Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Environmental crisis caused by oil spillages and gas flares in the Niger Delta region, has affected people’s access to food, clean water and sanitation, the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Eco has said.
To this end, the Club has emphasized that actions must be taken to restore and protect the earth from further degradation.
President of the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt Eco, Rtn Emem Okon, said this while planting 12 trees at the Community Secondary School, Rumuekini, Obio/Akpor LGA of Rivers State, as a way of curbing environmental pollution.
The tree planting by the Club, was carried out in collaboration with I-Recycle and Club 17 Africa, to marked the World Earth Day 2021.
Emem Okon, told the students that marking the World Earth Day inspires the consciousness of the need to protect the environment.
She explained that this year’s theme “Restore Our Earth” implies that there was something wrong with the earth, which requires action to restore.
“In the Niger Delta and in Rivers State in particular, people are suffering the effects of environmental degradation.
“The environmental crisis which is majorly caused by oil extraction through oil spillages and gas flares.
“This has affected access to food, access to clean water, it has affected sanitation. Therefore, actions have to be taken to restore the earth.
“A healthy earth is a necessity because we live on the earth. To restore the earth, one can volunteer for community clean-ups, educate community members to protect the earth and also plant trees.”
Students of CSS Rumuekini, in a simulation exercise, spoke on the importance of trees, such as provision of oxygen, clean air, food, firewood, shade, preservation of the soil and absorbent of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.