logo
World Environment Day: Sand Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik's Message On Plastic Pollution

World Environment Day: Sand Artist Sudarsan Pattnaik's Message On Plastic Pollution

NDTV3 days ago

On World Environment Day today, renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has created a unique sculpture using plastic bottles on Puri beach. The message is about the perils of plastic pollution and through his art he hopes to inspire people to reduce plastic usage.
This artwork has been created to raise awareness about plastic pollution gives a powerful message: "Beat plastic pollution." It aligns with the theme of this year's World Environment Day.
Mr Pattnaik posted the image on his X account.
#BeatPlasticPollution #WorldEnvironmentDay2025, My SandArt with installation of plastic bottles with message #BeatPlasticPollution, #Puri beach in #Odisha pic.twitter.com/tqyOVvJlHU
— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) June 5, 2025
The attractive artwork not only highlights the urgent need for environmental protection, but also attracts the attention of visitors with its creativity and impressive presentation.
World Environment Day is observed every year on June 5. On this day, offices, schools, the government, other organisations and local bodies hold events to raise awareness about environmental causes and involve local people to tackle plastic pollution and take action to protect the environment for a healthy life.
Many Union ministers have urged people on their respective social media handles to put an end to plastic pollution and embrace sustainability while also planting more trees for a greener and cleaner future.
Globally, an estimated 11 million tonnes of plastic waste leak into aquatic ecosystems each year, while microplastics accumulate in the soil from sewage and landfills, due to the use of plastics in agricultural products.
Besides choking the planet, plastic pollution permeates even our bodies in the form of microplastics and poses several health risks.
The United Nations General Assembly declared June 5 as World Environment Day during the Stockholm Conference in 1972. It was the first world conference to make environmental protection a major issue. The UNEP was established in the same year. World Environment Day was celebrated for the first time in 1973. The first World Environment Day was celebrated in 1973 under the theme 'Only One Earth'.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Anjuman Nature Club celebrates World Environment Day
Anjuman Nature Club celebrates World Environment Day

Time of India

time8 hours ago

  • Time of India

Anjuman Nature Club celebrates World Environment Day

1 2 3 Nagpur: Anjuman Nature Club (ANC) celebrated World Environment Day by planting trees at Petesur in Nagpur. Around 500 trees hs been planted uptill now. Shakeel Ahmad, president of the ANC, guided te gathering on the importance of the trees and how to plant saplings and grow them to big trees. Every member took oath to protect the saplings upto two years. In monsoon, Anjuman Nature Club has plans to plant 100 more trees. Shakeel Ahmad further said that ANC will develop a nursery in coming years to distribute plants to students and Nagpurians to increase the green cover.

Seed ball dispersal drive held in Udupi
Seed ball dispersal drive held in Udupi

Time of India

time9 hours ago

  • Time of India

Seed ball dispersal drive held in Udupi

Udupi: The Eco Club of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College, in collaboration with the Karnataka forest department, Adi Udupi, and the Manipal Birding and Conservation Trust, organised a seed ball dispersal drive to mark World Environment Day . As part of the initiative, seed balls were prepared by the Eco Club students by combining red soil, vermicompost, and coco peat. Seeds of native tree species such as jackfruit, mango, Pterocarpus marsupium (Honne), Syzygium cumini (Nerale), and Terminalia bellerica (Taare), known to flourish in the local ecosystem, were selected to ensure better germination and long-term growth. The drive was inaugurated with an address by Shivanand, deputy range forest officer (DRFO), who stressed the importance of reforestation and the role of seed balls in enhancing biodiversity and sustaining the environment. He also stressed the need for community-driven conservation efforts. Guided by forest department officials, Eco Club students dispersed approximately 870 seed balls in selected areas of Badagubettu Reserve Forest to enhance the chances of natural regeneration. In addition to the seed balls, saplings provided by the forest department were also planted. Prof Vanitha Mayya, Principal of MGM College, extended her support to the programme. Maneetha TK, convenor of the Eco Club; Thejasvi Acharya, managing trustee of the Manipal Birding and Conservation Trust; and beat forest officers Devaraj Pana, Shrinivas Jogi, and Sowmya were present. Students who participated in the drive later shared their experiences of contributing to this green initiative.

Maulana Azad fellowship delay hits 1,400 PhD scholars; stipends stalled since Jan
Maulana Azad fellowship delay hits 1,400 PhD scholars; stipends stalled since Jan

Hindustan Times

time13 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

Maulana Azad fellowship delay hits 1,400 PhD scholars; stipends stalled since Jan

New Delhi: More than 1,400 PhD scholars relying on the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) face mounting financial distress as stipend payments remain stalled since January 2025, with the researchers raising concerns that the lack of funds has threatened their academic progress and basic sustenance. Introduced in 2009 by the Union ministry of minority affairs, MANF supports PhD candidates from minority communities –– including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis, who clear the National Eligibility Test (NET) and come from families earning under ₹6 lakh annually. Scholars receive ₹37,000 monthly as junior research fellows (JRF) for the first two years, rising to ₹42,000 for the subsequent three years as senior research fellows (SRF). As of December 2023, 907 JRFs and 559 SRFs depend on the scheme. Despite government assurances in December 2022 that existing scholars would continue receiving support even as new admissions stopped, disbursements became erratic, the scholars said. The transfer of nodal agency responsibilities from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) in late 2022 introduced significant administrative hurdles. The fellowship's budget was also cut down this year by 4.9% — from ₹45.08 crore to ₹42.84 crores. 'Until 2022, everything was going smoothly,' said Nazia Israr, a MANF scholar at Kashmir University. 'Then, UGC said they would no longer be the nodal agency... After that, our fellowships just stopped.' Scholars describe endless cycles of document verification, Aadhaar linking, and unfulfilled promises. 'We kept going from our universities to banks to ministries. Every time they say, 'approval is pending'. But no one tells us from whom,' she added. The financial impact is severe. 'From January 2025 till now, I haven't received a single rupee,' Nazia said. Her personal life mirrors the crisis: 'My rent is unpaid. My research has been derailed. I just got married. My husband also has responsibilities — how long can he fund my education?' She emphasised the fellowship's deeper meaning: 'This fellowship was not just financial aid. It was hope.' Opposition lawmakers have raised the delay in disbursement of funds with the government. On 27 April, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi received a plea from the scholars demanding immediate payment of dues, implementation of revised House Rent Allowance (HRA) matching UGC norms effective January 2024, and regular monthly disbursements. Other opposition lawmakers including SP's Zia Ur Rehman Barq, DMK's T Sumathy, and the Congress's Mohammad Jawed wrote directly to Union minority affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, stating the stress the scholars are facing over the lack of funds. 'The delay has caused severe financial and emotional stress... This is not the first time,' Jawed said in his April 24 letter, referencing similar delays in 2023-24. Sumathy and Barq highlighted the HRA disparity: UGC JRF-SRF scholars received increases (9% to 10%, 18% to 20%, 27% to 30% in January 2024, but MANF rates remain unchanged. Barq stressed the scheme's purpose: 'Timely financial support is crucial to safeguard academic progress and uphold inclusivity.' An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged funds exist but stated disbursement approval is pending. 'The National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) has the money but we haven't gotten approval to disburse the same. Once we get the approval, we will immediately pay out but there are issues with guideline changes and nodal agency change so it's taking time,' said the official.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store