I want to tell you a story of my home city of Mumbai. Every day I travel by the local train from college to work, to meetings…. The trains are the arteries of a city of 15 million strong. The trains are a full of colors, cultures and voices; women complaining about their daily chores, children laughing; vendors making a hand to mouth existence.
10 thousand people migrate to Mumbai city every single day. It is also the largest city in the world, my home for the last 23 years.
On 26th July, 2005, my city was struck by terrible flooding. I was trying to take the train, but ended up stranded for a long time. I had to walk in waist high water for five hours. People suffocated in their vehicles. Animal carcasses floated in the dirty water. Slums vanished overnight. People held on desperately to what little they could save.
I didn’t get back to my home for five days.
India has been subject to floods for decades .But lately, these floods are happening more and more. People have actually become used to their homes being washed away.
This is my story. There are millions of such stories from people from around the world. We are sharing this pain, this common problem. A global problem.
My brothers and sisters, I take this opportunity to bring to you a ray of hope, of love and peace. We as young people, 3 billion strong, are the global solution and demand real climate justice. We are true martyrs and heroes of our generation and future generations. We are here to support each other in our struggles, to share our stories of success, and to engage the leaders of the world to bring about real change.
How do you feel if thousands of farmers commit suicide in India due to extreme drought conditions? Does it affect you if Bangladesh and Maldives go under water, or an ancient small island civilizations cease to exist? Do you not care if 40% of the world’s population looses their water source, the Himalayan Glaciers? Will you only be affected when this climate crisis hits the lives of your near and dear ones?
Back in India I work with Indian Youth Climate Network and 350.org. Last year we came as the first Indian Youth Delegation to COP14. My journey began with the Climate Solutions Road tour. A bunch of young enthusiastic climate crusaders drove down 4500 kms from Chennai to Delhi in electric cars documenting climate solutions and collecting success stories.
My journey to 24th Oct, Global Day of Action, was a self-realization process. A vision which created a 350 wave demanding climate action from developed nations. In Kerela , the youth organized a cycle rally across the whole of South India. In Mumbai, we had 1000s of people come together to push for a fair and just treaty, while the fishermen rallied in the saline creek. In Kashmir, the locals had a boat race to clean up the Dal Lake. In Fazilaka, on the border of India and Pakiatan, school children attempted to fill up their dried water body. There were massive protests outside the coal power plants in Bokaro, Jharkand. In Rajasthan, the women brought out their traditional dresses and danced to ask the rain gods for their grace. They had been facing a drought for two years.
Brother and sisters, we created history. We as the global youth created a revolution. We are creating history. We are coming together in numbers from every race and creed. We have cut through our differences.
I have a request for you dear world leaders. Don’t let us down. We elect you because we believe in you, for liberty, fraternity and justice. We still believe in you. We are behind you , we are your support. When I was young I was taught that my bad actions will back fire on me. Treating Mother nature with respect will save us from runaway climate change.
I understand that it is not easy to strike a deal and come to a consensus. But have you tried hard enough? Have you the audacity to stand up to your government and push for a climate bill to protect my bleak future? Have you the gumption to lead your people along the higher road to protect their future? OUR future? Can you be the ‘NATION’s HERO’ for your country?
A ‘hero’ to hear millions of us asking for climate action.
This time in Copenhagen, we youth stand 2000 strong. And back home, there are millions more of us taking action at home to keep the pressure on – there will be vigils for the survival of all nations in over 100 countries this weekend, showing just how strong this movement is here, and everywhere.
Sir, we have traveled thousands of miles to be here. We have saved up for months, working around the year, trying one way or another to collect voices from our region. We have selflessly strived to give, and create mass movements in our capacity. We are the human touch, reaching out to vulnerable communities with energy and creativity. Our communities who cannot be here, look to us to tell their stories, to convey how serious this issue is, and how we are united and determined to bring about real change.
For too long now, these negotiations have been conducted from an adversarial point of view. Dear negotiators and friends, I am going to give you my trust.
I trust you to do the right thing by yourself and for all of us. I trust you to live up my hopes and dreams. I trust you to secure my future, for our survival.
I trust you to view these negotiations not as us versus them. But as we are in this together.
This trust is honest, but it is also fragile. Please don’t let me down.
Recent Youth Climate Tweets
Youth Enquiry with Yvo De Boer
I want to tell you a story of my home city of Mumbai. Every day I travel by the local train from college to work, to meetings…. The trains are the arteries of a city of 15 million strong. The trains are a full of colors, cultures and voices; women complaining about their daily chores, children laughing; vendors making a hand to mouth existence.
10 thousand people migrate to Mumbai city every single day. It is also the largest city in the world, my home for the last 23 years.
On 26th July, 2005, my city was struck by terrible flooding. I was trying to take the train, but ended up stranded for a long time. I had to walk in waist high water for five hours. People suffocated in their vehicles. Animal carcasses floated in the dirty water. Slums vanished overnight. People held on desperately to what little they could save.
I didn’t get back to my home for five days.
India has been subject to floods for decades .But lately, these floods are happening more and more. People have actually become used to their homes being washed away.
This is my story. There are millions of such stories from people from around the world. We are sharing this pain, this common problem. A global problem.
My brothers and sisters, I take this opportunity to bring to you a ray of hope, of love and peace. We as young people, 3 billion strong, are the global solution and demand real climate justice. We are true martyrs and heroes of our generation and future generations. We are here to support each other in our struggles, to share our stories of success, and to engage the leaders of the world to bring about real change.
How do you feel if thousands of farmers commit suicide in India due to extreme drought conditions? Does it affect you if Bangladesh and Maldives go under water, or an ancient small island civilizations cease to exist? Do you not care if 40% of the world’s population looses their water source, the Himalayan Glaciers? Will you only be affected when this climate crisis hits the lives of your near and dear ones?
Back in India I work with Indian Youth Climate Network and 350.org. Last year we came as the first Indian Youth Delegation to COP14. My journey began with the Climate Solutions Road tour. A bunch of young enthusiastic climate crusaders drove down 4500 kms from Chennai to Delhi in electric cars documenting climate solutions and collecting success stories.
My journey to 24th Oct, Global Day of Action, was a self-realization process. A vision which created a 350 wave demanding climate action from developed nations. In Kerela , the youth organized a cycle rally across the whole of South India. In Mumbai, we had 1000s of people come together to push for a fair and just treaty, while the fishermen rallied in the saline creek. In Kashmir, the locals had a boat race to clean up the Dal Lake. In Fazilaka, on the border of India and Pakiatan, school children attempted to fill up their dried water body. There were massive protests outside the coal power plants in Bokaro, Jharkand. In Rajasthan, the women brought out their traditional dresses and danced to ask the rain gods for their grace. They had been facing a drought for two years.
Brother and sisters, we created history. We as the global youth created a revolution. We are creating history. We are coming together in numbers from every race and creed. We have cut through our differences.
I have a request for you dear world leaders. Don’t let us down. We elect you because we believe in you, for liberty, fraternity and justice. We still believe in you. We are behind you , we are your support. When I was young I was taught that my bad actions will back fire on me. Treating Mother nature with respect will save us from runaway climate change.
I understand that it is not easy to strike a deal and come to a consensus. But have you tried hard enough? Have you the audacity to stand up to your government and push for a climate bill to protect my bleak future? Have you the gumption to lead your people along the higher road to protect their future? OUR future? Can you be the ‘NATION’s HERO’ for your country?
A ‘hero’ to hear millions of us asking for climate action.
This time in Copenhagen, we youth stand 2000 strong. And back home, there are millions more of us taking action at home to keep the pressure on – there will be vigils for the survival of all nations in over 100 countries this weekend, showing just how strong this movement is here, and everywhere.
Sir, we have traveled thousands of miles to be here. We have saved up for months, working around the year, trying one way or another to collect voices from our region. We have selflessly strived to give, and create mass movements in our capacity. We are the human touch, reaching out to vulnerable communities with energy and creativity. Our communities who cannot be here, look to us to tell their stories, to convey how serious this issue is, and how we are united and determined to bring about real change.
For too long now, these negotiations have been conducted from an adversarial point of view. Dear negotiators and friends, I am going to give you my trust.
I trust you to do the right thing by yourself and for all of us. I trust you to live up my hopes and dreams. I trust you to secure my future, for our survival.
I trust you to view these negotiations not as us versus them. But as we are in this together.
This trust is honest, but it is also fragile. Please don’t let me down.