A toon character called Ozzy Ozone, named after ozone layer, is coming soon to meet kids in India through an animated video made by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
It would be released in Marathi, Hindi, Bengali, Urdu and English, as part of the education pack for primary teachers on the occasion of Teachers’ Day in the City.
The object of the nine-minute video is to show the causes and harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation on the ozone layer. The booklet in the education pack gives information about the ozone layer to the teachers who are expected to pass on this information to the students.
The UNEP had produced a booklet for the teachers in French and the Ozzy Ozone video two years ago. It was translated into English last year. “Hemant Apte has translated the pack in Marathi while the translation in Hindi, Bengali, and Urdu was looked after by Dr. Vidula Gupte Gore, Gayatri Roymukherji, and professor Khot respectively said Vinita Apte, project co-ordinator of the education pack. The Hindi version of the pack would be released in Delhi.
“In this video, Ozzy Ozone and Alberta the Albatross take a voyage of discovery to find out exactly who and what is attacking the ozone layer and how children can play an important role in making a difference,” says UNEP on its website.
“We are planning to get the book included in the curriculum of primary schools so that kids would be informed,” said Apte.
The pack would be released by Mayor Rajlaxmi Bhosale, Union Ministry of Environment and Forests secretary Dr. Nilratna would be present at the function along with UNEP (Ozone Action), Bangkok regional co-ordinator Atul Bagai.
Ozone Day on Sept 16
The Ozone Day would be celebrated on September 16, that marks the 20th anniversary of the international treaty called the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer. It was intended to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of a number of substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion.