Partner agencies of the Earth Day Committee have a booth each to promote their projects to kids.
Palau Community College introduced sustainable taro culture and pesticide control, the Bureau of Agriculture showed mostly forestry stuff, Palau International Coral Reef Center exhibited the importance of coral reefs through games, the Solid Waste Segregation Management taught the kids the importance of trash segregation, and the Environmental Quality Protection Board discussed all about the Green Revolution, which is Earth Day’s theme for this year.
Johnny Kintaro, Chairperson for Earth Day Committee, said they wanted to visit as many schools as they can this year, but because of shortage of funds they only get to visit schools in Koror.
“It’s this time of the year again to remind people to start changing their ways, to go green, do green stuff,” said Kintaro.
Aside from having the different agencies promote the projects they have for this year, the mini green fair also held a presentation for the children.
“The presentation is just about showing simple facts, educating the kids about stuff that they already know,” said Kintaro. “We’re just here to remind them the importance of taking care of the environment.
We showed them how all around the world people are just going crazy cutting trees; in the reef, people are overfishing.”
Kintaro added that learning from adults that these are serious issues, learning the consequences of not taking care of the resources is good for these kids.
“The students are excited about it,” said Thelma Ngirameketii, Vice Principal of Stella Maris School. “We are thankful for all the members of the committee for what they are doing.” She added that the event is just a continuation of what the kids have learned from previous earth day events. “The message they are trying to impart will definitely sink in this time,” she said.
Kintaro said they tried to make the presentation as interesting as possible. “A lot of these kids already know these stuff. We’re just reiterating them, getting them to change their ways, maybe influence their parents to change their ways.”
On Thursday, Earth Day, Kintaro’s team will be in Airai Elementary School to do the same presentation as well as a tree planting activity. On the 23rd they will be at Koror Elementary School, on the 26th at Meyuns Elementary School and on the 27th at George B. Harris Elementary School.
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