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ENVIRONMENT

and was awarded the 2019 World just six-year-old, she got an opportunity Kangujam was seen holding a poster
Children Peace Prize Laureate. to attend the 3rd Asia Ministerial Confer- demanding that India’s Prime Minister
According to Licypriya’s father, ence for Disaster Risks reduction 2018 Narendra Modi pass a law to deal with
K.K. Singh, who accompanied her to (AMCDRR 2018) in Ulaanbaatar, the capi- climate change.
Spain, several requests to the gov- tal city of Mongolia. At the high-level meeting, Kangujam,
ernment to help her with funding “It was my life-changing event. During speaking alongside several other politi-
fell on deaf ears. Singh noted that the conference, I met many world lead- cal leaders from around the globe, made
when the UN sent her the invitation ers and also thousands of delegates from an emotional appeal to the world lead-
letter to participate, and address various countries of the World. Many had ers to act before it is too late. “I’m com-
her concerns at COP25, they had highlighted various issues of disaster,” ing here to tell the world leaders that this
no idea how they will manage the Kangujam told PTI on the sidelines of the is the time for action. What I want is not
expenses to travel to Spain. Singh event. about today or tomorrow but what needs
said the family sent email requests “I cry when I see children losing their to be done now, she explained.
to several ministers, including the parents and people becoming home- She noted in her speech that when
Union Environment Minister less due to danger of disasters. My heart she was born, the world leaders had
Prakash Javadekar, for sponsorship feels sorrowful for people who can’t help already met 16 times in the COP, and they
but got no reply. themselves when disaster strikes. Many already knew about the bad effects of
root causes are the impact of climate climate change.
e said after trying to crowd- change,” she said. “Why should I come here? Why I
fund her trip, a person from should speak here? I have to go to my
H Bhubaneshwar booked tick- school. I have to read my books. I have to
ets for Kangujam, including him. Licypriya — the founder play. I have to study. But our leaders all
“My mom broke her gold chain and of The Child Movement have ruined my childhood life and my
finally booked my hotels,” Kangujam beautiful future. This is not fair!” she said.
said. — recently called upon Kangujam was born in Imphal but has
However, Singh added that just a Prime Minister Narendra almost always lived outside the state, es-
day before leaving for Madrid from pecially in Delhi and in Bhubaneswar.
India on November 30, they got an Modi to implement She noted that the young climate
email from the Spanish Government climate change laws in activists like her want a system change,
that their accommodation for the 13- not climate change. She said the govern-
day event will be sponsored by them. the country and pass ments must come in action on what they
Making it to Madrid after crossing them in the winter promised, referring to the 2015 Paris
so many hurdles made Kangujam Climate Agreement of limiting global
even more determined to ensure she session of parliament temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius by
is heard. “I have come here to tell the 2030. Kanjugam is inspired by the works
world leaders that this is the time to of Mahatma Gandhi and Former Presi-
act as it is a real climate emergency,” Just after her return from Mongolia, dent of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. “Greta
the young activist enthralled the au- Kanjugam with the help of her father Thunberg has also greatly influenced me
diences during a high-level event at started an organisation called ‘The Child since February 2019,” she added.
COP25 conference being held in the Movement’ to call on the world leaders Modi has also voiced his concerns
Spanish capital from December 2-13. to take immediate climate action to save about climate change. In September this
Kangujam had to drop out of the planet and the future of young chil- year, while addressing the United Na-
school in February as she could not dren like her. tions Climate Action summit 2019, PM
attend most of her classes. Activism, So far, Singh said, Kangujam has trav- Modi also said that India has come to the
including participating in a weekly elled 21 countries and spoken at more United Nations to present a practical ap-
protest outside the Parliament than 60 places as a part of her movement. proach and roadmap on the issue. “Need
house, took up most of her time. “I travel place to place to raise my con- and not greed is our guiding principle.
While her fight against climate cerns about climate change and disaster India is here today to not only talk about
change will continue, the girl has not risks reduction to the people of the world, the seriousness of this issue but to pre-
given up on the dream of pursuing the young climate activist explained. sent a practical approach and a roadmap.
her education altogether. The Spanish newspaper El Pais de- We believe that an ounce of practice is
According to Singh, Kangujam is scribed Kangujam one of the ‘Greta’ of worth more than a ton of teaching,” PM
the youngest climate activist in the the global south, after her walk with the Modi had said.
world. The 28-year-old father said Swedish teenage climate activist Greta
that in 2018 when Kangujam was Thunberg last week here. LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

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