The much-hyped Copenhagen meet witnessed the developed and the developing countries at odds with each other on the issue of climate change.
While the developed countries wanted the developing countries to put caps on Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GGE), the emerging economies wanted the advanced countries to accept deeper cuts in GGE and also provide technology transfer besides financial help for adaptation and mitigation programmes.
Taking a cue from the global meet, Arepalli Appa Rao, a drawing teacher and a scout master in the Zilla Parishad High School, Penamaluru, took upon himself the task of educating his pupils about the dire need to protect the environment.
Making use of his drawing skills, Mr. Appa Rao brought the issue of global warming to the centre stage in his works. Explaining the banes of melting glaciers, natural calamities like tsunami and earthquakes, he began to give expressions to the fears in his mind on white sheet of paper.
Scout master too
“I have been working as a drawing teacher and scout master in this school for the last seven years. Spreading awareness on key issues form essential part of a scout master’s role,” says Mr. Rao, who was adjudged the best drawing teacher in the State last year.
Speaking about the delightful experience of escorting the school students to jamborees to places like Delhi, Haridwar, Uttaranchal and Bhopal for national integration meets, he says these events serve as an effective tool to promote comradeship among students from various backgrounds.
The artistic image of goddess Saraswathi engraved on the school arch, a gigantic India map carved out in cement with slogans of ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ and ‘Mera Bharat Mahaan’ written on it are some of his achievements.
“While drawing an image, a child must try innovative ideas rather than copying images from other sources. Children must open their mind’s eye and throw a glance around to bring into play the captivating elements of nature in their work,” he opines.
Mr. Rao also supervises ‘Sanchayika’, a national saving scheme that is implemented through a school bank opened for children. “Currently, it has deposits worth Rs. 50, 000,” he says.