Nagaland joins global strike for Climate Justice

Joining the rest of the world as part of the weeklong Global Climate Strike for Climate Justice, a signature pledge was carried out at a Climate Strike program that was held on September 20 (Friday), 2019 at Holini Memorial Higher Secondary School Campus, Dimapur. More than two hundred participants joined the event, which was supported by the Student Christian Movement of India (SCMI) under the leadership of Tolly Yeptho, coordinator of SCM North East Zone-II.

“Young People today deserve and want to live in a planet with good climate, clean air and fresh water” notes Renemsongla Ozukum, a senior friend of Student Christian Movement of India (SCMI), while addressing the students and youths gathered at Holini Memorial Higher Secondary School Campus, Dimapur. Renemsongla mentioned how this campaign was inspired by a 16 year old Swedish girl Greta Thunberg, since 2018 and that ‘Strike for Climate Justice by young people is becoming an unstoppable global movement now with a clear and urgent message to policy makers to act toward climate emergency’.

Giving her rationale as to why we need a climate strike here in our local area such as Dimapur, Renemsongla, pointed out that “Dimapur is becoming one of the most ecologically challenging cities in India” where “summer is getting longer while heat waves and humidity can rise from 32 degrees to 40 degree Celsius”.

Further according to Renemsongla, who is a theologically trained activist with concern for climate justice, it is unfortunate that “Dimapur does not have enough eco-friendly parks and open-air recreational spots where citizens can socialize, breathe fresh air, and enjoy the nature and birds of the air”. She says that the “city is becoming a deadly spot of human made environmental disasters”.

She also mentions that people living in a concrete jungle like Dimapur are suffering from dust pollution; poisonous stink from overflowing sewage and garbage dengue fever; and the consequent diseases that follow. Further, unnatural floods caused by poorly maintained drainages “cost us economically and paralyses human movement”.

“Unfortunately, those who are least responsible for such disasters suffer the gravest consequences. In addition, Indigenous knowledge and skills for combating climate change such as preservation of nature, plants and seeds are eroding faster than we can imagine”, says Renemsongla.

Founding Editor of The Morung Express, Along Longkumer, representing the newly formed, The Naga Rising, in his address called for ‘creating a safe and sustainable world for our children’. Pointing out that climate change and global warming is not a fiction anymore but a reality now, he called for collective effort from both citizens and government. He said that Naga community can learn from the experiences of the west, which had to suffer the consequences of large scale industrialization and mass consumption, leading to the present crisis.

“As a community evolving towards modernity, we have the advantage to witness and learn from the west. There is global interest and visits from outside to come and see the Naga homeland because we still have our forests, rivers and other natural resources. However we should not fall into complacency or we will also lose our heritage”, he said while calling upon the government to prepare appropriate policies in order to protect the environment and ensure sustainable development.

After a series of sharing from the participants, a moment of signature pledge was conducted in a cloth banner. More than two hundred participants who were mostly youth activists from Dimapur CHILDLINE 1098, church youth leaders, and senior friends from the SCMI such as Dr. Panger Kechu, Kughaka Aye, Temsuren, agreed that the Earth is the Lord, and all that is in it, the world and those who live in it (Psalm 24) and that we humans are simply steward and earthlings.

Kughaka Aye, a senior member of SCMI asserted, “If we Human Beings are responsible for destroying the earth, the wisdom and movement to heal the groaning earth should also emerge from humans.”

“Learning how to use locally available resources such as biodegradable items are some small steps for tackling climate crises” opined Vinoto Shohe, a Lhomithi Church Youth leader.

Giving an impelling summary of Greta Thunberg’s story, Temsuren, Youth Evangelist from Dimapur Ao Baptist Church shared that “Thunberg inspires and challenges all of us irrespective of age, profession, and orientation to be sensitive toward climate justice.”

“Today, my generation is unable to let you enjoy a better Dimapur” lamented Ren, “instead of allowing young people to grow in a free and clean environment, we are reinforcing a culture of fear”.

“Young people cannot even visit their friends and neighbors as most of our houses are secured by high concrete walls (with nails and bottle scraps leaving). While the walls obstruct free flow of air, the cemented compounds that most house have in the city do not allow water to be absorbed and recycled. We consume food in doubt because even local foods are becoming poisonous. Water, which is a God given source for sustenance, is becoming one of the costliest commodities in the state. People around the world today are calling for a climate emergency, but if we are to work for an environmentally sustainable Dimapur, I can say that we are in fact quarter past late. We have failed you! Nevertheless, you are our Hope. We commit to will walk with you.  You are capable of interrupting this cycle of crises to envision a better tomorrow, so we can sleep tonight in Hope, this is my hope for the young people”, notes Renemsongla Ozukum.