Page 197 - Reliance Foundation School Koparkhairane - School Magazine - Zenith 2021-22

YOUTH ACTIVISM IN THE WAKE OF CLIMATE CHANGE A SOLO WARRIOR

Greta Thunberg has rightly quoted - "We cannot solve a crisis without treating She laughed when a voice said-
it as a crisis. And if solutions within the system are so impossible to find, then “My 8-year-old sister still believes

maybe we should change the system itself." As the impact of climate change There’s a monster under her bed.”
is intensifying, today's youth is far from being passive and is using its voice to She laughed at her friend’s innocence

speak up and demand stronger actions from the government to fight this horror. And her friend laughed at her sister’s
Last year, the Indian government proposed changes in the Environment

Impact Assessment, which would have led to weakening the already feeble How could she tell her?
environmental laws. That monsters do exist
Maybe not under the bed,

It was the Instagram sharing, the incessant emails to the Ministry, the petition But they did dwell in her own head.
signing, that pushed the Supreme Court to take a step. This is the impact of the

remarkable rise of youth activism, it is one conscious young voice getting amplified Her thoughts;
with another and demanding public and political action, that soon becomes the No less than battles.

sound of revolution. Be it through social media or rallies on the road, the youth Battles in the abyss,
aim to instil in the citizens the urgency of change, accountability, and equality. Battles so grave and deep,
Daffodil mornings were stained bleak.
Young activists like Jamie Margolin, Greta Thunberg, Venessa Nakate, and Disha

Ravi are just some names amongst many who cannot look away while surrounded The battle didn’t seem to be won

by the California fires, the Uttarakhand Glacier burst, and the Texan snow. They So, the battle didn’t end
cannot wait for the world to deem them qualified enough to have a seat at the Because of that hope and sunshine.
adult table and give them a chance to speak because what they have to say is How could I tell her?

crucial and urgent. How proud I am of her smile,
For not losing herself on the darker nights,
Nayana Thanvi - 10 A And for putting up a strong fight.

Nishka Moghe - 11 C

Shalin Nair - 10 A Asma Siddiqui - 9 B Abhav Mehta - 11 B Avanee Shetye - 12 B

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