Minister Avcı attends promotion meeting of “I am Protecting My Future Project”  
Minister Avcı attends promotion meeting of “I am Protecting My Future Project”

Minister Avcı attends promotion meeting of “I am Protecting My Future Project”

Minister of National Education Nabi Avcı attended the promotion meeting of “I am Protecting My Future Project” participated by First Lady Emine Erdoğan

Minister Avcı attends promotion meeting of “I am Protecting My Future Project”

First Lady Emine Erdoğan stated that it is very hard to regain the lost soil adding that, “hundreds of years is required to form a centimeter thick soil. Due to this reason, we have to protect this valuable asset.”

The promotion meeting of the social responsibility project entitled “I am protecting my future” which is initiated in cooperation between the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Husbandry and Ministry of National Education under the auspicious of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s spouse Emine Erdoğan was held in the MEB Meeting Hall.

Speaking during the promotion meeting of “I am protecting my future” project, First Lady Emine Erdoğan thanked ministers who have initiated this social responsibility project. Noting that soil and water mean life and nothing can survive in the absence of soil and water, Emine Erdoğan said that men can live days without food but he cannot survive without water.

Pointing out the importance of children’s awareness about soil and water, Erdoğan stated that the most important issue in the future will be the management of natural resources. Erdoğan pointed out to the increasing World population adding that current World population which is 7 billion is expected to reach 9 billion in 2050.

Stressing that the economy grows in line with the population causing more damage to the environment, Erdoğan said, “We are living in a world which is becoming arid and losing its clean water resources. Our children are growing up in a totally different environment. In the past, children were eating most natural, organic food planted in natural gardens under the sunlight. But now, chemicals start to circulate in their veins from the day they are born.”

Erdoğan stated that approximately 70% of children are living in cities and they do not have the chance to experience natural life, climb a tree or collect leaves.

“We have to use water source carefully and we should not pollute them“

Noting that there are many invisible living things in a handful of soil, Erdoğan said that soil is an essential material not only for human kind but also for animals and plants. Erdoğan stated that soil is the habitat of plants and animals adding, “Once we lose it, it is hard to regain it. Hundreds of years are required to form a centimeter thick soil to develop. Due to this reason, we have to protect this valuable asset.”

Pointing out that 97% of water resources of the World is salty water from oceans and seas and only 3% of them is consumable fresh water, Erdoğan called on teachers and students to use water resources carefully and not to pollute them. “The future of human kind is in your hands. New generations will be raised according to the horizons you open. Children protecting natural resources will be raised by you. Let’s prepare our children to be sensitive about the environment which will be biggest issue of the future”, Erdoğan stressed.

Erdoğan recommended families to raise the awareness of their children about nature and the environment and said that natural environment sensitivity is an abstract concept which could only be dispalyed with emotions and behaviors and called on teachers and parents to become role models for the children.

Erdoğan asked Minister Avcı to start ecology classes at schools and spare a part of the school garden for planting and growing plants.

“Let our schools be the teachers of the city. Let them put some green in between the gray tones of constructions. Let’s have all green schools. I hope that “I am Protecting my Future” Project could pave the way for this,” Emine Erdoğan said.

Erdoğan noted that the United Nations has declared 2015 as the International Year of Soil with the objective of protecting fertile soils as not only Turkey but the whole World is facing such a global threat. Stating that protection of soil is closely related to future generations, Erdoğan said it requires changing old consumption habits and establishment of comprehensive awareness.

“This awareness will be established at homes and at school. This awareness will gradually spread to the masses. Planting a seed will teach our children about the richness of nature. Loving begins with learning. A child who learns more about nature will begin to love it and protect it. Let our children be friends of the natural environment,” Erdoğan stated.

“International Year of Soil is the most meaningful name when compared to other names”

During his speech, Minister of National Education Nabi Avcı said he hoped that “I am Protecting my Future” protocol signed between two ministries will produce a blessing  outcome for the country and all human kind as well as reminding people what they had forgotten about nature.  Noting that UN FAO has announced 2015 as the “International Year of Soil”, Minister Avcı said, “Year of soil is really a beautiful, meaningful and poetic name. It emphasizes the roots of human kind and embraces many values that modern men neglect.”

Minister Avcı said that soil is the center of all living things and recited Aşık Veysel’s famous poem entitled, “My loyal love is the black soil.”

“If we could have understood the deep meaning of this poem, we would not have experienced many of recent environmental problems. Human kind started losing when man lost his connection with the nature, he choose to fight against nature instead of living in harmony with it. He endangered his own peace and health in the name of fulfilling his ambitions,” said Minister Avcı.  

“Human kind should turn to soil and to his heart“

Noting that there are endless numbers of organisms in the soil, Minister Avcı stressed that this symbol of infinity playing host to various different kinds of living things varying from microscopic bacteria to birds is the irreplaceable cycle of life. Minister Avcı said that according to experts, 4 thousand different types of living things are living in a glass of soil and the source of life is this “black soil”. Minister Avcı went on to say: “We have just begun to understand how old communities like Aborigines in Australia or Indians treated soil and the world. We must turn to our roots, relearn how to live in peace and harmony with the nature and explore the symbol language of this tradition. We have to do this as we have seen that we could not learn to live in peace and harmony with other people before we learn to live in harmony with the nature. We have to restore the damaged balance, praise the philosophy of nature, be aware of law of Allah in order to save the future and these will also allow us to return to our roots, if Allah permits. Human kind should return to soil, to his heart and recall what he has lost.”

Minister Avcı said:  “I am Protecting My Future” is a giant goodwill project that contributes and serves this objective adding that his ministry will organize education  activities for preschool, first, second, third and fourth grade students going to school located within the borders of 30 metropolitan cities, their teachers and parents as a part of this project. Main goal of these activities that will last for two years is to encourage already existing interest towards soil, nature and raising awareness about these issues.

Minister Avcı noted that the project will be implemented under the auspicious of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and First Lady Emine Erdoğan.

Emine Erdoğan planted a seed

A “Green Book” including tree and plant samples and instructions about how to grow these plants as well as various different kinds of vegetable and fruit seeds were distributed to students and members of the protocol. Following the speeches, Emine Erdoğan and students planted seeds in pots at the garden of MEB Meeting Hall. Emine Erdoğan said that she had planted a “hot pepper” seed as she loves eating them.

Erdoğan stated that children should adopt awareness about environment adding that, “Teachers, students and parents should join forces to make Turkey a greener and more fertile country. We say it is better to lose the saddle than the horse. I want to thank our ministers for their support. They have done an important job. I also want to thank the UN Representative for pioneering such an activity in our country.”

Minister of Food, Agriculture and Husbandry Kutbettin Arzu, UN FAO Turkey Representative Yuriko Shoji, students, teachers and other guests were also present at the meeting.

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