The Nepal Weekly 
June 7, 2022
The world population is inching towards 8 billion, and we are using the equivalent of 1.6 Earths to maintain our current way of life, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reports. That means, the ecosystems cannot keep up with our demands and, as a result, are fast declining. As such, every person needs to remember that we only have one Earth and are running out of time to save our planet. The meaning of the theme for this year’s World Environment Day – only one Earth – to alarm not to waste any time for environmental actions.
WED isthe biggest international day for the environment. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and held annually since 1974, it has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental outreach. It is celebrated by millions of people
World Environment Day was established by UN General Assembly on the first day of the Stockholm Conference on Human Environment which was held in Stockholm Sweden from June 5- 6 in 1972. Since then Word Environment Day is celebrated annually on 5th June and various activities for awareness and protection of Environment are carried out. In 1987, it is decided to rotate the host of Environment Day activities by selecting a host county for the Environment Day activities celebration.
The theme of WED 2022 is ‘Only One Earth’. The year 2022 marks the 50 years since the first United Nations Conference at Stockholm in the year 1972 that led to the creation of UNEP and designating 5th June as World Environment Day every year.
The most essential things in this world – water, air, sky, and rain are freely available to us. All of these things depend on the environment. We have heard about the clean environment of the old days, flowing of clean in rivers, the quality food, and the crops were hygienic and nutritious. With the human development, industrialization, and urbanization these things are disappearing rapidly, many rivers, streams, lands, creatures, forests are disappearing and are only limited to stories and histories.
However, when there was strict lockdown to stay safe from coronavirus there were no human activities including transportation. Then the mountains were visible from far away. Nepali mountains were spotted from the far north of India, air and environment of the majority of cities in this globe have improved, the river of Ganga is much cleaner. Mount Everest was visible from higher parts of the Kathmandu Valley. That was part of restoration of clean environment. But every time lockdown is not possible for us. That means human activities cause damage to environment.
Human beings must work and disburse but as the human movement slows, and the environment furnishes proving that we humans are the biggest threat to the environment.
World Environment Day means extensively to people to planet. It is closely related to climate change, air pollution, clean cooking solutions, waste management, wildlife conservation, forest conservation, soil conservation and so on.
Thus, such all aspects ensemble or separately discussed and interacted for policy influence and awareness on the occasion of World Environment Day and also on other casual days.
President’s message
President Bidya Devi Bhandari has offered her greetings to all Nepali people at home and abroad on the occasion of the World Environment Day.
“In protecting the environment, we have made required laws and built institutional structures after devising various policies, plans and programs at international, national and local levels. We have made various commitments at different times in this regard. Our mountains are melting and water sources are drying up. We have become victims of pollution,” reads the message.
There is a need to effectively launch climate adaptation programs, for the use of cent percent green and clean energy and electric appliances and promoting eco-friendly transportation, stated the President.
Thanking the Ministry of Forest and Environment, all ministries involved in infrastructure development, provincial and local governments, security agencies, local communities, development partners and all other authorities involved in conserving the environment, the President urged all to continue the goal of saving Earth.
Electric vehicle rally marking WED
Annapurna Media Network (AMN) in association with Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC) organized an electric vehicle rally in Kathmandu on the occasion.
The rally was started from corporate office of Annapurna Media Network in Tinkuneon Sunday morning.It passed through Gaushala, Chabahil, Mahargunj, Balaju, Sorakhutte, Lainchaur, Kesarmahal, Jamal, Durbarmarg, Gyaneshwor, Ratopul, Gaushala and culminated at Tinkune ground.
Before the commencement of the rally, AMN Chairman Rameshwar Thapa said that the people should contribute to the protection of the environment from today itself for the next generation.
He stressed on the need for national and international organizations, government and private sector to work hand in hand for the protection of the environment.
On the occasion, Dr Madhusudhan Adhikari, Executive Director of the Alternative Energy Promotion Center (AEPC), said that human activities should be environment friendly. He stressed on the need for promoting electric vehicles to protect the environment.
Moreover, as per the traditional practice, the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley celebrated the Sithi Nakha festival to mark the beginning of the monsoon season by cleaning water sources such as ponds, wells, and stone spouts. People also prepare traditional pancakes such as woh and chatamari as a tribute to their ancestral god. It is believed that this tradition has been carried out along with the evolution of the Kathmandu Valley civilization.
This Sithi Nakha festival also highlights the importance of water source conservation and the need for clean water. It is customary to worship around wells, boreholes, and ponds and to clean up before worship. In this way, after everyone has gathered and worshiped, the far-reaching ritual of being religiously and culturally compelled not to litter there throughout the year is commendable.
