Flight of Consciousness: Mangaluru Airport Soars High in Environmental Celebrations
- Shankarapura Jasmine saplings distributed to arriving passengers
- 100 saplings of Tree Jasmine/Pongame Oil Tree planted
- Street Play on plastic menace held
- Eco-Friendly pens distributed to passengers
Mangaluru, June 13, 2023: Mangaluru International Airport celebrated the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day (WED) with a range of activities that resonated with Albert Einstein’s words, “The environment is everything that isn’t me.”
At the heart of these festivities was the delightful distribution of Shankarapura Jasmine saplings to arriving passengers. Adored for its captivating fragrance and bestowed with the esteemed Geographical Indication (GI) tag, this local variety of jasmine evokes a sense of tranquility and serves as a living reminder of nature’s exquisite offerings.
Embracing this year’s WED theme, “Solution to Plastic Pollution,” the airport rallied all stakeholders, forging a collective front in raising awareness about the perils of prioritizing personal interests above the well-being of our planet. Echoing the commitment of the larger group to plant an impressive 100 million trees, a hundred saplings of Tree Jasmine (millingtonia hortensis) and Pongame Oil Tree (pongamia pinnata) found their roots along the clearing that borders the final hairpin bend leading to the airport, casting a verdant tapestry of hope and rejuvenation.
To educate passengers and stakeholders about the urgent need to address plastic pollution, a street play was performed at various locations, including the administrative office, departure and arrival terminals, and the lower ground floor arrival area. A pledge wall allowed passengers to publicly commit to refusing single-use plastic at a booth established in the domestic departure area.
As passengers embarked on their journeys, they departed with more than just memories. Eco-friendly pens, embedded with seeds that held the promise of new life, found their way into the hands of environmentally conscious travelers. Once these pens had served their purpose, they could be planted in the soil, transforming into flourishing plants—a symbolic gesture of nurturing the earth.
In the vibrant engagement zone of the domestic departure area, young minds came alive with creativity. Children eagerly immersed themselves in a drawing activity, using vibrant colors to depict their visions of preserving and safeguarding the environment. Their artistic expressions served as a poignant reminder that the responsibility for a sustainable future rests on the shoulders of generations to come.
“The airport remains steadfast in its commitment to environmental protection and will continue to emphasize this commitment beyond World Environment Day,” stated the airport spokesperson, highlighting the long-term dedication to ecological conservation.
