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EEIU Lahore Reports & Letters
Home, EEIU Lahore
Report, 02 September 2004
EEIU Lahore Opening Meeting
I am pleased to inform EEIU Headquarters that on Sunday, August 29, 2004, the first gathering of the Lahore Chapter took place. Fifteen individuals were invited and attended the meeting.
Mr. Sayyed Hossein (Chair) introduced the EEIU, its mission and charter. A briefing was provided about the mission and objectives of EEIU. The slogan "Humanity Can Survive Only With A New Concept Of Ethics: Eco-Ethics" was displayed on a banner.
Participants were told that we, as human beings, are the most important factor on earth for keeping our environment clean. Therefore, each of us will have to play our role to maintain the fragile environment that is bearing the immense pressure of the pollution contributed by human beings all over the world.
Unfortunately sub-continental environmental conditions are quickly deteriorating due to the rapidly increasing population. The situation in Pakistan is especially worse where basic sanitation practices are absent.
In Pakistan, cities are expanding rapidly, engulfing the green (agricultural) belts and destroying the rich and fertile soils. Cities' open pit sewage systems are converting into great rivers of filthy waters bearing industrial and residential wastage. Rules of solid waste dumping seem unknown to official sanitation workers and heaps of garbage are mounted on the edges of cities' suburbs. General use of plastic bags is another mess that can be seen scattered on street, on roads and in open areas. Except for some important roads, most roads and streets remain without brushing since formation. Dust is another contributor of high air pollution. Thousands of vehicles are responsible for transferring dust on the roads from here to there. When seen from a distance, cities appear engulfed in a huge dust cover. Surprisingly, Municipal Authorities who are responsible for sanitation are unable to handle the job but at the same time resist any move to turn over the job to private hands.
City transport systems are another havoc, contributing toxic gases in the air. 95% of drivers blow pressure horns, while 70% play loud music in their vehicles, thus creating unbearable noise pollution on the roads. Traffic police remain unconcerned with traffic violations.
These are the few glimpses of our environment which were brought openly in front of the small gathering.
Some people said that we are born with these things and we do not give a second thought to it. But it is a problem, and we shall review our attitude and are interested in going ahead with your cause. Participants appreciated that they are going to become a part of an international movement like EEIU.
The small gathering of 15 people may seem to be very little at the moment, but it is just a first step.
I, being Chair of Lahore Chapter, am preparing a full strategy to raise awareness and mobilize both ordinary and influential persons in the greater vicinity of Lahore.
With best regards to all EEIU Fellows the world over.
Sayyed Hossein Shah
Chair, EEIU Lahore Chapter
 This page was last updated on 7 September 2004.
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