Tamil Nadu CRI and AICUF Launch 780-km Green Journey to Champion Nature Conservation

Kanyakumari, Nov 7, 2025: A 780-kilometre Green Journey cycling expedition promoting environmental awareness began on November 5 from Kanyakumari towards Chennai under the theme “Let’s protect nature, let’s reclaim our right to life.” The initiative, organised jointly by the Tamil Nadu Conference of Religious India (CRI), the Tamil Nadu AICUF, and various environmental movements, aims to inspire collective action for the protection of nature.

The inaugural event was held in front of the Gandhi Mandapam at the confluence of the three seas in Kanyakumari. With the slogan “Let’s protect nature, reclaim the right to live,” the programme was inaugurated under the leadership of Mr. Kumari Stephen, Chairman of the Kanyakumari Municipality.

Fr. Britto Peter, President of the Kottar Diocesan Clergy Federation, welcomed the gathering, while Sr. Maria Philo, President of the Tamil Nadu Clergy Federation, delivered the introductory address. Students presented awareness-themed art performances under the title “Students’ Perspective on Nature,” and tribal parades by school students were also held.

Speaking on the topic “Let’s protect nature,” Mr. Kumari Stephen said, “Nature is not something outside us; it is the life within us. The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the clothes we wear all come from nature. But today, people have distanced themselves from nature and become trapped in a mechanical world. Planting trees, conserving water, and reducing pollution are small steps towards living in harmony with nature. Living with nature does not mean using it—it means sharing life with it.”

Addressing the gathering on the theme becoming a movement to protect nature,” Kanyakumari VF Fr. Johnson emphasised, “Nature is the source of our life. The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the grain we eat are all blessings of nature. But in the name of development, humans are cutting down trees, polluting rivers, tearing down hills, and destroying forests. As a result, disasters like climate change, global warming, floods, and droughts have emerged. Protecting nature is not just our duty—it is our responsibility. That is true patriotism. Nature did not come into being to protect us; we were born to protect her.”

Clergy members from the Kottar and Kuzhithurai dioceses participated in the event. The bicycle journey continued from Kanyakumari towards Chennai, with students and the public enthusiastically greeting the cyclists along the route as participants spread environmental awareness throughout their journey.

A reception ceremony was held at Vadachery, Nagercoil, where the Green Journey cyclists received a warm welcome. The Deputy Mayor of Nagercoil, Mrs. Mary Prince Latha, and Municipal Councillor Mrs. Piyasa Hajibaba delivered awareness speeches on the theme, “Let’s Protect Mother Nature.”

Fr. Simon, Secretary of the Kottar Diocesan Youth Commission, emphasised the importance of the sea, while Professor Joachim Felix, Head of the Tamil Department at St. Jerome’s College, Anandhanadarkudi, hosted the event.

The Green Journey team then reached Tirunelveli, where a tree-planting ceremony was held at Sacred Heart College. Members of TNCRI, college students, and Green Journey participants planted trees together, marking a successful conclusion to the first day of the journey. The Green Journey continues today towards Thoothukudi, carrying forward its message of protecting nature.

By Fr. Sarathi S.J