The time is long overdue, for a massive environmental literacy campaign to create a generation of citizens who understand why and how to stop climate change and environmental degradation,
Our world needs transformational change, and it is time for us, those of the present generation to hold ourselves accountable for our role in the environmental crisis while also calling for bold, creative, and innovative solutions. 
This year marks the 51st anniversary of Earth Day and this Webinar is designed to commemorate the occasion and to support the worldwide efforts to conserve and revitalize the environment of the blue planet that is our home. If we are to succeed, we must listen to the children who will link hands from around the world during this webinar and voice their concerns and ideas to preserve a pristine environment for their generation.
This is the 17th of a series of virtual zoom panel discussions hosted by America Sri Lanka Photographic Art Society in Los Angeles California, USA (ASPAS); Member of Photographic Society of America (PSA) and The International Federation of Photography of Art in France (FIAP).
The objective of the series is to showcase the beauty of world fauna and flora and promote environmental conservation in the context of nature photography and tourism, with a special focus on the grandeur of Sri Lanka’s natural habitat. The upcoming program will commemorate World Earth Day 2021.
Since, the great challenge for the environmental community is to combat the cynicism of climate change deniers, well-funded oil lobbyists, reticent policymakers, and the disinterested public. In the face of these challenges, Earth Day prevailed and established itself as a major movement for global action for the environment.
Digital and social media are bringing these conversations, protests, strikes and mobilizations to a global audience, uniting a concerned citizenry as never before and mobilizing generations to join together to take on the greatest challenge that humankind has faced. It is quite apparent that the youth of our world should also be engaged in this vital conversation as an indispensable partner.
Governments have recognized this for decades and many have introduced some level of climate and environmental education into their education systems. But the truth is that impact of climate and environmental education is in some cases weak, cursory, and still in many countries non-existent.
In the decades since the launch of the global environmental movement, it is estimated that more than 3 billion young people have graduated from high school having learned little or nothing about one of the greatest issues that will shape their lives and their livelihoods for decades to come.
The time is now, indeed it is long overdue, for a massive environmental literacy campaign that can create a generation of citizens, workers and leaders who understand why and how to stop climate change and environmental degradation, ensuring that every student around the world completes their formal education as an environmental and climate literate citizen.
A citizen who is ready to take action and speak up for change and build knowledge and skills for the growing green sector of clean energy, efficient transportation, sustainable business and making themselves competitive for new jobs.
But just as vitally, we need to equip future generations with the knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm to survive and indeed thrive in the decades to come. And that begins in school. Even world leaders recognized that pivotal role as far back as 30 years when the countries that forged the original United Nations climate change treaty in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit enshrined climate education as an essential part of a national response to a global emergency.
Educationists believe every school in the world must have compulsory, assessed climate and environmental education with a strong civic engagement component.
It is in that spirit that the America Sri Lanka Photographic Art Society Los Angeles, led by its president, Suriya Jayalath Perera, has organized this Webinar to bring together ten young people from the U.S., the U.K., Canada, and Sri Lanka to voice their concerns and present their ideas on the occasion of the Earth Day 2021. Youth from ages 6 to 18, will address the entire gamut of environmental issues from climate change to plastic pollution. It would be a truly ground-breaking event, and you can be a part of it by virtually joining them on Sunday, April 18, 2021. The webinar will be moderated by Medini Ratnayake.
- For more information, go to www.usacaaspas.com
Join us live on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at 8.30 p.m. SL Time). Go to: facebook.com/aspaslausa/live
TOPICS AND YOUNG PANELISTS
1.Themi Perera, Age:16 (Air Pollution), North Hollywood Highly Gifted Magnet, Los Angeles, U.S.A.
2. Mihiri Kamiss, Age:17 (Plastic Pollution), St. Joseph’s High School, Edmonton, Canada.
3. Hasala Kalendra Ranwella, Age:12 (Loss of Biodiversity), Ananda College, Colombo, Sri Lanka
4. Dhilena Wickramasinghe, Age:16, (Global Warming and Climate Change), Ponderosa High School, Eldarado Hills, California, USA.
5. Theruni Abesinghe, Age:12 (Forest Ecosystem), Bishop’s College, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
6. Alosha Samaraarachchi, Age:9 (Oceans and Marine Life), Hillwood College, Kandy, Sri Lanka
7. Akash Perera Age: 17 (Water Pollution), St. Joseph’s Catholic High School, Barrie Ontario, Canada.
8. Nihara Dumbukola, Age:11 (Plastic Pollution), Woodbridge high school South Woodford, London, The U.K.
9. Akira Alagiyawanna, Age:12 (Oceans and Marine Life), Wycherley International School, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
10. Farah Shamim, Age:12 (Global Warming and Climate Change), Woodford county grammar school London, The U.K.
