Sikkim Democratic Party observes 'Ten Minutes to Earth' expressing concern about environment

GANGTOK: Raising awareness about the environmental issues and showing their commitments towards saving and preserving environment Sikkim Democratic Party today observed “Ten Minutes to Earth” across the state.

President Pawan Chamling planted saplings in Namchi in a special plantation drive while senior SDF leaders like former MP PD Rai, former Speaker KT Gyalltshen, and other party members gave their “Ten Minutes to Earth” by planting saplings at SDF party office premises.

While  KT Gyaltsen shared “SDF party is based in ideology and principles so even if we don’t have the government we will continue to work for the cause”

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The program “Ten Minutes to Earth” has begun 11 years ago in 2009. It was begun with the aim of making the planet better, planting one tree at a time.

The program is focused on a plantation drive, the larger aim is to inculcate a feeling of connection to the earth and to our environment.

The Sikkim Democratic Party's mission was to bring the people together each year in giving - even if just ten minutes - towards taking care of our environment. today the party has observed the 12th year of the program.

Ten Minutes to Earth mobilizes the public towards a commitment to nature.

The Environment has been a key priority of the Sikkim Democratic Front party. "Environment protection is one of the key pillars of our political program and we consider the rights of the environment above all as per our political ideology," said the party.

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Soon after forming the government, we declared 1996 as the “Green Revolution Year” or Harit Kranti Varsha to spread environmental awareness and inculcate a strong stance of protection and preservation. We also declared the years 2000-2010 as the Green Revolution Decade during which we undertook mass environmental awareness programs, it added.

It furthers said, "Many of our achievements have been lauded nationally and globally. We banned the use of plastic and non-biodegradable materials in Sikkim as early as 14th August 1998 and this was appreciated widely. We also banned the use of diclofenac acid, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides on our lands."

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The reason behind celebrating Ten Minutes to Earth is to create a behavioural change, initiated by the small step of giving just ten minutes towards our mother earth.

Nature in its essence is pure but it is human intervention that has created disbalance in nature. Though we have grown leaps and bounds in knowledge, science, and technology, we have not been able to use these developments well for the benefit of our planet. It is ironic that our progress has become the cause of the destruction of our natural resources. We ourselves are the cause of the poisonous air we breathe, polluted water we drink, and the chemical-laden food we eat. The environmental problems that we are witnessing have been created by us and hence, the responsibility of rectifying them also lies with us, the party stated.

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