[Feature]Advocating care for climate
by Rukhsana Saleem
Global Day of Action Climate on Change, 24th October, 2009 was celebrated around the world, organized by 350.org (An international climate change campaign). 350 as in pert per million, the level scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere. The current level is 385 parts per million which is the cause of global warming and intern climate change.
In December 2009, world leaders are meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, to draft a new global treaty on cutting emissions that could help; bring the level of CO2 again to 350ppm by 2050. So the basic purpose of the event was to unite the public, media, private and government organizations to unite behind the 350 goal, before Copenhagen.
People of Gilgit-Baltistan were also amongst millions of people around the world who showed their concern for the on-going climate crisis, on October 24th, 2009. WWF-Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, in collaboration with District Government, Forest and Wildlife Department, Directorate of Education, Municipal Committee (Local Government and Rural Development), Environmental Protection Agency, Tourism Department, Mass Awareness for Water Conservation and Development( Joint project of Government of Pakistan and UNDP), Pakistan Wetlands Progrmme, FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance, Gilgit Baltistan, Youth Club Majeenee Muhala, Student Environment Organization, Zulfiqarabad, and BORAZ Academy, celebrated the event.
Various schools such as SEDNA School, Zulfiqarabad, Diamond Jubilee School, Danyore, Mountain School, Khomar, all the Government primary, middle and High Schools of Gilgit town and diamond Jubilee School – Sonikot, participated in the event with great zeal and enthusiasm.
The above participants took many actions such as clean up campaigns, repairing of water supply systems, recycling and reuse of solid waste, plantations in schools, skits and songs, developed models for green house effect and global warming, lectures and presentations on climate change impacts, documentaries on climate change and natural disasters on local cables, articles in local newspapers and various bicycle rallies.
The event brought together all the Government Departments, Non government organizations, youth forums and students to think for climate change impacts on fragile mountain ecosystem of Gilgit-Baltistan and develop strategies for how to deal with the change. By the end of each activity the participants developed the shape of 350 to demand for the safe limit of Carbon di Oxide in the atmosphere.