his predecessors and entered a private hospital. Like old times no? asks a colleague This is not history repeating itself with exactitude but somewhat close to it, was our comment.
All this is much confusing: Cleaning up corruption, or political revenge, ministers of the interim cabinet announcing sweeping changes in policy on the assumption that they will be in charge of the subjects for life while ignoring the parliamentary election that is just months ahead. Is this election sloganeering or carving political niches for themselves?
This is the time of transition where emotions and political opportunism takes precedence over rational thinking.
© Pakistan Press International, source