By TCN News,
New Delhi: In a move to join Environment and Peace together as very important issue in present days, Mission Bhartiyam along with other organizations organized the 3rd ‘Tree for Harmony’ campaign in seven countries namely India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Cameroon.
Tree for Harmony is an initiative of Mission Bhartiyam since 2012, wherein the organization invites collaborations from other organizations to observe a week long campaign (from World Ozone Layer Protection day 16 Sep to World Peace day 21 Sep) every year, with the theme of Environment and Peace.
Mission Bhartiyam India
During this year’s campaign, many events were held including drawing, talk, tree plantation etc on the theme of environment and peace and therefore address the twin challenges together, a release said here.
In Bangladesh, DREAM ON, a non-profit, observed Tree for Harmony initiative. They celebrated this in Chan Mia Housing, Mohammadpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh. After planting the “Harmony Tree”, they conducted a discussion on environment and environmental initiatives being taken at their office premises. In Cameroon, the Association for Community Awareness (ASCOA) observed the Tree for Harmony initiative. ASCOA, which is actively working in the field of Peace and Human Rights, organized the events at Government Secondary School Liongo-Buea and Holy Child Bilingual Comprehensive College Bomaka-Buea. Talk on environment and a drawing & painting competition too were held at the time. In both the schools, the students were briefed about the climate change and the need for the protection of ozone layer.
In India, Mission Bhartiyam organized its Aman Chaupal session for Indo-Pak peace wherein someone from Pakistan interacts with students. Mission Bhartiyam organized two Aman Chaupal sessions at AAM Foundation centres. After the session, a harmony tree was planted in both the centres. In Gurgaon, Aravindam Foundation organised a musical afternoon with its children in celebration of the Tree for harmony week. The Gurukul children planted a Belpatra sapling in their temple complex situated in the Kamdhenudham Gaushala, Carterpuri. In Dehradun, Purkal Youth Development Society (PYDS) observed tree for harmony.
In Nepal, Human Action for Peace, Prosperity and Sustainable Development (HAPPS), a non-profit, observed Tree for Harmony at Durbar High School, Ranipokhari in Kathmandu. Planting about 25 trees in barren ground of school premises; discussion and posters/pamphlets displaying; awareness through songs/music and national folk singers singing songs carrying awareness regarding need of peace/harmony/brotherhood and healthy environment in our society marked the event.
In Pakistan, Youth Association Organisation for Development (YAD), observed the event in Quetta district in Balochistan Province. They had organised a discussion on peace and talked about the relevance for Indo-Pak peace and the initiatives being taken in this regard. In Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka United Nations Friendship Organisation (SUNFO) had observed Tree for Harmony and planted the symbolic harmony tree. Along with the tree plantation, they had organized a talk to disseminate the relevance of the cause.
Sudan
In Sudan, Peace Bridge Association organized Tree for Harmony initiative at the Alkiriab basic school and after planting the symbolic Harmony Tree, explained its relevance. Along with the tree plantation, they had organized discussions on environment and peace.
Under Tree for Harmony (TFH), we plant a symbolic tree labeled as “Harmony Tree” and try to disseminate the concept and message for a healthy environment and society through a discussion, painting, essay programme or any other relevant awareness programme. TFH is observed by creating a network. Mission Bhartiyam observes TFH by collaborating with different organisations around the world.