Report pertaining to the above Training workshop.Commencement - 05 p.m. on 2008.08.24
Participation - 39 participants.
In addition to participants from the 06 Districts viz. Galle, Matara, Moneragala, Matale, NuwaraEliya and Anuradhapura where Savisthri progammes are being implemented, 04 selectees attended from the Polonnaruwa District as well. At the inauguration, the Programme Co-ordinator of the Savisthri Movement emphasized on the activities of the Savisthri Movement covering the needy women in the farming, fishing, plantation sectors and other fields in the six Districts to raise them from the abyss they were in and place them on a better footing socially, economically and politically, it's mission, vision and aim, it's achievements, the challenges it had encountered since it's inception and how they were overcome tactfully and with diligence, and how it is proceeding to achieve it's goals to make these women an empowered lot. Mention was made regarding the Sheffied team of UK which was giving the Savisthri Movement it's fullest co-operation for the Ecological programme re. which the three day workshop was conducted to minimize global warming which is threatening not only Sri Lanka but the whole world.
The aim of the workshop was to train trainers at District Level to get the fullest community participation and give them an awareness to minimize the emission of carbondioxide.
The five Resource Persons in their lectures on diverse aspects of Global Warming elaborated in the simplest possible manner on the theme "Global Warming" which has resulted in the climate change which is being experienced by the whole world. Explanation was given by them regarding the scientific causes for climate change, how the excessive emission of carbondioxide through the usage of fossil fuel especially by large scale industries, vehicles, power plants etc. have damaged the Orzone layer which has resulted in the Ultra Violet Rays of the sun falling directly on to the earth and endanger the whole man kind, beasts, fauna and flora. They explained how this process is contributing to the melting of the glaciers formed millions of years ago raising the sea levels which would submerge most of the countries and that since countries like Maldives, Thailand etc. would be drowned by the rising sea levels in the future and such countries would remain only in the map in the future.
To make things simpler to the participants, in addition to the diagrammes showing the earth in relation to the sun, photos were shown on the screen of melting glaciers, plight of the Polar Bears in the Arctic region that has become an endangered species which would sooner become extinct, the heavy smoke from coal power plants, planes etc. released to the atmosphere.
To counteract the ill-effects of global warming which has resulted in the melting of glaciers the incessant rains, flooding, land slides and mud slides (eg.cyclone, Katrina which ravaged New Orleams) and the famine which would result in the future where there would be food scarecity and lack of water and the intense heat of the sun which would destroy agriculture and the available lands, they suggested that from now on the people should try to minimize the burning of fossils fuel and grow trees which bear edible fruits and corn which thrive well in arid areas and grow forests to reduce the emission of carbondioxide.
In addition to photos, films on the ill effects of climate change were shown to the participants.
A plan was drawn up with the participants of the relevant Districts regarding the further activities to be undertaken to minimize the release of carbondioxide and make the Districts carbon free Districts like the aim of the Sheffield team to make Sheffield a carbon free city.
The plan drawn had been discussed further prior to the implementation of it's activities.
On the whole the workshop was successful and the participants were advised to convey the message to all at village, District and Mini Bank Society levels. The workshop ended at 1515 hrs. on 2008.08.26.
The work carried out subsequent to the workshop :-
· Commencement of awareness programmes at District Level.
· Collection of necessary papers / information regarding this matter.
· Preparation of a book "from excessive consumption to thrift" on global warming.
This book is scheduled to be launched on 23.09.2008 at 1400 hrs at the Savisthri National Office.
· Broadening of home gardening / re-forestation.
· Showing the ill-effects of global warming through street dramas performed by cultural troupes already formed by the Savisthri Organization.