DHARAMSHALA: The Central Tibetan Administration is organising a special educational programme for Tibetan schoolchildren to keep them abreast about the crucial environmental issues inside Tibet. The talk series on Tibet’s environment is part of an awareness programme jointly organised by the Department of Information and International Relations and the Education Department in commemorating the 75th birth anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Two environmental researchers from the Department of Information & International Relations’ Environment and Development Desk are conducting a talk series on Tibet’s environment in schools based in northern Indian state of Uttarkhand and Himachal Pradesh.
The two researchers, Mr Jigme Norbu and Ms Dhondup Dolma Bhartso, spoke on climate change and water issues, grassland degradations, nomads and resource extractions inside Tibet. Separate sessions were conducted for senior and junior/primary students in all the schools.
They conducted the talks in Sambhota Tibetan School, Dekyiling, Tibetan Homes Foundation, Rajpur, Mindrolling Monastery at Clement Town, Dhondupling and Central School for Tibetans in Mussoorie from 23 – 26 June. Over 900 schoolchildren, 500 monks and faculty members attended the talk series.
In all the primary school level, the researchers organised games to test the grasping power of the students and awarded Tibetan wildlife cards to those giving correct answers. A twelve-minute version of the documentary film ‘Meltdown in Tibet’ was shown to the senior students.
The researchers distributed environmental-related reports, books and DVDs published by EDD to the school administrators to use as reference materials interested students. DVDs produced by DIIR has also been distributed to the concern head.
The researchers will talk to students at Tibetan Homes Foundation Mussorie on 27 and 28 June, TCV Selakui on 29 June, CST Herbertpur on 30 June and STS Paonta on 1 July. They will conclude the talk series at Sambhota Tibetan School, Puruwala on 2 July.
