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A student holds up a placard with an environmental message during the ‘global climate strike for climate justice’ on September 20 at a school in Dimapur.[/caption]
Dimapur, Sep. 22 (EMN): People living in urban areas like Dimapur are suffering from dust pollution, stench from overflowing sewage and garbage and in an environment that is no stranger to diseases.
The city is becoming a subject for man-made environmental disasters, a speaker at an environmental event in Dimapur, ‘global climate strike for climate justice,’ told students.
As part of the weeklong ‘global climate strike for climate justice,’ students of a school took out a signature drive on September 20 at the Holini Memorial Higher Secondary School in Dimapur.
According to a press release that was issued to the media on Sunday, more than two hundred participants joined the event, which was supported by the Student Christian Movement of India (SCMI).
“Young people today deserve and want to live in a planet with good climate, clean air and fresh water,” said a ‘senior friend’ of the SCMI Renemsongla Ozukum in her address to students and youths at the school’s premises. She said that a 16 year-old Swedish girl, Greta Thunberg inspired the campaign, and that the ‘Strike for Climate Justice’ by young people is becoming an ‘unstoppable global movement now with a clear and urgent message to policy makers to act toward climate emergency.’
Explaining why people in Nagaland, or for that matter in the locales of Dimapur, need a ‘climate strike,’ Ozukum said “Dimapur is becoming one of the most ecologically challenging cities in India” where “summer is getting longer while heat waves and humidity can rise from 32 degrees to 40 degree Celsius.”
She said it is unfortunate that “Dimapur does not have enough eco-friendly parks and open-air recreational spots where citizens can socialize, breathe fresh air, and enjoy the nature and birds of the air.” The city is becoming a ‘deadly spot of human made environmental disasters,’ the press release stated.
People living in a ‘concrete jungles’ like Dimapur are suffering from dust pollution; poisonous stink from overflowing sewage and garbage dengue fever; and the consequent diseases that follow. Further, unnatural floods caused by poorly maintained drainages “cost us economically and paralyses human movement,” she said.
“Unfortunately, those who are least responsible for such disasters suffer the gravest consequences. In addition, Indigenous knowledge and skills for combating climate change such as preservation of nature, plants and seeds are eroding faster than we can imagine,” said Ozukum.
Founding editor of The Morung Express, Along Longkumer, representing the newly formed The Naga Rising, also addressed the event. In his address, the veteran journalist urged for ‘creating a safe and sustainable world for our children.’
Stating that Climate Change and Global Warming is not a fiction anymore but a reality now, he called for collective efforts from citizens and the government alike.
The Naga community can learn from the experiences of the west, which he said had to suffer the consequences of large-scale industrialization and mass consumption leading to the present crisis.
“As a community evolving towards modernity, we have the advantage to witness and learn from the west. There is global interest and visits from outside to come and see the Naga homeland because we still have our forests, rivers and other natural resources,” Longkumer said.
‘However we should not fall into complacency or we will also lose our heritage.’ He urged the government authorities to prepare appropriate policies in order to protect the environment and ensure sustainable development.
After a series of ‘sharing’ from the participants, a moment to take a ‘signature pledge’ was hald too, the organisers stated.
According to the press release, more than two hundred participants who were mostly youth activists from the Dimapur Childline 1098, church youth leaders, and members of the SCMI agreed that the Earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it, the world and those who live in it (Psalm 24) and that ‘we humans are simply steward and earthlings.’
Kughaka Aye, a member of the SCMI asserted, “if we human beings are responsible for destroying the earth, the wisdom and movement to heal the groaning earth should also emerge from humans.”
“Learning how to use locally available resources such as biodegradable items are some small steps for tackling climate crises,” opined Vinoto Shohe, a Lhomithi church youth leader.
Giving an impelling summary of Greta Thunberg’s story, Temsuren, Youth Evangelist from Dimapur Ao Baptist Church shared that “Thunberg inspires and challenges all of us irrespective of age, profession, and orientation to be sensitive toward climate justice.”
“Today, my generation is unable to let you enjoy a better Dimapur” lamented Ren, “instead of allowing young people to grow in a free and clean environment, we are reinforcing a culture of fear”.
‘Young people cannot even visit their friends and neighbours as most of our houses are secured by high concrete walls (with nails and bottle scraps). While the walls obstruct free flow of air, the cemented compounds that most house have in the city do not allow water to be absorbed and recycled. We consume food in doubt because even local foods are becoming poisonous,’ the press release added, quoting Ozukum, one of the speakers.
