Tonight I go to Rohtang Pass to speak live to the UN along with with Kofi Annan, and a bunch of other well known people from different walks of life across the world. I will be at the receding Glacier speaking on the horrific effects of Climate Change caused by the supremely stupid way we are treating our planet, and all our messages will be beamed live to the UN minutes before they begin their conference on Climate change on the 22nd. This is a Greenpeace initiative. Here is a message to all of you from Greenpeace :
On Monday September 21, citizens across the world will unite to give a “wake-up call’ to world leaders to get climate change talks on track and deliver a “fair, ambitious and binding” new climate treaty.
The “TCKTCKTCK” campaign – a unique global movement bringing together NGOs, community groups, faith-based organizations and a wide cross-sector of society for action on climate change – is leading the campaigning effort. Groups will raise their collective global voice at actions around the world on the September 21 – dubbed Global Wake-Up Call Day.
The global outcry comes amid expert warnings that a UN climate pact in Copenhagen in December risks failure unless world leaders revive bogged-down negotiations at a UN Summit in New York on September 22.
Over 1000 events organised in more than 100 countries will sound the alarm with people gathering in public places, ringing cell phone alarms and making actual ‘wake-up’ phone calls to politicians.
We’ve teamed up with the film makers behind the new docu-drama-animation ‘Age of Stupid’ and the tcktcktck campaign to deliver the world’s biggest film premier. And we want you to be there.
Age of Stupid stars Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite as a man living alone in the devastated world of 2055, looking back at “archive” footage from 2007 and asking: why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?
Between September 21 and 22, Age of Stupid will open at more than 600 locations in dozens of countries, on every continent, right around the world. The premiere will feature the showing of the film, and a broadcast from the Green Carpet in New York, where actress Gillian Anderson will lead luminaries including Kofi Annan, Mary Robinson and James Hansen in a discussion about how we can stop catastrophic climate change. In India, Shekhar Kapur will be present at the premiere after bearing witness to the glacial retreat in the Himalayas and speaking LIVE to millions watching the global premiere in New York & in more than 600 theatres across the world.
Greenpeace and other tcktcktck partners will be contributing live feeds from the front lines of climate change, and are backing efforts to get the film seen by as many politicians and diplomats as possible.
In Delhi, the film will be screened in an exclusive premiere on Tuesday, September 22, 2009, at the PVR Select City Walk in Saket. We hope that you will attend, be interested in being part of this event and that you will help us to spread the word about the importance of addressing the climate crisis now!
You make us all proud
Thank You
Bay Area Indo American is proudly promoting the event
http://www.bayareaindoamerican.com/Home/events
We created this problem.
Always progress, progress, progress.
Always demanding more and more from the planet.
We need to fix it NOW.
I am all up for such events, but why does it needs to be done at Rohtang, all its gonna do is add more waste/pollution/CO2/Carbon to the already overcrowded Glacier. Practically speaking you are preaching about protecting the glaciers by standing on top of it, to me it sounds just like CEOs of American Auto companies asking for government funds to avoid bankruptcy and arriving in chartered planes.
With the right people your effort could have been just as effective in New Delhi.
NOTE:- This is not a Greenpeace Event but, we support the Cause…
This flash mob is part of a larger global event organized by AVAAZ (check out http://www.avaaz.org)
If you feel that Climate Change is an important problem that India and the world needs to take immediate action on, then come be a part of our event on Monday, September 21st . You will be part of a larger campaign of people from all over the world who understand and know that the world faces a huge threat and the only way to solve it is to come together and urge our world leaders to do the same. If we can do it? Why cant they?
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=147358255101&ref=nf
Sir,
Your write up on changing environment has rekindled my childhood memories of wild flowers, pine and fir tree fragrance of dense forests.
For a very long time now, I intend to have a NGO / TRUST / ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB , that will work in schools to make children uunderstand the need to preserve environment. If you are interested, then-
First, I will mail you my credentials ( I am in social service for last 19 years). If they are safe for an international figure like your goodself to work with, and if you give your nod, then
Second – I will mail you the total plan of action.
Prime Ministers and the like are busy with their politics, it is we the people who can make a difference.
Having observed your extremely sensitive nature during the episodes of India has got talent, I am confident that you stand by what you have written in your thought provoking article, and therefore, will respond positively.
Ashok Manvati
NOIDA, India
00 91 98101 32250
we love to get involve .
I THINK THAT NOW ITS HIGH TIME N TIME TO TAKE ACTION AND WAITIN FOR 24TH OCT TO COME N MY PARTICIPATION WILL B THERE TO ITS FULLEST.”SAVE THE EARTH OTHERWISE UNEATH HO JAYEGA”
I THINK THAT NOW ITS HIGH TIME N TIME TO TAKE ACTION AND WAITIN FOR 24TH OCT TO COME N MY PARTICIPATION WILL B THERE TO ITS FULLEST.”SAVE THE EARTH OTHERWISE UNEARTH HO JAYEGA”
i would really like to support u and earth in every possible way..as a student and teaching environmental science in colleges…i really feel this is a major and important step and make people aware…i really appreciate..
The sentiment is commendable, but as Shantanu has pointed out above-why go to Rohtang to make your voice heard?You guys could have saved some fuel by staying back in Delhi.No to speak of the degradation that is likely to be caused by the organizers to that once beautiful landscape.My sister visited it in 1992;at that time there was but one tea shop at Rohtang and few tourists.
Cut to May,2004.I was aghast to find the place swarming with tourists.There were atleast a dozen tea shops at that height;who were also renting out snow boots,sleds etc. to the thronging masses.Thanks to the lack of facilities[HP tourism ,wake up!] the whole damn place had been converted into a public urinal -cum-dumping ground!One could barely stand the stench-you had junta enjoying tea and snacks at a shack looking one way and their kids/adults etc. peeing right behind them in the other direction!I am sure it must be worse now.I wonder what experiences you will bring back from Rohtang, Mr.Kapoor.I am dying to hear your report.
Nirupama.
PS-Please read my comments on your previous blog,wherein you promised to take our voices to the leaders of the world.
Dear Shekhar,
Please spare some time to answer the point raised by “Shantanu Mishra” : With the right people your effort could have been just as effective in New Delhi(why does it needs to be done at Rohtang).
Same question came in my mind, hope to hear from you on this..
Thanks,
Sanjay
PLEASE STOP following IMMEDIATELY
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can be harmful
. for you
. your loved ones
. sure for the planet
xxx Plastic water bottles
xxx Aerated drinks
xxx Cigarettes
Time grows short for climate deal
The man from the middle of the Indian Ocean, from one of the tiniest nations, told his fellow Presidents he knew “you are not really listening”
hi sanjay and shantanu, not sure if you know how much traffic there is going to Rohtang and via Rohtang to Ladakh, Lahaul and Spiti. There is a virtual traffic jam all the time. Not only the army, but also trade and supplies. So the five of us that drove up to Rohtang caused not even a pin prick to the carbon footprint,
However, we live in a dramatic world and people listen to and pay attention to drama, not to arguments and reason.That includes specially politicians. It was far more dramatic for me to show them a glacier that has dissapeared, one that I have seen in it’s full glory in my lifetime, and speak to them and say this is not a statistic but a reality,
It brought an applause from the delegates as the point was driven home much more forcefully.
shekhar
Your point is well taken, Mr.Kapoor.I am still waiting to hear a first hand report about how bad your Rohtang experience was.As I said it had turned into a giant public urinal- cum- dumping ground in 2004.Are things still the same?Can you please share your observations with us?Also,could you post some pics?
Thanks,
Nirupama.
Hi Shekhar,
Thanks for caring to reply my query. I really didn’t think that you will reply (at least not so early) but now next question…
By saying this “So the five of us that drove up to Rohtang caused not even a pin prick to the carbon footprint” don’t you think you are following the same path against which you are trying to raise your voice? Please don’t get it rudely. I don’t want to be offensive but I want to make a point (rather want to ask from you) for which I don’t know the solution. I go to office in car and ask my self why not cycle? I use A/C and so on…
And why I don’t stop because “(my part is) not even a pin prick to the carbon footprint”. Is it not a deadlock I will not stop because others don’t stop and others don’t stop because of me….
Please share some thoughts. Once again thanks a lot for sparing time.
Thanks,
Sanjay
Dear Shekhar,
Your travel, the live speech and “Age of Stupid” made me sleepless, No i feel ashamed to be part of a world which caused the Global Warming … Hence I wrote and am working hard to make sure at least above (12) is done …
Palo Alto banned plastic bags, Sunnyvale & San Jose are working on it. More items in plan …
Hi Sanjay,
As a part of the group of Five that drove upto Rohtang- could I answer, not on his behalf, but as someone who has worked on Climate Change and a lot of protests… Do you know why you noticed this message that Shekhar send out? Because he was Shekhar Kapoor and he was talking about a first hand experience. He actually agreed to travel up with us at two in the morning- see it for himself and connect it to his childhood. See the havoc wreaked with his own eyes and then did the passion come into his message. Which is what, i believe reaches another human- straight to the heart. How many times have we heard of Film Stars and others talk about climate change sitting in their cars and in specially arranged halls and talk about it? And everytime i listen to them, all I want to do is change the channel. There is no conviction in their eyes or their voice. There is a difference is being there and not being there. And if indeed there was a pinprick in the carbon footprint because we drove up, I think that will help us stop a lot of bigger pricks in the carbon footprints. For a bigger good, if i may say so. If Shekhar was to sit in delhi and talk about the glacier, I’m sure there would have been hundreds who asked, “You haven’t even seen it!! it’s just a lot of scripted talk”. He was there with us at two in the morning and he also spoke about it when he was back in delhi and even before he was there, which shows how much he actually meant from his heart.
Because we still don’t know WHY the Saraswati dried up.
Because we still don’t know WHY Lothal and Mohenjodaro are ghost towns.
Because THIS ONCE our scriptures begin with “ At the beginning of time, when neither earth existed nor sky….”
Because planet earth has NO RESTART BUTTON.
MOVE!
About seeing it, satellite images of the place from past and present would have been just as helpful, they illustrate the same epic drama, and on a much larger scale rather than the area 5 human beings would have covered in 2-3 days, we planted those satellites for the exact same reason. My intention was to propose a better solution instead of complaining/criticizing about ways. So “if you honestly feel” actually going there was the most effective solution then I would call it mission accomplished.
I would be more than glad to hear about what were the outcomes of the trip in future blog entries, reading about outcomes would definitely make me feel good.
Your efforts are really commendable, and no offense but your “needle in a haystack” reason neither confirms to logic nor ethics and ends up sounding like an excuse.
Thanks Aysha/Shekhar for your response…
So i agree that shekhar (and group) went there to take a first hand experience. But what about that situation… “I will not stop because others don’t stop and others don’t stop because of me….” any thoughts???
“When in doubt check it out”
Watch for yourself the resources which prove that how fast we need to act … “NOW is our chance”
It’s 2055 we could have saved the world in 2009 – why didn’t we?
Great idea and full of sense. Worth watching… but we must act now!
I’ve been collecting, watching and trying to understand all sorts of DVDs and Blue Ray movies re: planet, life on our planet to educate myself and people …
Every movie left me tearful, to do something
for our planet, life …
And why is it so hard for people to understand its “Their Planet/Earth” than saying “Your Planet/Earth”
Its how we understand to act for our own future …
Denial, delays costing the world, generations …
Some simple things have been keeping the life better, peaceful … Programmed timers to shutdown all electronics before i sleep …
Time grows short for climate deal
The man from the middle of the Indian Ocean, from one of the tiniest nations, told his fellow Presidents he knew “you are not really listening”
PLEASE STOP following IMMEDIATELY
You lived without them
can be harmful
. for you
. your loved ones
. sure for the planet
xxx Plastic water bottles
xxx Aerated drinks
xxx Cigarettes
Home
Searching for the Home
Where is it ? ! ? !
Trying to know more, less is known !!!
Earth, Life, what & how much we know !
How much we care ! ?
Homosapiens benefit the most from 400 billion years of life, planet …
Agriculture : The first and only revolution
Half the humanity tilting soul
Think & Watch
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Dear Sekhar,
Great to see icons like you getting involved in serious mankind issues. I write on behalf of CMS VATAVARAN – Environment and Wildlife Film Festival. The CMS VATAVARAN is India’s Green Oscar. The festival will be having its 5th edition starting with an inuagural ceremony at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, on 27th Octiber from 6.30 pm. It is a five day festival which will see the screening of 106 nominated and award winning green movies from all parts of the world. The festival also shocases the “Age of Stupid”.
CMS, the organisers of the festival, would like to invite you in the inaugural ceremony.
It will be an honour for the organisers and inspiration for the parons and participants of the festival.
Do let us know if that would be possible, so that we could make the necessary arrangements.
Thanks
Ashwini Sinha
Cell: 098990 46542
yo.. amazing text
Congratulations, your article was reprinted to Harvard University, visit http://harvard-us.edu.ms