MINISTER of Natural Resources and The Environment Robert Persaud, Head of the European Union Delegation in Guyana Robert Kopecky and Chairman, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ronald Webster Sunday morning led several scout groups and  staff of government and non-governmental agencies and ministries in a ‘Green Walk’ to underscore the global awareness of the importance of food preservation in the world.

The walk, which started at the Umana Yana and concluded at the National Park, marked the beginning of a week of activities organised by the EPA to commemorate UN World Environment Day (WED), an annual event celebrated worldwide on June 5. It was initiated by the United Nations Environmental Programmme (UNEP) in 1972, and  aims at becoming the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action.
This year it is being celebrated under the theme: “Think. Eat. Save”. an anti-food waste and food loss campaign to highlight the devastating effect of food wastage on the global population and the global environment.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), whilst the planet is struggling to provide enough to sustain its seven billion people, one third of the global food production is either being wasted or lost, while one in seven persons in the world go to bed hungry, and more than 20,000 children under the age of five die from hunger daily.
Minister Persaud, delivering remarks in the National Park, pointed out that Guyana is fortunate in that it is self-sufficient in food. Three years ago, Guyana fulfilled the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of resolving the issue of hunger.
The minister said, therefore, when the participants and Guyanese reflect on the UN WED theme, they must recollect how fortunate Guyana is, and must seek to examine how, by their own individual action, they could contribute to the issue of global hunger. ”Ensure that the food that we farm ends up on our plate and that there is minimum wastage,” he said.
The minister also singled out for praise youth groups for their involvement in the exercise. He said that their involvement will only serve to draw attention to the issue and foster greater participation of their peers and other Guyanese. He said also that their participation in the exercise showed their determination to make a difference.
“I hope that the hundreds of thousands who are at home will be able to draw some level of inspiration from your participation here today, in not only fulfilling the theme, but also looking at what we can do to make our country a better place,” he said.
“This beautiful country can be enhanced. This beautiful country can shine brighter, and we do hope that activities such as this will motivate us to do our part to make Guyana shine brighter,” he said.
Minister Persaud also called for the year-long participation of everyone in combating the issue of non-discriminatory garbage disposal in Guyana. He noted that every year, as WED is being celebrated, the garbage piles around the City increase in quantity.
“Every single pile of garbage, every drop of litter is one too much… we need to tidy up Guyana,” he said, as he urged participants to not only  participate in the day’s  event, but to every day continue to walk the walk of ensuring a clean Guyana, and to also support the UN theme of “Think. Eat. Save”.
Webster very briefly reminded the participants of their individual responsibility to ensure that the environment is improved, and commended the large turn-out. He said this year, the turn-out was the largest, and it shows that there is a greater appreciation of global environmental issues.
Kopecky praised the effort of the ‘Pick-It-Up’ campaign initiated by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment to address waste disposal in the city. He noted that whilst the campaign had some progress, one cannot be totally satisfied with the effort. He expressed hope that all would become involved, and come next year, the result of the campaign will be felt to a larger extent.
Kopecky said that the UN has been playing its part, visiting schools, making sure the message is heard and persons live the message of environmental awareness.
During the observance, trophies were awarded to the participants for Best Banner, Largest Contingency, Most Uniform and Best Chant.
For Best Banner, Marian Academy placed first, Graham’s Hall Primary second and the Guyana Forestry Commission third.
The group from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) was named the Largest Contingency, Graham’s Hall Primary placed second, and Marian Academy third. The GPF’s contingency was also judged the Most Uniformed, followed by Graham’s Hall Primary and then Vreed-en-Hoop Primary.
The GPF also won Best Chant. Graham’s Hall Primary and Marian Academy placed second and third respectively.
Among other activities organised for this week to mark WED are an environmental camp, a WED ceremony, TV programmes, newspaper features and Ride-for-the-Environment in Linden and Essequibo. (GINA)
***Saved as green
Caption:  Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud, and Head of the European Union Delegation in Guyana Robert Kopecky leading the ‘Green Walk’