MIA Goes Vocal for Local with WED Celebration

• Shankarapura Jasmine saplings distributed to arriving passengers
• 100 saplings of Tree Jasmine/Pongame Oil Tree planted
• Street Play on plastic menace held
• Pledge Wall Set up
• Eco-Friendly pens distributed to passengers

The environment is everything that isn't me – these words of Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist rang true and loud in various activities that Mangaluru International Airport carried out to mark the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day (WED) recently. A standout feature of the activities was distribution of famed Shankarapura Jasmine saplings to arriving passengers. This local variety of jasmine which has received the GI tag, is much sought for its soothing fragrance.

With the focus on this year WED theme – Solution to Plastic Pollution, the airport involved all stakeholders in creating awareness about the perils of putting individual interests before the environment. Stakeholders in line with the group’s initiative of planting 100 million trees, planted 100 saplings of Tree Jasmine (millingtonia hortensis) & Pongame Oil Tree (pongamia pinnata) on the clearing that flanked the last hairpin bend on the road leading into the airport.

A street play – enacted in front of the administrative office, inside the terminal – both departure and arrival and in the lower ground floor arrival area – sensitized the passengers and stakeholders about how the clock is literally ticking down on mankind with its indiscriminate use of plastic. A pledge wall gave passengers the opportunity to reaffirm their resolve to say no to single use plastic at a pledge booth set up in the domestic departure area.

Passengers also took home eco-friendly pens with an embedded seed, which when discarded in the soil post-usage, will grow into a plant. A drawing activity in the engagement zone set up in the domestic departure gave children the opportunity to put colors to their thought on how they will preserve the environment. “The airport is committed to environment protection and will not limit itself to World Environment Day to reiterate this commitment,” the airport spokesperson said.