GLOBAL warming, while viewed as a pain in the neck can also pose as a challenge for mankind to take a collective action in “healing the world.”

        This was the core message delivered by Rev.Fr. Camilo De Villa of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Iriga City during the Environmental Awareness Activity held at UNEP’s Mini Theatre over the weekend.

        Fr. De Villa laid emphasis on man’s obligation as “stewards of God’s creation and therefore, man should also have an equally profound responsibility of taking good care of the Almighty’s handiworks.

        Reigning Miss Earth Philippines 2008 Ms. Ma. Venus B. Raj also cited the significant role of the youth in the preservation of the environment. “Being the recipients of earth’s inheritance, the youth should fully understand the grave consequences of not seriously fulfilling their duties as caretakers of the environment.”

        It was on this premise that several faculty members of UNEP, under the stewardship of Ms. Ana Nelia R. Pabeliña decided to form the ‘K-Group’. This is also in response to UNEP’s vision of raising environmental awareness among its educators and students, and to the Bicolano community as well.

        The K-Group which symbolically stands for KALIKASAN, was born out of the realization that man should be made responsible for the ill effects of his actions. Our environment had taken the toll of man’s capriciousness and there’s no better time to come together to save Mother Nature from totally losing its splendor, but now, it was pointed out .

        UNEP’s concerned educators convened and decided to take a bold step in spearheading the creation of K-Group to advance its advocacy in the promotion and preservation of the environment that is geared towards sustainable development.

        This commitment is also in line with the group’s philosophy of uplifting man’s life in its highest essence by ensuring that the next generation will still have a chance to use and co-exist with God-given resources. This initiative is expected to raise a clear understanding that every stakeholder is equally accountable for his use or misuse of God’s creation.