Media Release
Udupi, Aug 19: “The world is our home. But we should ask ourselves that if we are fit to live here. Environmental degradation is the disintegration of the earth. We can see natural calamities when earth’s natural resources are depleted and environment is compromised in the form of extinction of pollution in air, water and soil and other,” said Fr Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop of Udupi and president of Catholic Education Society of Udupi diocese.
Addressing Milagres Educational Institutions students and faculties at Milagres Cathedral campus on Saturday, August 18 on the occasion of environment preservation and plants distribution day which was organized by Udupi district administration, Udupi Catholic Diocese, Lions’ Club 317 C district and Milagres Educational Institutions, the bishop in his presidential address said “It will be our responsibility to live better by protecting environment. We should remember to ‘preserve the environment, protect the environment and to promote environment’. Environmental degradation is one of the largest threats on world today. It is high time for human beings to take the right action towards saving earth from major environmental issues. If ignored today, these ill effects are sure to curb human existence in the near future.”
Ln Tallur Shivaram Shetty, 317C Lions district governor delivered the key note address and spoke on the need to raise awareness on preserving environment among schools and colleges in Udupi district. He appreciated the initiatives of the Milagres Educational Institutions and bishop of Udupi diocese on environment.
The programme began with invocation prayer by Milagres College students. Fr Lawrence D’Souza, correspondent of Milagres Educational Institutions and secretary of Catholic Educational Society of Udupi diocese welcomed the gathering. Prakashchandra, district forest official took oath from students on protection of environment. Ln Dr Nery Cornelio, vice-president of Milagres parish pastoral council and retired principal delivered the vote of thanks. Nithyanand Shetty compered the programme.
Msgr Dr Baptist Menezes, Udupi diocese vicar general and vice-president of CESU, Fr Canute Noronha, assistant parish priest of Milagres Cathedral, Lions Club officials, Milagres Educational Institutions heads and huge students of seven Milagres Institutions were present. Number of plants were distributed during the occasion among students and other participants.