Celebration of World Ozone Day at Gujarat Science City
If you have a old refrigerator, air-conditioner and also addict to lots of cosmetics and body sprays, then dispose all these old items and practices as these are releasing ozone depleting substances that make a hole in the protecting layer of Ultraviolet (UV) rays in the upper sky to prevent skin cancer, eye cataracts and a reduction in the ability to fight off diseases within you. A single chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) molecule releasing from the old refrigerator, air-conditioner and body spay can destroy 1,00,000 ozone molecule in the sky and bring the deadly uv rays for severe disaster on ground.
Furthermore, UV radiation can be damaging to microscopic life in the surface oceans which forms the basis of the world’s food chain, certain varieties of vegetation including rice and soya crops, and polymers used in paints, clothing and other materials.
The Gujarat Science City (GSC) is organizing various activities on Ozone Awareness Programme to mark the celebration of “World Ozone Day” on 16th September 2010 (Thursday).The theme of celebration is "Ozone Layer Protection: Governance and Compliances at their best"!
September 16th has been designated World Ozone Day by the United Nations, with the goal of continuing the awareness and monitoring of the condition of the ozone layer surrounding the Earth. The theme for this year celebration is ‘Protect the Ozone Layer: Save Life on Earth’. This was the date in 1987, on which the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed and the on 19 December 1994, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 16 September to be celebrated as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.
On this occasion, Science City organizes one day workshop on ozone awareness for school children and community members, an illustrative exhibition, slide and film show and popular science talk on the ozone theme, which aims to sensitize the students and the general visitors about the science of ozone layer and its importance to save life on earth. Students from Class VI to X are invited to participate in the Sit and Draw and Ozone Quiz competition being organized for this occasion.
About 150 school and college teachers, DNA club coordinators, Community Science Centre members from across the state have been invited to participate in the workshop and to take an orientation on ozone awareness and outreach activities and programmes for the school and community. The Additional Chief Secretary of Government of Gujarat Shri Ravi Saxena will inaugurate the workshop in the presence of experts and resource persons from state pollution control board and other scientific and research organizations. In addition there would be 3000 students and visitors to visit Science City on this day to take a note on ozone depleting substances and ozone lesson through our activities.
The entire celebration has been designed and developed to provide the school and college teachers with a comprehensive and “ready-to-use” educational tool. It is aimed at helping them bring into their classroom the major environmental and human issues related to ozone layer depletion in a way that arouses children’s curiosity and interest. The content of this programme work together to offer the opportunity of a whole teaching and learning project, based on basic knowledge, practical skills and participation, for young children and community members – says Dilip Gadhavi, Executive Director, GSC
Ozone is very rare in our atmosphere, averaging about 3 molecules of ozone for every 10 million air molecules. In spite of this small amount, ozone plays vital roles in the atmosphere. If we collect all the ozone in the atmosphere, the ozone layer will be as thick as a one-rupee coin.
Ozone layer plays a key role in the temperature structure of the Earth's atmosphere. Without the filtering action of the ozone layer, more of the Sun's UV-B radiation would penetrate the atmosphere and would reach the Earth's surface. The discovery of the ozone 'hole' in 1985 shocked the world. It is regarded as one of this century's major environmental disasters.
Many experimental studies of plants and animals and clinical studies of humans have shown the harmful effects of excessive exposure to UV-B radiation. It is estimated that for every 2.5% depletion in ozone layer results around five-lakh skin cancer patient on earth.
Our country signed to the Montreal Protocol on 17.09.1992. India's per capita consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances is at present less than 3 grams as against 300 gms permitted under the Protocol. Our country is taking strict measures to phase out the ozone depleting substances within the schedule time frame.
The World Ozone Day celebration reiterates our commitment and offers an opportunity to focus attention on the protection of Ozone Layer. Each of us can help to prevent further damage to this precious shield given to us by nature.
GSC invites one and all to be a part of this celebration and to adopt a practice of using ozone friendly substances to protect our environment.
Regards.
Narottam Sahoo
