Three Days National Seminar on Ecology, Communication and Youth Begins at MICA

MICA, in partnership with, Gujarat Ecology Commission (GEC) is organizing a three days National Seminar on Ecology, Communication and Youth: An ICZMP initiative at MICA campus, Shela, Ahmedabad from February 25 – 27, 2013.

Ahmedabad, Gujarat (I-Newswire) February 26, 2013 - The Seminar has about 120 participants – youth from across the country, ecology and communication scientists and researchers, Government and non-Government officials working in related field, environment activists, representatives of corporate sector, and media professionals. They will focus on the ways in which nature works; human and natural systems’ continuum and its pros and cons; and the challenges for the youth in maintaining the ecological balance. It is expected that the Seminar will help to increase ecological awareness and creating right attitude, knowledge sharing, advocacy for the right attitude towards ecology, especially coastal ecology, and to encourage responsible action among the youth.

Keeping with the MIcan tradition, the day started with the chief guest Mr. Shailesh Nayak, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, GOI planting a tree in the college premises.

In the inaugural session, the chief guest highlighted the fact that conventional “development” is mostly at the cost of the poor. Adding to that, Mr. John Symes, Programme Director, International Alliances, USA who delivered the keynote address emphasized on how we should give legal rights to mother nature and how it is time to heal the relationship with the environment. The session also saw the introduction of the new GEC mascot which has been designed by Gaurav Dobhal, Sanket Kulkarni and Kishore Pynadath

The final session of the day had panelists speaking on the issues relevant to the lives of the people in coastal areas which in turn are related to the environmental and economic aspects. They spoke at length about how involving the local community in finding sustainable solutions to the problems is of utmost importance.

After the panel discussion, the floor was opened up to the students for questions. One student questioned the effectiveness of Eco Tourism. He highlighted that in many a regions, local residents were driven away to make way for eco tourism infrastructure. A representative of the World Bank responded by saying that the World Bank believes in working with the locals. Their plans always aim at including and protecting the cultural heritage and histories of the region.

The three day long seminar will see further discussions in the coming two days on the science and art of coastal ecology, eco-communication- achievements and challenges etc.