Speech marathon for environmental care

Human existence is quite impossible without the presence of a healthy ecosystem. Our environment comprises all living and non-living components and their interactions within a natural habitat. Environmental conservation has become one of the core issues that need to be addressed to battle climate change and global warming. Sustainable development is the need of the hour that can save the mother Earth from the repercussions of industrialisation. In an attempt to elaborate upon environmental conservation, its needs, and ways of conserving the environment, the Rotary Club of Mehsana, Gujarat, organised a speech marathon, which ultimately established its place in the Asia Book of Records.

The record was set for ‘maximum speakers participating in a speech marathon about environmental conservation’ and the event took place at Rotary Bhawan, Mehsana on April 16, 2023. A total of 317 participants of 6 to 84 years of age spoke on the theme of environment and its conservation for 2-3 minutes each in Gujarati, Hindi, and English languages. The activity was aimed at creating awareness around environmental issues, finding solutions to various ecological problems, and encouraging people to take remedial steps in day-to-day life. The speech marathon commenced at 7 am and continued till 10 pm.

The Rotary Club of Mehsana has been serving the town through various activities for the last 62 years. This year the club thought of focusing on environmental awareness and setting a record under the Asia Book of Records by holding a mega speech marathon. Originally the idea was to engage 350 speakers of all age groups ranging from 6 to 84 years. But, only 317 speakers could be accommodated in the event which continued non-stop for over 15 hours. The topics touched upon by the speakers ranged from a spectrum of environmental issues such as water conservation, climate change, water scarcity, the importance of afforestation, noise pollution, air pollution, the benefits of solar power, the benefits of organic farming, etc. All the speakers were given a certificate of participation by the Rotary Club of Mehsana.

The event highlighted the issues which are taking a heavy toll on human lives. Ranging from overpopulation, hydrological issues, ozone depletion, and global warming to the desertification of agricultural land, all these issues pose a severe threat to the existence of humankind. Unless environmental conservation is becoming an effective mass movement, it is futile to expect positive growth, especially in the age of digital media which holds the potential to bring a revolution to save our planet from destruction.

The speakers also suggested possible ways of environmental conservation. Some of the solutions could be - stopping deforestation, utilising natural non-renewable resources properly, finding a solution to the forest fires because a huge number of natural lives are lost in these fires, creating public awareness, controlling pollution and population, recycling used goods, adopting an environment-friendly lifestyle, applying waste management techniques and saving species that are on the verge of extinction.

Rotary Club of Mehsana, Gujarat, set the record for ‘maximum speakers participating in a speech marathon about environmental conservation’ at Rotary Bhawan, wherein 317 participants spoke for 2-3 minutes each.