Day 18 of #climatefast | Save Earth Save Ladakh | Sonam Wangchuk

Summary

On the 18th day of a climate fast, the speaker in freezing conditions urges the Indian government to honor its commitments to protect Ladakh's environment and culture under the Sixth Schedule. They highlight the importance of indigenous autonomy in environmental management and criticize the anthropocentric approach to development that has led to significant wildlife loss. The speaker calls for a harmonious coexistence with nature to preserve not just Ladakh and the Himalayas, but the planet itself, inviting others to join in this mission.

Takeaways

• ⏰ The speaker has been on a climate fast for 18 days, emphasizing the urgency of environmental issues.
• 🌌 They spent a night in freezing temperatures (-8°) to highlight the impact of climate change on the region.
• 🧊 Around 150 people joined the fast to remind the Indian government of its promises to protect Ladakh's environment and culture.
• 🏔 The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution is mentioned as a crucial tool for safeguarding indigenous rights and autonomy in Ladakh.
• 🌲 The speaker criticizes the bureaucratic decisions that lead to environmental degradation in the name of development.
• 🐾 The script points out the devastating loss of wildlife, with 69% of wildlife and 83% of aquatic life wiped out in the last 50 years.
• 🌳 It also mentions the loss of 30% of forests, which are vital for life on Earth.
• 🌍 The speaker calls for a shift from anthropocentric views of development to a more harmonious coexistence with nature.
• 🙌 An appeal is made for people to join in the effort to save Ladakh, the Himalayas, and the planet as a whole.
• 🌞 The message concludes with a call to action and a reminder to appreciate the beauty of the Earth.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the climate fast mentioned in the transcript?

The purpose of the climate fast is to remind the Indian government of their promises to safeguard Ladakh and its mountains and indigenous cultures under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

What is the significance of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution in the context of Ladakh?

The Sixth Schedule provides autonomy to Ladakh, allowing an autonomous council where the indigenous people's elected body decides how the mountains are managed, what kind of development and industries to allow, and what not to allow.

What is the impact of bureaucracy on Ladakh's mountains and environment according to the speaker?

The speaker suggests that without the autonomy provided by the Sixth Schedule, bureaucracy decides what to bring in, leading to the plundering of the mountains and destruction of the habitat, including glaciers and flora.

What is the speaker's concern regarding the focus on economic growth?

The speaker is concerned that the focus on 8% to 10% economic growth is anthropocentric and overlooks the need for coexistence with nature and other forms of life on the planet.

What statistics does the speaker provide about wildlife loss in the last 50 years?

According to the speaker, 69% of wildlife has been wiped off from the planet in the last 50 years, and 83% of the equatorial life has been wiped off.

How does the speaker connect the loss of wildlife and forests to human existence?

The speaker connects the loss of wildlife and forests to human existence by stating that humans depend on these natural elements, and without them, the planet could become uninhabitable, like Mars or the Moon.

What is the speaker's call to action for the audience?

The speaker calls on the audience to stand up and join the effort to save Ladakh, the glaciers, the Himalayas, and the planet while there is still time.

Why did approximately 150 people sleep out in the open with the speaker?

About 150 people slept out in the open with the speaker as a part of the climate fast to demonstrate their commitment to the cause and to draw attention to the issues affecting Ladakh and its environment.

What is the speaker's view on the relationship between development and the environment?

The speaker views development as being currently too anthropocentric and harmful to the environment, advocating for a more harmonious coexistence with nature.

What is the main message the speaker wants to convey about the planet's future?

The main message is that for humans to survive on the planet, there must be a shift towards coexistence in harmony with nature, recognizing that humans are not the only inhabitants of the planet.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Climate Fast for Ladakh's Autonomy and Environmental Conservation

The speaker begins their 18th day of a climate fast, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding Ladakh's mountains and indigenous cultures under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. They highlight the need for an autonomous council to manage the region's development and industry, stressing the importance of coexistence with nature. The speaker points out the devastating impact of anthropocentric development on wildlife, with 69% of wildlife wiped out in the last 50 years, and 30% of forests destroyed. They urge the audience to join them in their efforts to save Ladakh, the Himalayas, and the planet, emphasizing that humans must coexist with nature for survival.

Keywords

💡Climate Fast

A climate fast is a form of protest where individuals abstain from food and sometimes water to raise awareness about climate change and its impacts. In the script, the speaker begins their 18th day of a climate fast, emphasizing the seriousness of their commitment to the cause. This act symbolizes the urgency of addressing environmental issues and the personal sacrifice made to bring attention to the plight of the environment.

💡Ladakh

Ladakh is a region in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, known for its mountainous terrain and unique indigenous culture. The script mentions Ladakh to highlight the importance of preserving its environment and culture. The speaker is fasting to remind the Indian government of its promises to safeguard Ladakh, emphasizing the region's vulnerability to environmental degradation and the need for protective measures.

💡Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution

The Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution provides for the administration of tribal areas in the northeastern states of India. It offers a degree of autonomy to these regions, allowing for local self-governance. In the context of the script, the speaker argues for the application of similar autonomy to Ladakh, where an elected body of indigenous people would decide on development and environmental management, ensuring that local knowledge and needs are prioritized.

💡Anthropocentric

Anthropocentric refers to a human-centered perspective, where human interests and needs are considered most important. The script critiques the anthropocentric approach to development, arguing that it leads to environmental destruction and disregards the needs of other species and ecosystems. The speaker calls for a more balanced approach that considers the well-being of all life on the planet.

💡Wildlife

Wildlife encompasses all non-domesticated animals living in the wild. The script cites a WWF report indicating a significant decline in wildlife populations, highlighting the devastating impact of human activities on biodiversity. This serves as a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the need to protect and preserve the natural world for the sake of all species.

💡Glaciers

Glaciers are slow-moving masses of ice that play a crucial role in the Earth's water cycle and climate regulation. The script mentions the need to save the glaciers, which are melting at an alarming rate due to climate change. This melting not only affects sea levels but also disrupts local ecosystems and the availability of fresh water, underscoring the urgency of addressing climate change.

💡Himalayas

The Himalayas is a vast mountain range in Asia, home to the world's highest peaks, including Mount Everest. The script calls for the protection of the Himalayas, emphasizing their importance as a global environmental treasure. The Himalayas are critical for maintaining regional climate stability and water supply, and their preservation is essential for the well-being of millions of people who depend on them.

💡Forests

Forests are complex ecosystems that provide numerous environmental benefits, including carbon sequestration, biodiversity support, and climate regulation. The script points out the significant loss of forests, which not only threatens the survival of many species but also exacerbates climate change by reducing the planet's capacity to absorb carbon dioxide. The speaker's plea to save the forests underscores the importance of preserving these vital ecosystems.

💡Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth, encompassing the diversity of species, ecosystems, and genetic variation. The script discusses the alarming decline in biodiversity, particularly the loss of wildlife and forests, which has severe implications for the health of the planet. Biodiversity loss disrupts ecological balance and reduces the resilience of ecosystems to environmental changes, making it a critical issue that must be addressed.

💡Indigenous Cultures

Indigenous cultures are the cultures of the native or original inhabitants of a region. The script emphasizes the importance of safeguarding the indigenous cultures of Ladakh, which are closely tied to the local environment and have a deep understanding of sustainable practices. Protecting these cultures is not only about preserving unique ways of life but also about maintaining the knowledge and practices that can contribute to sustainable development and environmental conservation.

💡Autonomy

Autonomy refers to the right of self-governance, allowing communities or regions to make decisions about their own affairs. In the context of the script, the speaker advocates for autonomy for Ladakh, so that the local, indigenous people can decide on development and environmental policies that best suit their needs and values. This concept is central to the argument for a more sustainable and respectful approach to development that respects the rights and knowledge of local communities.

Highlights

Beginning the 18th day of a climate fast on water and salt

Temperatures dipped to -8°, creating a frozen environment

150 people slept outdoors to remind the Indian government of their promises to safeguard Ladakh

Emphasizing the importance of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution for Ladakh's autonomy

Without autonomy, bureaucracy decides development, leading to environmental plunder

Highlighting the destruction of glaciers, flora, and fauna in the name of development

Criticizing the anthropocentric view of development that neglects other life forms

WWF report states 69% of wildlife has been wiped off in the last 50 years

83% of equatorial life and 30% of forests have been destroyed

The speaker calls for a coexistence in harmony with nature for human survival

Appeal to join the movement to save Ladakh, the Himalayas, and the planet

The necessity of standing up for environmental causes before it's too late

The interconnectedness of human survival and the well-being of the planet's ecosystems

The potential for Earth to become uninhabitable like Mars or the Moon if ecological destruction continues

The importance of recognizing Ladakh's indigenous cultures and their rights to manage their land

The contrast between economic growth and environmental degradation

The call to action for immediate and collective efforts to protect the environment

Transcripts

good morning

world today I begin my 18th day of

climate fast on water and salt it's been

a very clear night and therefore

temperatures dip to

-8° everything is Frozen like

this and in these conditions some 150

people slept out in the open along with

me to remind the Indian government of

the promises they have made to

safeguard ladak and its mountains and

its indigenous cultures under the Sixth

schedule of the Indian constitution

which provides

autonomy an autonomous Council where

indigenous people's elected body decides

how these mountains are managed what

kind of development and industries to

allow and what not to without this we

have no rights whatsoever and a

bureaucracy decides what to bring in

well in the name of development we

plunder the

mountains and

destroy our own habitat the the glaciers

the Flora FAA that exists here while we

talk of 8% 10% growth as the best thing

to happen to our nation we must see that

we are not the only habitants of this

beautiful planet we have other siblings

those in the

wild and let's look at what's happening

to them while we talk of 8 and 10%

growth we are not the only ones on this

planet development cannot be so

anthropocentric according to WWF a

whopping

69% of wildlife has been wiped off from

the face of the

planet in the last 50 years alone

83% of the equ IC life has been wiped

off and forests on which we depend so

much 30% of the forests are wiped off

and we talk of growth 8% 10% their very

existence is finished and it doesn't

just harm them we depend on them on this

planet without our siblings this will

become like a Mars or Moon and it'll be

our end very soon if we humans want to

survive on this planet we'll have to

coexist in harmony with nature and

that's why we appeal to you to stand up

while it still time to save ladak to

save the glaciers to save the Himalayas

in fact to save the planet do please

join us in our voice thank you very much

and have a great day J

[Music]

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