88888 Lights Out Campaign

Exnora Chairman M.B. Nirmal explains the impact of global warming at a meeting at Avinashilingam University in Coimbatore on Friday. (From left) Bharathiar University Vice-Chancellor G. Thiruvasagam, Avinashilingam University Chancellor T.K. Shanmughanandam and Vice-Chancellor Saroja Prabhakaran are in the picture. Exnora International has called upon the people in Coimbatore to switch off electric lights for eight minutes from 8 p.m. on August 8 as part of its ‘88888 Lights Out Campaign’ to check global warming. It has already launched this campaign in Chennai. Addressing students of Avinashilingam University, Exnora chairman M.B. Nirmal exhorted them to sensitise their parents and others at home to the need for checking global warming.

“If the ice in the Arctic region melts, the polar bear will remain on earth only in the form of a doll,” he said, to point out the risk global warming posed to the environment. “Let us not become environmental refugees,” he said. Mr. Nirmal called for ‘transport simplicity’ to avoid green house gas effect. Overuse of fossil fuel for transportation was one of the reason for this effect. Walking or cycling over short distances would reduce the use of motor vehicles.

Mass transit system such as trains reduced the extent of fuel use. One diesel engine was enough to draw a number of coaches with passengers, unlike a few passengers travelling in other forms of transport, he pointed out. Mr. Nirmal asked the students to maintain a power consumption log book. He said 60,000 students had so far registered for this. The log book should have the power consumption pattern at home, while on travel and at the institution.

It would help in assessing the actual need, avoiding energy wastage and checking global warming. Presiding over the meeting, Chancellor of Avinashilingam University T.K. Shanmughanandam said global warming was a complex phenomenon. An environmental crisis confronted the world and none could remain unaffected. Ecology conservation must be a matter of common concern – from the local to the global level. Excessive exploitation of resources for economic growth had wreaked havoc on the environment. Widespread use of solar energy was the solution to the current energy crisis. And, students should be involved in creating awareness on renewable energy. Vice-Chancellor of Bharathiar University G. Thiruvasagam said the campaign against global warming would be successful only if it became a people’s movement. Warding off the crisis was wise, instead of waiting till it struck.

On the role of students, he said it would not be enough if they were involved only in the campaign. They should also practice what they preached. “For instance, do not take your scooter to go the neighbouring street. A student staying in a hostel must impress upon the others the need to switch off lights to conserve energy and check global warming,” he said. Experts gave a very frightening forecast that global warming would result in life-threatening conditions such as diseases, famine and drought. Therefore, the effort to prevent disaster must begin now.

Pointing out that global warming was a raging issue across the world, Vice-Chancellor of Avinashilingam University Saroja Prabhakaran said the excessive use of fuel for transportation and even mechanised farming was already having its impact on the environment. Scientists had warned that the ice at the north and south poles would melt and the sea level would rise because of global warming. This would have a devastating effect as a lot of land would go under the sea.

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