DNA : no more crackers’, promise kids : Sept 28,2007
‘no more crackers’, promise kids
rmc plans to spread the message to school students
rita ghose. vile parle
in a step to advocate that diwali can be celebrated without the use of
crackers, which harm the environment, students from the rotaract club of
mithibai college have started staging presentations in various schools
against burning firecrackers with an aim to convince students not to burst
crackers.
the group from the rotaract club started off this venture on wednesday with
cnm school, vile parle (w) and will also present at jamnabai, domnic savio,
mp shah, st blaize, jankidevi and podar (ssc and cbse) schools. shweta
somaiya, co-ordinator of third standard, cnm school said, “this initiative
is truly for a good cause. the third standard students belong to a very
stubborn age group and will usually be the ones to get their parents to
purchase crackers for them to burst on the occasion of diwali. this message
being given to them at an early age will allow them to grow up as aware and
responsible individuals.”
“we are targeting school students as we realise the importance of moulding
these young minds by providing them with facts and real life experiences
that can convince them to let go of one of their most enjoyable holiday
practices – firecrackers. through ‘say no to crackers’ we will put forth the
brutal realities of how thousands of children die not only because of
getting burnt themselves while bursting crackers, but also while making
these crackers in the firecracker manufacturing units,” said a volunteer
from the rotaract club. the interactive session that the volunteers put up,
started out with a question answer round asking the kids what they did for
diwali. most kids said that they enjoyed bursting crackers on this occasion.
after this there was a presentation on how crackers are made; what are the
harmful chemicals that go into making a firecracker; air pollution, water
pollution and sound pollution caused by crackers and child labour at
firecracker manufacturing units. the presentation also focussed on the fact
that diwali is more than just bursting crackers and includes fun activities
like making and eating sweets, making rangolis, shopping for toys and
clothes and lots more. darshini gandhi, a fourth standard student from cnm
schools told dna westcoast, “it was very nice. i learnt so many things like
crackers can also harm us and also harm the air and insects. we need to stop
bursting crackers, so that everyone can be safe.” kashvi shetty, another
student form the school studying in the third standard said, “you should not
burst crackers and you can celebrate diwali without crackers. when we don’t
burst crackers we can make sure that we and other people around are safe.”
the volunteers worked hard on making the session enjoyable for the kids.
they kept the students interested on the presentation and made sure that the
message was bought across to them in the simplest way that they could
understand the outcome of manufacturing and bursting crackers. most seemed
convinced that it was wrong to burst crackers and took and also promised
enthusiastically that they would say ‘no’ to crackers. “this is a great way
to sensitise children to the problems created in the environment. it is
these children of tomorrow who can save and protect the environment,” said
girija mohan, principal, cnm school. hopefully this message has touched the
children who will not only help lessen the use of crackers during the
festival but also spread the message to their friends and neighbours.
g_rita@dnaindia.netsay no to crackers this diwali, says mithibhai rotaract
club
Publication : DNA; Section : Westcost; Pg :3; Date : 28/9/07
URL :
http://digital.dnaindia.com/epapermain.aspx?edorsup=Sup&queryed=33&querypage=3&boxid=30921944&parentid=48824&eddate=09/28/2007