Environment and the youth

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The initiative of mobilizing the school based student governments or councils and the Sangguniang Kabataan officials and its members in addressing the rising incidence of lifestyle diseases, preservation of the Banica River , and youth sports participation is a commendable one.

The program is also timely since it involves making the groups, especially the youth, aware that the planet faces global threat to farming and food supply.

An official of the institute of youth for peace in a university in Dumaguete presented a program that aims to integrate and unite the two youth groups whose combined energy, talents and capabilities, when harnessed, could be a potent force for implementing the various projects under it.

The organizers are eyeing a planning and teambuilding workshop for SK members and student government officers to address the rising incidence of lifestyle diseases, preserve the environment and educate the youth in various sports discipline.

As climate change may be global, it does not immediately affect our country. But several recent analyses have concluded that the higher temperatures expected in the future may seep into groundwater as sea levels rise and anticipated increases in flooding and droughts, will affect agriculture, specifically in tropical countries.

We must support and encourage the youth and other stakeholders in the community to undertake mini projects aimed at preserving the river that traverses portions of the 10 municipalities in Negros Oriental.

By doing so, we are doing our share in minimizing the effects of climate change in own little way.*