ICY group of the YMCA of Pamunugama together with the ICY group of Oslo organized an International Seminar on Environmental Justice. World is changing very fast disturbing the nature massively. People have started to see consequences of the changing nature. Specially the poor, and marginalized suffer mainly but the day that everyone irrespective of cast, country, power, wealth sufferers not far away. It has been visible in many instances lately. It is the youth who can change the world and the knowledge is what leads for action for a change.
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| Opening ceremony |
International Seminar was held from 26 - 29 October, 2012 at the Willys Safari Hotel at Wasgamuwa. Event was started with a small opening ceremony and the theme was introduced on the first day evening. On the second day, more discussion continued on the Environmental Justice issues. Later of the day there was a session on the responsibility of people as individuals and as groups for environmental justice. Number of issues related to the subject were discussed during the day and different methodologies were used for training the participants. There were small lectures, group activities, drama, songs and presentation among the activities of the event. Apart of those activities participants went on a exposure visit to a nearby village where they visited paddy filed which has effected from elephant-human conflict. During this exposure visit youth spoke to the villagers and gathered first hand knowledge. Human elephant conflict, water rights, mining, deforestation for tourism and economic crops, use of chemical fertilizers for farming were among the main issues which were discussed. Following the dinner Norwegian ICY members had a presentation to introduce the Stop Poverty Campaign. This campaign was introduced by the YMCA YWCA Global (YMCA YWCA International arm in Norway).
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| Promoting nature through creativity |
On the third day of the seminar group went on a Safari to Wasgamuwa Reservation. During the safari group stopped by the Mahaweli River for lunch. On the last day participants planned the follow-up activities and the youth from Moratuwa YMCA is in the process of organizing the first follow-up meeting on 17 November 2012. Mr. Lakpriya Nanayakkara (activist), Mr. Ravindra Kariyawasam (activist), Ms Wardani Karunaratne (environmental lawyer), Mr. Prasanna Peiris (activist) facilitated the activities of the seminar while several YMCA leaders (Aruna and Shelton) assisted with translation and other arrangements. There were youth from Matara, Moratuwa, Galle, YWCA and Pamunugama and Oslo attended the event. All the participants were awarded a cettificate for participation at the end of the seminar.
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| Participants from Norway |
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| Mr. Ravindra Kariyawasam facilitating a session |
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| Norwegian participants introduced the Stop Poverty Campaign |
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| During Safari |
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| Exposure Visit |
Photographs : Aruna Pathirage
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