Licypriya Kangujam kicks off worldwide protest demands on climate action

New Delhi, October 21st 2019

Licypriya Kangujam kicks off worldwide protest demands on climate action

Eight-year-old Indian climate activist Licypriya Kangujam kicks off the historic “Great October March 2019” today at India Gate, New Delhi with her thousands of supporters. Great October March is taking place in more than 70 countries from 21 – 27 October in over 1000 locations for urgent action on Climate Change and also to enact the climate law.

She said, “Till today, only 5 countries viz., New Zealand, Australia, UK, Mexico & Peru have their legislation on climate change but 98% are not yet including India. We are marching to call on world leaders to enact the climate law as soon as possible so that it can regulate the emissions of greenhouse gases to save our planet and our future. They must unite and act now before it’s too late.”

Alarmed by the Delhi air pollution and images of the felting of thousands of trees at Aarey forests, students and workers abandoned schools, shops and offices in nearly every corner of the Delhi, aiming to stop what they see as a looming environmental catastrophe.

The protests started in the New Delhi, where rising air pollution threaten a way of life, and followed the sun across Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Southeast and on to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas.

Massive crowds overwhelmed the streets of Raj Path, chanting “Save our planet!” while anticipating an address by Licypriya, an international child sensation who is traveling around the world for her environmental movement ahead of United Nations COP25 at Chile.

“Right now, we are the ones who are making a difference. If no one else will take action, then we will,” Licypriya told hundreds of people gathered at a park in front of the India Gate.

Once she took the stage, the crowd chanted her name, then went silent to hang on her every word. As she paused between sentences, people erupted into applause.

“Age doesn’t matter to make a difference. Today, Government tries to stop our protest. Instead of stopping us, they must stop climate change,” she concluded.

Licypriya Kangujam kicks off worldwide protest demands on climate action

Demonstrators in Jorhat, Assam raised a painting of Licypriya reading, “We support Licypriya.” Her home town Imphal also protest by group of young people today followed by mass tree plantations at Naharup Eco Garden Road.

“She’s like the inspiration for millions of children of their generations,” Delhi protester Sahil Kaushar, 24, said, highlighting the leadership role of young people in the international movement to reduce consumption of fossil fuels.

“Air pollution is not a joke. It will choke you,” read a poster held by a teenager. “Make love, not CO2” signs were spotted in the protests.

Global warming caused by heat-trapping greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels has already led to droughts and heat waves, melting glaciers, rising sea levels and floods, according to scientists.

“There is no Planet B,” read a sign hoisted by a young woman in India Gate.

Licypriya also will participate in the demonstration of the biggest rural climate strike in Odisha on 25th October with over 300,000 indigenous tribal people of Gajapati district.

See more photos of this event here

(Jayanta Patra)
President, IYC, International Youth Committee
World Youth Complex, New Delhi, India – 110 029
[email protected] | www.iyc-hq.org