ECO VOICE

ECO VOICE An OOD e-magazine dedicated to our planet (WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL DAY SPECIAL ISSUE- 5th June 2020) An initiative by Divyalakshmi V.P. and Aishwaryaa V.P.

FROM THE EDITORS’ GREEN DESK… Our planet, Earth, is the only one of its kind, home to vividly infinite thriving ecosystems, glistening lakes and mighty seas, dense iridescent canopies of tall trees, birds of every flock and color, animals of every breed and, of course, humans. Doesn’t it seem like a priceless blessing to be amidst such natural beauty? Yes, it truly is and as the future global citizens, it’s our duty to step up and conserve the planet’s intrinsic beauty from pollution and global warming. We at GEMS Our Own English High School, Dubai leave no stone unturned in playing our part towards protecting the environment. OOD’s budding environmentalists have initiated numerous eco-friendly measures and campaigns in the past and continue to inspire others with their visionary ideas and love for the Earth. On the wondrous and momentous occasion of the 47th World Environment Day, we take great pride in bringing together the creativity of some of OOD’s talented gems and channeling it towards spreading environmental awareness. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude and acknowledge each one of our fellow eco-lovers for making the first issue of ECO VOICE a huge success. We would also like to thank our beloved teachers and our mentor, Ms. Marie Ramos, for their constant guidance and support. We sincerely thank all our readers for their undying encouragement. Let’s save our home together. Happy World Environment Day! Divyalakshmi V.P. and Aishwaryaa V.P. (Co-Editors of ECO VOICE)

CONTENTS 1. World Environment Day 2. OOD’S Green Moves 3. Eco- Hands at Work 4. Green Pens 5. Our Green Tots

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY (5 JUNE 2020) The foods we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the climate that makes our planet habitable all come from nature. For instance, each year, marine plants produce more than a half of our atmosphere's oxygen, and a mature tree cleans our air, absorbing 22 kilos of carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen in exchange. Despite all the benefits that our nature gives us, we still mistreat it. That is why we need this Observance World Environment Day, hosted by Columbia on June 5th, 2020, is the most renowned day for environmental action. Since 1974, it has been celebrated every year on 5 June: engaging governments, businesses, celebrities and citizens to focus their efforts on a pressing environmental issue. This year, the theme is biodiversity – a concern that is both urgent and existential. Recent events, from bushfires in Brazil, the United States, and Australia to locust infestations across East Africa – and now, a global disease pandemic – demonstrate the interdependence of humans and the webs of life, in which they exist. Human actions, including deforestation, encroachment on wildlife habitats, intensified agriculture, and acceleration of climate change, have pushed nature beyond its limit. It’s time to realize the repercussions of our hazardous actions and work towards biodiversity conservation. Divyalakshmi V.P. (11 A)



OOD’S GREEN MOVES GEMS Our Own English High School, Dubai has been consistently innovating and initiating eco-friendly measures. A Glimpse from the Green Past to inspire the next generation of Environmentalists. 1. OUR OWN BLOSSOMS

2. HYDROPONICS 3. AQUAPONICS

ECO-HANDS AT WORK Is protecting the environment all about planting trees and recycling? Some people may believe that it would be impossible to contribute their part, especially during lockdown times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But OOD’s nature enthusiasts have proved them wrong. Even during a crisis like such, their dedication towards the environment remains undeterred. Even at home, they continue to practice the eco-friendly measures learnt at school in their own little way. Presenting… Young Eco-Hands at Work!! RITHIKA NAIR I have a small mini garden (7Q) in my balcony. I love caring for the environment and would like to make our surroundings clean, so I have planted some Jasmin, aloe vera and rose plants.

ASHWIKA SANTOSH This is my garden. At the starting it (7Q) was a small garden but now it has become a big garden! The first plant that was planted was a long beans plant and we have also harvested long beans 8 times! Now there are curry leaves, spinach, chili, aloe vera, tulsi, long beans, lemon, Jasmin, marigold, ixora, Dalia, rose moss, vinca, aralia plant, and bougainvillea. EVELYN VARGHESE This is my garden. I helped my (7Q) parents grow the garden. At first, we bought a few bougainvillea plants. Then it extended into a huge garden. We borrowed a few aloe vera saplings. We nourished and grew them. We also grow money plants, tomatoes, and spinach. I love plants.

NIVITHA SUMESH My grandparents started (7Q) growing my garden. My sister and I started watering them. We started with tulsi, curry leaves and aloe vera plants. We hope to extend our mini garden further. SHRIYA SARIN I have grown tulsi, curry leaves (7Q) and aloe vera in my balcony. I started this initiative to take DEVIKA KISHORE care of Mother Earth and to (7Q) make the world a better place. I enjoy turning junk into jazz! I love making DIY projects out of old reusable and recyclable materials like papers, cans, plastics etc. These are the latest quilling earrings I made.

GREEN PENS GEMS OOD is known for its creative enthusiasts, who let their artistic masterpieces speak and enthrall onlookers. Poetry, songs, stories, articles, snapshots, anecdotes they have it all! VAISHNAVI RAI (11B)

ABHIPSHA BISWAL 11A

SWETHA RAGHUNATH 7Q ANN TERESA NIKITHA SUMESH 7Q 7A

DHANVI SAYANI 10 F

THE CHANGE OF THE EARTH The earth our beloved home A safe place to roam But greenery subsides everywhere In this era, Humans don't have the slightest care Fighting against the disastrous winds And seas flowing through Oceans bound together We don't have the slightest clue The leaves withering from the trees As we watch the silent sound of the nightingale What is the solution, the key?? to this dangerous crisis The dark and cold winds blow And then the sun shines Melting glaciers of ice There is no limit and travels beyond the lines Protect our dear mother earth Join our hands together Emerges are the smiles That can stretch for even a mile AISHWARYAA V.P. 7Q

WHAT DO I SEE? As I come out of my house I step into the outside world But nothing like I had imagined it to be Nothing like my dreams I see We have lived in this world for about 200,000 years And difference between the past and present is seen clear The past was filled with mother nature’s beauty But nothing like that right now I see The sight of clean rivers is rare Rainforests are not found everywhere As I look around in disappointment and despair, I cannot believe This is not the world I was willing to see Does it mean I will just have to wait? Does it mean there is nothing that can be done? Does it mean that I will not be able to see? Does it mean my mother nature in joy is just a mere dream I see? But I will not stop so easily I will fight for my mother She has given us so much but the value we did not see To express my gratitude to her a thank you would not be

Let us all take a stand For she is the reason of our existence She is the reason why we are here And she is the reason why all future generations of us will be TRISHA SAYANI 7E Hear My Plea… I am your mother Earth, Who gave millions, a birth, I have given you all to fulfill your need, Without disquieting my own greed. But today I stand weeping tears, By the action you’ve done to me, being so fierce, I am shedding tears when it rains, For, what else can I do in such grief pains? The sands of time have rendered fear, My blue skies are no longer clear, Stars were bright when they came, Now dimmed, obscured, pollution’s haze.

Crystal clear my waters gleamed, Fishes abundant, rivers streamed, Ocean floors sandy white, Now littered, brown, pollution’s plight. I am giving you a warning, Take it solemnly, its Global Warming, Out of my selfless love that I’ve given to you, I’ve done everything that I could do, Protect what has been given for free, DIYA JANAK MER My waters, skies, wildlife, and trees. 11G For once they’re gone, don’t you say, Consider yourself warned of that fatal day. I, Diya Janak Mer of 11 G, on this special occasion of World Environment Day, pledge to always follow the motto: “Go Green, Earth Clean, Is my Dream”

BIODIVERSITY Biodiversity a word that was heard, a word that was read. A word for nature, But left untouched. From lands of nature, To lands of pure greed. Like a thief they wander, In search to plunder. Like glaciers broken down, Nature wanders around. Like boxes with no stuff, They sigh with no one by their side. The waters of calmness, now roar in anger. NEHA ANN REJI 7Q

THE EARTH Thy heart you opened and let us in into the realm of beauty and calm. We ruined it with greed and sin though we pledged to do you no harm. Thy soul you gifted and blessed us all with the luxury of air to breathe. Alas, we caused our own downfall our mistakes we continued to repeat. Thy love you showered upon each one as rain, as flowers, as fire. We cut, we built, we never stopped the run, the ice couldn't bear the desire. Thy slaves we are, we humble ourselves before thy might and strength. As long as in your care human dwells to correct our mistakes, we'll go to any length. Thy heart you opened and let us in into the realm of beauty and calm. We’ll revive those we lost by greed and sin we’re truly sorry for doing you harm. For thy unending gifts, we're very grateful, a day to celebrate you isn't enough. But it's the first step of an exhausting struggle, which we'll complete even if it gets tough. ELIZABETH STANLEY 11A

OUR ENVIRONMENT When you see litter on the street, When the air smells of pollution. When you see landfills pilling up, Remember there is a solution There is something we can all do To keep the forests green To help our mother earth And to keep our rivers clean. Clean up a beach Or recycle papers and cans Make a difference Make others understand It doesn’t have to be a lot If we all do our share So come out on Earth Day And show Mother Earth you care ZAHABIA ALI 9M

My Teachers told me to keep it clean, My Parents told me to take good care, Keep the Earth green and blue Save our earth green and blue Love this home and never go old Save our earth our only home NIKITHA SUMESH 7A Today and every day, I am grateful For the sunrise and sunset For the forests full of trees The animals, the birds The lakes, rivers, and seas I am grateful for all we have built Our bridges and streets I’m grateful for the love that binds us and the wind That sometimes knocks us off our feet. AFIA SHAHID 11B

LUBAINA ALI 11 C

HURAIRAH FAATIMAH MUZAMMIL 11E ZAINAB MOHAMMED 11J

KAVYA LATHA MANOJ GRADE 11

VINDHYA SARAVANAN 12 E

SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT - SHREYA RANGAN The Earth, the blue planet is the only planet in our solar system with life on it. But today the Earth has come to a stage where the existence of several species has been questioned. What has happened to the Earth, the peaceful paradise, the living heaven? The Earth is a planet inhabited by more than 1, 00,000 species, humans being just a meagre part of this large number, have caused massive destruction to the Earth. According to a survey conducted by Indian Meteorological Department, air pollution increases at a rate of 10% annually. The levels of air pollution have drastically increased, rivers and oceans have been massively polluted (e.g. The Ganges has been polluted to a depth of 20 km), land has degraded, Earth is getting hotter, rain has become poisonous and sun rays are deadly. The Earth has given us everything for our survival, but, what have we give in return? Climate change, global warming, ozone depletion, pollution, deforestation, etc.? An evidence of this is the current situation of worldwide lockdown due to the disease caused by the Coronavirus. The animals have taken to the streets in various parts of the world, the water of the Ganges has become fit for drinking, the levels of air pollution have reduced all over the world, climate change has come under control and ozone depletion has reduced. Even our simple actions such as car-pooling, recycling, reusing, etc. can make a huge difference. As responsible human beings, on this Environment day I urge you to take a stand to save the Environment. SHREYA KASTURI RANGAN 11A



LAMYA GANDHI 11 A

OUR GREEN TOTS GEMS Our Own English High School Dubai’s little eco-lovers have proudly showcased their love and concern for the environment through their wonderful creations. AADIL GRADE 2 VEDHA GRADE 2 RIDHI PRAVEEN GRADE 1 P SRIRANJINI KUMAR GRADE 1 D

RISHAAL GRADE 1 A PALMA DSILVA GRADE 1 Y

HANDMADE CRAFTS BY GRADE 3 STUDENTS POSTERS BY GRADE 3 STUDENTS