Kathmandu: Over 300 children painted a 30-feet-long canvas, calling on adults to listen to children and act for a more secure and sustainable future in a ‘climate canvas’. The canvas represents the hopes and vision of over 7,000 children consulted through a nationwide child hearing conducted by Save the Children, in which the children spoke about climate friendly initiatives like reduce, reuse, and recycle, decrease carbon emission through eco-friendly solutions, and nature conservation.
The event was organized on Saturday to amplify children’s voices on climate change and what they think the adults including parents, leaders and those in decision making positions can do so that the future of the children is protected. “Now it’s up to adults—particularly those with the power to make decisions or control resources—to listen to what children are saying, get inspired and act. We urge them to stand with children and act,” said Swaviman, a 13-year-old child participating at the event. “Climate change is real and children and families who already face a daily struggle to survive are those most at risk from more frequent and more powerful floods, drought, forest fires and other climate hazards. Hence, it is high time we act,” said Heather Campbell, Country Director of Save the Children in Nepal.
According to Campbell, the event was organized to make the voices of the children heard to the policy makers. “Children themselves told us in various surveys and consultations that countries ‘need to listen to young people and value the voices of young people’, to combat climate change. Children are ready to act. We should support them with knowledge, platform, and opportunity,” she said.
More than 1000 people participated in the event and observed the climate canvas that showed that a fairer, greener world is possible, if we all work towards it. The canvas that was demonstrated and painted with children’s vision in Patan Durbar Square was launched by Kutumba, a popular musical band in the evening. Following the launch, Kutumba also performed some of its popular music as a tribute to children and everyone who participated in the event.
The canvas will be sent to Indonesia where the canvas banners from around the world will be sewn into a long banner of children’s voices and spread in Monas, Jakarta facing the Presidential Palace during G20 being held on October 30. Save the Children in Nepal and around the world has been running various campaigns on climate change that are led by children and young people including the campaign called Generation Hope.
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