PNG MUST DO MORE TO HONOUR ITS RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE ENVIRONMENT ONSHORE, FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD

PNG MUST DO MORE TO HONOUR ITS RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE ENVIRONMENT ONSHORE, FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD


 As host of almost a third of the world's tropical rainforest, Papua New Guinea has a moral obligation and a responsibility to the next generation and to the entire world to do all it can to protect and conserve the rainforest and its natural environment.

 This is a bold statement from NCD Governor Honourable  Powes Parkop who said : "We must fulfill this responsibility to ourselves and to the world."

Picture of Port Moresby

           
Mr Parkop made this call when announcing the city’s plan and preparation for the forthcoming World Environment Day on the 5th of June 2018.

In making the announcement, Govenror Parkop also called on the National Government to declare 5th of June, a National Day of Action to Protect the Environment by stopping work and schools and getting everyone to clean up and plant trees. He also called on city residents to come this Saturday to clean the city as part of their commitment to World Environment and to the City.

 Night view of Port Moresby

Speaking at the end of his weekly walk on Sunday morning, Governor Parkop said the City Hall was serious in its commitment to making the city liveable, peaceful and active but also beautiful, healthy and clean through conducting awareness for action on this very important day in which the global community is asked to reaffirm its commitment to protect the country's natural environment.

“We are important to the rest of the world. We have a responsibility to them equally as we have a responsibility to ourselves. Parts of Europe, Asia, America and Africa are breathing artificial air because they have sacrificed their natural environment for economic development. We can’t follow them. We must protect what we have and share with the world so that we can contribute to a greater future for humanity and the world. Therefore, we must continue to preserve it as we owe it to the world and its inhabitants. Let us do our part to look after God’s creation,” he said.

NCD Governor Honourable Powes Parkop

Earlier this month, NCDC committed K150, 000 to support the government’s ban on plastic bags and products-through the Ministry of Environment and Conservation-under a cleaner city campaign-to buy them from residents

"As a City, we can’t do much to protect the rainforest and regrow or replant those trees that are being cut for log export and timber but we will do all we can to draw attention to the need to protect the rainforest, the natural environment and the need to have a clean and peaceful environment. As we are  celebrating the World Environment Day, let us remind ourselves that we have to keep doing all we can to continue to maintain a clean city, taking in all steps to deal with environmental issues and cleanliness in the city'" he said.

Governor Parkop has also joined the chorus of growing concern over cutting down of trees without replacing them, seabed mining and other human activities that are detrimental to the environment.

The day falls on June 5 which is next Tuesday but the commission has decided to celebrate it earlier with a cleanthon from Boroko to Gordons this Saturday the 2nd of June.  On Sunday, 3rd June, the regular Walk for Life will be converted to Walk for Our Environment, the source of our life!

Governor Parkop has invited all residents to clean up their own communities this Saturday and to also join in on Sunday for a massive show of commitment to protecting our environment.

“I appeal to all residents to join me  in the celebrations by cleaning our suburbs, villages and settlements to make it a clean and a beautiful place to live and to show our commitment to protect our natural environment”

He said with the support of the Environment and Conservation Minister, he is pushing for a public holiday to be declared on the day to show the rest of the world that the country is really serious in fulfilling its commitment of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

The theme for this year is ‘Beating Plastic Pollution.’

Govenror Parkop has extended a special invitation is to staff and Board of National Forestry Authority, CEFA, Department of Mining and Energy to join the cleanathon and walkathon as these are State agencies who need to multiply their efforts to protect our national environment.

He also called on other Government Departments and agencies, private sector, churches, NGOs and all other stakeholders to join the Commission in the activities in the lead up to the actual one next Tuesday.
#WorldEnvironmentDay2018
#Walk4Environment
#Walk_and_Yoga4life