Be the Change You Want to See!

The global teen icon, Greta Thunberg of Sweden, all of 15 years of age, went on a one-student strike “Fridays for Future” at the very beginning of her school term in 2018. This paved the way for many students to protest against global carbon emission outside the Swedish parliament. Her activism began when she persuaded her parents to adopt lifestyle choices that reduced their own carbon output. She travelled to New York at the age of 16 and challenged the world leaders gathered at the United Nations Climate Change Conference telling them, “Beautiful words and empty promises do not actually lower emissions… We are now at an all-time high.” To create social pressure and awareness in the airline industry against gas emissions, Thunberg sailed in a yacht to North America to attend the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit, and returned in a similar manner. Being an ardent spokesperson for the environment and for action against global warming, she continues her battle to protect and care for our planet Earth.

It is encouraging to note that young committed students facing various obstacles are coming forward today in their efforts for climate change and their care for the environment. One such example is Sanjoli Banerjee whom we featured in the March 2022 issue of our magazine. Our December 2021 issue had highlighted the initiatives of young Vidyut Mohan and that of 14-year-old Vinisha Umashankar who have taken steps to reduce carbon emissions in their environment. We happily present in this issue the story of Ishan Kapur from Delhi who has found an alternative to wasteful plastic bags. This simply proves that it is possible for our youth to bring about big changes through small attempts as well.

As we celebrate Earth Day on 22nd April, Mahatma Gandhi’s oft-quoted saying, “Be the change you want see in the world” is worth pondering. Even the small change one initiates can make a big difference to the future. The happy future of our earth is in our hands. By caring for the earth we care for ourselves. Taking a cue from the young role models referred to above, we can take active steps to reduce, reuse and recycle all kinds of waste by bringing about changes in our food habits and lifestyles which will help protect our flora and fauna, even as we actively search for creative alternatives on every front. We can bring about this change by starting with ‘me-you-us’ today! Indeed! Following Mahatma Gandhi’s maxim, we can be the change we all desperately want to see!