Hyderabad: April 26, 2016. (By Abbas Kassar) The International Earth Day was celebrated here in with many awareness rallies and programs arranged. Sindh Environmental Agency, Regional Office, Hyderabad organized a main seminar on Earth Day Mr. Naeem Ahmed Mughal Director General of SEPA, Mr. Muneer Ahmed Abbasi Regional Incharge EPA, Hyderabad, Prof. Sarfarz Hussain Solangi of Center for Pure and Applied Geology, University of Sindh, Nisar Panhwar expert of environment and others participated. On that occasion the speakers said that every year Earth Day is celebrated all over the world, its main objective is to highlight environmental issues related to earth and to raise public awareness on these issues. The theme of this year’s earth day is “Trees for the Earth” this theme is looking forward to its 50th Anniversary, it sets the goal of planting 7.8 billion trees over the fix year around the globe. They said that the UN mission of 2016 is to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide and mobilize it as most effective vehicle to build a healthy, substantial environment, address climate change, resolve the environmental issues and protect the earth for future generation. They said that the assumptions regarding linkages between poverty and environmental degradation must be challenged. Though poverty may force people to take desperate measures to eke out a living, the statement that ‘poverty is the greatest pollutant’ needs to be refuted. Many examples, experiences and initiatives of poor communities can be cited, which were built on traditional knowledge, land stewardship and technology in order to identify solutions for environmental sustainability. They said that the poor are often the most vulnerable to environmental degradation, and inequalities continue to deepen as a result. For example, the contribution of the poor to greenhouse gas emissions is relatively minimal, yet they stand to suffer the most from the consequences of climate change. Apart from increasing population numbers, the rapid movement of people due to unplanned urbanisation is a major factor that is entrenching conditions of poverty, environmental degradation and unhealthy lifestyles. Meanwhile an awareness rally was arranged by Department of Geography, University of Sindh led by Prof: Shojomal, the rally started from SU Old Campus and marching from different routes end at Hyderabad press club.