NORTHEASTERN TEEN GIRL as a ENIVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST
Licypriya Kangujam
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Licypriya Kangujam (born 2 October 2011) is an Indian child environmental activist from India. In 2019, she was awarded a Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Children Award,[1] a World Children Peace Prize,[3][2] and an India Peace Prize.[4][6][7][8]
Licypriya Kangujam | |
|---|---|
 Licypriya Kangujam at the United Nations Asia-Pacific Climate Week 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand on 5 September 2019. | |
| Born | Licypriya Kangujam 2 October 2011 |
| Occupation | Student, environmental activist |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Movement | The Child Movement |
| Parent(s) |
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| Relatives | Chinglensana Kangujam (uncle) |
| Awards | |
In 2019 she was chosen as a featured environmental activist along with Greta Thunberg and Jamie Margolin in United Nations Development Programme, young people and climate fighting for a stolen future.[9] The India Times stated she was the youngest climate activist in India.[10]
LifeEdit
Licypriya Kangujam was born on 2 October 2011 in Bashikhong, Manipur, India, the eldest daughter of K. K. Singh and Bidyarani Devi Kangujam Ongbi. Kangujam began raising her voice to combat climate change and disaster risk reduction, when she was seven. In June 2019, she protested in front of the Parliament House of India addressing the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to enact the climate change law in India.[11][12][13][14]
2018–2019 activismEdit
Visits to AfricaEdit
Licypriya visited Angola from 14 to 24 September 2019 and she began a climate strike with more than 50000 children and youth in Luanda City calling the attention of the World leaders to take immediate action to save their future.[15][16][17]
Kangujam attended the UNESCO Partners' Forum 2019 (Biennial Luanda) in Luanda City, Angola invited by UNESCO, African Union & Government of Angola. She addressed on climate change along with President of Angola João Lourenço, President of Mali Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, President of Malawi Hage Geingob, President of Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso, First Lady of Angola Ana Dias Lourenço, First Lady of Namibia Monica Geingos, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2018 Denis Mukwege, UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay, Deputy Prime Minister of Guinea Francois Fall and all Culture Ministers of Africa.[18][19][20][21][22]
Great October March 2019Edit
On 21 October 2019, Kangujam started the "Great October March 2019" at India Gate, New Delhi with nearly thousands of her supporters. The Great October March was taken place from 21 to 27 October in various locations to request an immediate action on climate change and to enact the climate law in India. Another protest was taken place at Paralakhemundi, Gajapati with the support of more than 12000 local people. In an interview with the newspaper Pragativadi, Kangujam stated that "Until today, only 5 countries viz. New Zealand, Australia, UK, Mexico & Peru have their legislation on climate change but 98% are not yet including India. We are marching to call on world leaders to enact climate law as soon as possible so that it can regulate the emissions of greenhouse gases to save our planet and our future. They must unite and act now before it's too late." Further she noted that unlike other developed countries, rural areas in India have already been affected from the climate change, mainly the agricultural industry, because India is less equipped to deal with the climate damages. She also added that due to the rapid increase in the climate disasters and decrease in the crop production, children and workers have stopped school and working.[23]
Survival Kit for the FutureEdit
Licypriya brings out a symbolic device called SUKIFU (Survival Kit for the Future) to curb the air pollution on 4 October 2019. SUKIFU is almost a zero budget kit designed from trash to provide fresh air into our body when the pollution rate is high. This wearable plant is a recognition of the Green Movement for air pollution. Anybody can build up this concept at home from the recycling trash to instill fresh air directly into our lungs. She launched it in front of the Punjab & Haryana Legislative Assembly House as a symbol of demonstration before the oath taking ceremony of newly elected Haryana MLAs & Ministers. She draws the attention of the leaders to find urgent solution for the current crisis of air pollution in Delhi & National Capital Region (NCR).[24][25]
In an interview given to the The Northeast Today, she said "This is the ultimate solution. Whoever, carry this, especially the children moving on the popular street laced with SMOG, would attract the attention of the climate experts, pollution control board members, scientists, policy makers, city/municipal commissioners and the entire generation, who are bound to ensure 'Safe Future' to their 'Generation Next'. This type of pollution is not acceptable by any standards." "I was inspired by the Chih Chiu’s ‘Voyage on the planet‘. This invention sends a poignant message about environmental degradation and questions the planet's unknown future and environmental depletion", she added. Licypriya said to the Shillong Times, "Governments are busy in blaming each other instead of finding a long term solutions on the deadly air pollution. Children are unable to go out of the home in Delhi. All schools have been shut down by the Government. They must act now otherwise our future will be dying."[26]
Further she added that the project is inspired by the air pollution problem in Delhi, and that she doesn't want its message to only be about the environment. Instead, it's about the same adaptability that caused her to come forward with a mission, the qualities of resilience that it takes to survive now and in the future. In SUKIFU, a potted plant is housed inside a clear backpack (rucksack) hooked up to one tube to funnel fresh air into a face mask. It's a bold, abstract take on an oxygen tank. The transparent rucksack contains a plant, which connects to breathing apparatus. Another hole in the downside supply the natural fresh air inside the tank through four layers of activated carbon. The plant symbolises our dying environment and our planet due to human beings. No chemicals or electricity is used in this device.
She developed the model with the support of Chandan Ghosh, professor at Indian Institute of Technology Jammu (IIT). Ghosh said to The Tribune, "Many areas in Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 999, beyond which reading is not possible, on Diwali night. The prescribed normal limit is 60. I am concerned about the health of children and infants. This concept speaks to the fragility of the environment, and our own vulnerability. Licypriya is sending a strong message to everyone destroying our future. According to a WHO survey of 1600 world cities, air pollution in India is estimated to kill 1.5 million people every year; it is the fifth largest killer in India. India has the world's highest death rate from chronic respiratory diseases and asthma. In Delhi, poor quality air irreversibly damages the lungs of 2.2 million or 50 percent of all children. Now India needs a long term solution to save the health of the people specially children and our environment."[27]
COP25Edit
Licypriya Kangujam participated at the COP25 as the youngest speaker on 10 December 2019 urging the world leaders to act now on climate change. She received complements after her speech from the UN Secretary-General António Guterres praising her for reminding the obligations towards the future generations by her presence at 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference. The Conference was held by the United Nations Climate Conference to discuss the international action on climate change. 26000 people from 196 countries have attended to descend on the talks, which started on 2 December until 13 December. The event took place annually for the 25th time at IFEMA, Madrid, Spain hosted by the Government of Chile with the logistics support Of Government Of Spain under the UNFCCC. Around 30 Heads of State and the UN secretary general, António Guterres and around 196 environment ministers, climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, Licypriya Kangujam, K. K. Singh, many journalists and environmental activists participated. Kangujam submitted a memorandum "on behalf of the children of the world". The memorandum consists of four pages which stated that she urged to create a better future for all children around the world
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