President talks about caring for the planet

MUMBAI: ‘‘A tree a day will keep global warming away,’’ Barack Obama told the students of Holy Name High School, Colaba after viewing two of their projects on environmental issues. The projects were the first piece of business for the Obamas in Mumbai on Sunday.

‘Care for Creation,’ an exhibition organised by the school in August, had encouraged students to exhibit their thoughts on saving the environment. The two projects chosen were from ‘Care for Creation’.

While Class VII students put up a miniature replica of a model village with rainwater harvesting, solar panels, hybrid food-grains, etc, Class IX students presented a project on global warming and its ill-effects on the planet. ‘‘Three students were selected from each group to give a small presentation of their project to our guests. The students were not at all nervous,’’ said principal Fr Michael Pinto.

‘‘Obama was listening to us very attentively and also asked some questions in the end. He gave us some of his own ideas and congratulated us on our work,’’ said Juzer Furniturewala, 15, who dressed for the occasion in a neat suit and tie.