TIS stages Protest for Climate Change

Climate change is a serious problem which can question the existence of the human race. People need to start taking corrective measures in order to prevent the world from fading to nothing. Students and teachers were inspired by Greta Thunberg, a sixteen-year-old Swedish climate activist, to protest at the gates of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in Delhi on Friday, 12 April 2019. Greta Thunberg had started a campaign #FridaysForFuture last year where she protested every Friday instead of going to school.

Around 6 schools participated in the protest. The objective was to appeal to the Minister to take some serious action for climate change. Some students of The Indian School accompanied by their teachers were also an active part of this protest.

Climate change is a major crisis now and if we dont realise the seriousness of the situation and act on it right away, soon we will be unable to do anything about it.

On 12 April 2019, students of The Indian school participated in an active plea to the ministry of environment and other leaders of society to rescue the community from potential threats of a depleted environment.

It was a morning of revolt, unison and solidarity. All you could see outside the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change were young children demanding the protection of the environment. Students of different age groups and varied backgrounds streamed out from their schools. They could be heard shouting slogans and carrying posters with just one demand STOP CLIMATE CHANGE! The students said that after seeing their elders fail to deal with rising pollution levels and subsequent climate change, they had decided to take matters in their own hands.

The Indianites too took to the streets. They were ready and armed to convey their message through self-created slogans like, What do we want? CLIMATE CHANGE. When do we want it? NOW!, banners, posters and a manifesto for the minister. All this was aimed at only one thing - demand for climate justice.

The students then shared their views about the crisis and the measures that must be taken. Shrey Gogia, Anoushka Saxena, Trisha Menon and Sejal Gupta were among the speakers. Shrey Gogia and Anoushka Saxena then went inside the Ministry office and met Joint Secretary- Air Pollution, Mr. Ritesh Singh. They spoke on some of the ways which can help us achieve our goal of a safer and healthier environment. Steps like a complete ban on single use plastic, climate justice, shift to green energies and technologies, mandatory waste segregation, efficient mass transport system were some of the measures suggested.

Upon listening to the demands of the students, the Joint Secretary finally stepped out and spoke to the assembled children, assuring them that their demands would be looked into with seriousness and steps would be taken to address their concern about climate change. He also told the students that he felt proud to be in a nation where the youth had decided to address such an issue.

Feeling assured, the students decided to return to their respective schools. However, they said that returning didnt mean ending the strike. They would continue to follow the situation and would not stop until they were convinced that the environment was safe enough.

It was a lively protest and the students were proud of themselves for being a part of such an initiative. Even though a permanent solution was not implemented, it was just a beginning to make our society eco-friendlier and safer for future generations .