GREAT BAY (DCOMM):--- The Collective Preventive Services (CPS), a government agency under the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development & Labour in observance of World Environment Day WED), 5 June, is appealing to the nation from all walks of life to come together to ensure a cleaner, greener and brighter outlook for themselves and future generations.
WED is an annual event that aims to be the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. WED activities take place all year round but climax on 5 June every year.
The global theme is "Think.Eat.Save." The theme is an anti-food waste and food loss campaign that encourages individuals to reduce your footprint.
According to the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), every year 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted. This is equivalent to the same amount produced in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.
At the same time, one in every seven people in the world go to bed hungry and more than 20,000 children under the age of five die daily from hunger.
The global WED theme is in line with Minister of Public Health, Social Development & Labour's Hon. Cornelius de Weever's "Get Checked" campaign.
"Take a step back, and reflect upon the theme Think.Eat.Save. Become more aware of the environmental impact of the food choices you make and empower yourself to make informed decisions.
"One way is to choose to buy locally grown foods which means foods are not flown in and therefore limits emissions. Locally grown also means healthier foods with no preservatives or chemicals," Minister De Weever pointed out.
The FAO estimates that a third of global food production is either wasted or lost. Food waste is an enormous drain on natural resources and a contributor to negative environmental impacts.
Due to the enormous imbalance in lifestyles and the resultant devastating effects on the environment, the plant is struggling to provide us with enough resources to sustain its seven billion people – growing to nine billion by 2050.
WED celebration began in 1972 and has grown to become one of the main vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action.