Riyadh Indian Friendship Association (RIFA), a Riyadh-based voluntary organization, will host a painting exhibition focusing on protection of natural environment.

“Due to the pressures of population, technology and pollution, the biophysical environment is being degraded. There is need on the part of individuals, organizations and government bodies to protect the natural environment for the benefit of both humans as well as environment,” the organizers said, adding that they are hosting the painting exhibition to boost environmental awareness among communities.

The painting exhibition will be based on the theme “Our nature, for us and for future generations,” and the participants can use any medium (water color, oil paint, poster, crayon, pencil, charcoal or acrylic), they said.

Children studying in various International Indian schools in and around Riyadh and community members are open to participate in the event, which will be conducted on March 28 at Nur-Al-Mas auditorium in the presence of Harish Vasudevan, a famous environmental activist from India, who has been invited by RIFA.

A practicing advocate in Kerala High Court and the Green Tribunal in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu for the past five years, Vasudevan has been actively involved in several social and environmental issues.

In a public talk, he will speak on his experiences on issues like conservation of nature in the Western Ghats, river pollution, quarry mafias, deforestation and conservation of rice fields.