Mangaluru: St. Joseph Engineering College hosts first edition of TEDxSJEC
Mangaluru: The students of St Joseph Engineering College (SJEC), Mangaluru, hosted TEDxSJEC for the very first time at the college campus on Sunday, 16 February 2020.
The event was inaugurated at the college quadrangle by all dignitaries. The speakers and the performers joined hands with Rev. Fr Wilfred Prakash D’Souza, Director of SJEC, Rev. Fr Rohith D’Costa and Rev. Fr Alwyn Richard D’Souza, Assistant Directors, Dr Rio D’Souza, Principal, Rakesh Lobo, HR Manager of the college in the lighting of the lamp. Dr Binu KG, Faculty Coordinator of TEDxSJEC, Crystal D’Souza, Licensee & Lead Organizer of TEDxSJEC, Vernon Serrao, Co-Organizer of TEDxSJEC were also present.
Post the inaugural, all speakers and performers planted saplings on the campus as a part of the Go Green Initiative of SJEC. A walk through the “Corridors of Love”, a unique attempt by the students displaying creative installations of exhibits symbolizing the theme of the event “Love Conquers All” was the main attraction of TEDxSJEC. The “Corridors of Love” lead everyone to the venue where a series of talks and performances mesmerized the participants.
During the event, the following speakers addressed the gathering with their life experiences and intellectual insights:
Corrine Antoinette Rasquinha, Social Worker and Founder of White Doves NGO
Girish Bharadwaj, Padma Shri Awardee, Engineer & Social Innovator
Ria Sharma, Model, Speaker, Storyteller and an LGBTQAI + Youth Activist
Omkar Pai, Engineer and Nature Enthusiast
Aarohi Pandit, World Record Holding Indian Pilot
Abhiraj Rajadhyaksha & Ms Niyati Mavinkurve, Chief Storytellers at Following Love/Travel Writer and Author
Vaishak JP, Mountaineer
Smitha Hedge, Teacher & Scientist
Apart from the speakers, the following performances won the hearts of all participants:
Yakshagaana by Vidushi Mahima S Rao & Team, Yakshagana Artistes
Performance by Gladson Peter, One Man Band
Play by Prithesh Bhandari & Team, Theatre Artist & Film Maker
Bharatanatyam by Vidwan Deepak Kumar & Vidushi Preethikala, Bharathanatyam Artistes
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Gehlot changes profile pic to 'Save Aravalli', asks Centre to reconsider definition
Jaipur (PTI): Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Thursday urged the Centre to reconsider its definition of the Aravallis, warning that any damage to the mountain range posed a serious threat to the ecological future of north India.
Gehlot, a former Rajasthan chief minister, changed his social media profile picture in support of the nationwide 'SaveAravalli' campaign amid growing debate over mining and environmental safeguards in the Aravalli Range.
It was his symbolic protest against the new interpretation under which hills lower than 100 metres are no longer being recognised as part of the Aravalli system, he said.
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"The Aravalli cannot be judged by tape measures or height alone. It must be assessed by its ecological importance," Gehlot said, adding that the revised definition raised "a big question" over the future of north India.
Appealing to the Centre and the Supreme Court, Gehlot said the issue must be reconsidered in the interest of future generations and environmental security. He also urged citizens to participate in the campaign by changing their display pictures online to draw attention to the issue.
He said the Aravalli range functioned as a natural green wall against the expansion of the Thar desert and extreme heatwaves, protecting Delhi, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. Opening up smaller hills and so-called gap areas for mining would allow desertification to advance rapidly, he warned.
Gehlot also flagged concerns over air pollution, saying the hills and forests of the Aravallis acted as the "lungs" of the National Capital Region by checking dust storms and absorbing pollutants.
"When pollution levels are so alarming even with the Aravalli standing, one can imagine how disastrous the situation will be without it," he said.
Highlighting the water crisis, the former chief minister said the rocky terrain of the Aravallis played a crucial role in groundwater recharge by channelising rainwater underground.
"If the hills are destroyed, drinking water shortages will intensify, wildlife will disappear and the entire ecology will be pushed into danger," he said.
Gehlot argued that, from a scientific perspective, the Aravallis was a continuous chain and that even smaller hillocks were as vital as higher peaks.
