Licypriya meets Pope Francis, calls for peace
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 06 2023:
11 years old climate & environmental activist Licypriya Kangujam has urged Pope Francis, the head of Vatican to help in bringing back peace in her State, Manipur on Monday.
She briefed the Pope on the ongoing Manipur violence and submitted a memorandum to urge the rich Nations to pay for the loss and damages caused by the climate crisis to the global South.
On her 5-day official visit to Rome, Italy, she also addressed the Green and Blue Festival organized by GEDI Group - the biggest media group in Italy on 5th June as a part of celebrating World Environment Day 2023 at the World's famous The Colosseum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Licypriya was selected amongst the five young people from all around the world to meet the Pope in his residence in the Vatican.
The Pope assured her of every possible effort to bring peace in the Indian State of Manipur.
The Pope encouraged them in their commitment to protect the environment.
He also drew attention to the ever-more violent natural disasters devastating the globe, as he urged the international community, and.all people of good will, to do their part in safeguarding 'our Common Home' .
Pope Francis said, "We have a responsibility before God to protect the earth, under constant attack from devastating effects of climate change, which requires a concrete response by all" .
He said, "Experts clearly point out how the choices and actions put in place this decade will have an impact for thousands of years.
Our knowledge about the impact of our actions on Earth and those who inhabit it, and will inhabit it, has expanded" .
In a letter to the Pope, she urged to make "Climate Education" mandatory in the school education curriculum in every Catholic and Christian missionaries' school all across the world to fight climate change from the grassroots.
She stated that there will be no climate solution without climate education.
"Rich countries must pay for the loss and damages done to the poor developing Nations.
Today's climate crisis is caused by the rich Nations and we're just the victims of it", she appealed to the Pope.
She further sought the Pope's intervention to stop violence between the Kuki community and the indigenous Meitei people living in Manipur.
"Both the communities suffer a lot.
Over 80,000 people from both the communities lost their homes and hundreds of people died in the last 1 month.
Children desperately hope for peace.
We should live in peace and harmony together", she said.
Licypriya presented the Pope with the Manipuri traditional "Lengyan Phi" .
Later, Licypriya addressed the Green & Blue Festival in Rome and said "Instead of spending billions of dollars in wars, if we spend it on
ending poverty, giving education and fighting climate change, what a great place our earth would be! Just we need to change our behaviours to save our Planet" .
She told the Italian media that, "My visit to Rome will strengthen my climate movement.
It gives me new strength and hope for our planet.
I'm not just representing here, my voice is for all the children of the world, indigenous people and the voice of the poor countries affected by the global climate crisis.
I want our leaders to fulfil their promises" .
"I will build a free residential school for the victim children of both Kukis and Meities at Khongjom, Thoubal in the ongoing Manipur violence with the help of the global support.
Our aim is to provide free boarding, free food, free dress and free books from Grade 1 to 12.This institution will be a symbol of peace to the whole world.
It will soon be realized", she added.
She will be travelling to Paris, France from 19th -24th June to attend a meeting convened by French President Emmanuel Macron and will travel to Kigali, Rwanda next month to meet several African leaders, Nobel Laureates and top United Nations officials to help in restoring peace in Manipur.
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