Mangaluru: Reinforcing its commitment to environmental sustainability, the Centre for Environmental Concern (CEC) of St Aloysius Pre-University College organised an awareness session titled “Guardians of the Earth” for its faculty members. The session was led by environmentalist and animal activist Adv. Suma Nayak, who highlighted the urgent need to protect nature through responsible and sustainable living.
Mother Earth belongs to every living being
Addressing the faculty, Adv. Suma Nayak described Mother Earth as a shared home for all living species and emphasised that human beings, as the most evolved species, have a greater responsibility to protect rather than exploit nature.
She pointed out that rapid urbanisation, indiscriminate tree felling, road construction, and human encroachment have resulted in the destruction of natural habitats, the disappearance of urban wildlife, and growing ecological imbalance.
Teachers can inspire environmental responsibility
Highlighting the influential role of educators, Adv. Nayak urged faculty members to lead by example, noting that students learn more from observing their teachers’ actions than from classroom instruction alone.
Drawing on her experiences in environmental conservation and animal welfare, she encouraged teachers to instil compassion towards animals and respect for all forms of life among students from an early age. She stressed that children should understand that the Earth belongs equally to every living being.
Call for sustainable living
Referring to the declining rainfall and deteriorating water quality in Mangaluru, Adv. Nayak emphasised the need to conserve water and prevent its wastage. She urged the faculty to treat water as a precious natural resource that must be protected for future generations.
She also advocated reducing plastic consumption by choosing reusable alternatives and highlighted the importance of practising the three Rs—Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
Further encouraging sustainable practices, she appealed to the faculty to conserve electricity by switching off lights and fans when not in use. She reminded participants that every element of nature is interconnected and that even small individual efforts can make a significant difference in protecting the environment.
Concluding her address, Adv. Nayak called upon the faculty to adopt environmentally responsible lifestyles and inspire students to become responsible stewards of the planet.
