#FridaysForFuture: Gurgaon students join global stir against climate crisis

CHANDIGARH: Responding to the call of Greta Thunberg, Swedish teen climate activist, students from various in Gurgaon and Delhi have decided to join the global protest on Friday.
As part of the ‘Global Strike for Climate 2’, students will gather at Galleria Market in DLF Phase IV of Gurgaon at 1pm on Friday and march to Vyapar Kendra. In Delhi, students will meet at Inner Circle of Connaught Place, outside gate number 6 of the metro station at 8.30am.#FridaysForFuture has become a sustained movement through Twitter and students across the globe are expected to gather at 1,263 places in 107 countries.
One of the organizers of the protest in Gurgaon, Manya Anandi Khanna of Class X at Shri Ram School, Aravali, told TOI: “Our march is on May 24. The last was on March 15, in which 600-odd students participated. We are expecting at least some 250 students this time.”
Asked what had prompted her to join the cause, she said: “I realized no one was doing anything about climate crisis. Our Instagram page — @climateactiongurugram — got an overwhelming support from students of the other schools. If a 16-year-old girl (Greta) can take on the government, why can’t we?”
“I feel that this is not an issue that can be just limited to parents or students. We are all together in it. It is not just for one particular section of the society to solve it on their own. As we have seen in other countries, people coming out to protest have led to some change. So, we are using social media to reach out to students and many have shown the concerns like ours about climate crisis,” said Veer Ojas Khanna, one of the organizers of the protest.
At present, Veer and Manya are busy painting posters with the message ‘Fridays for Future’, calling upon people to join the protest to save the planet. They said they plan to march in the area for about two hours, holding placards and signs made from biodegradable and recyclable materials such as used cardboard boxes, old bedsheets and clothes.
“I’m getting at least two new inquiries a day from people across India who want to get involved. Many come from small towns as well. A young boy contacted me from Jalore district in Rajasthan after he read about the protests in London. In fact, our first protest was held on December 9, 2018, in Sheogaganj, a small village in Sirohi district, Rajasthan. It was organized by people living in rural areas,” Chittranjan Dubey, India representative for (Extinction Rebellion) XR told TOI over the phone.
How did the movement start?
The movement for the action against climate change started in August 2018, when Greta Thunberg (then 15) sat in front of the Swedish parliament every day for three weeks. She was protesting against the lack of action of the climate crisis. The movement has now grown to include over 135 countries and more than 2,000 locations.
What students want from Haryana
Haryana’s forest cover is at 3.59%. They want it increased 33%
To deem the Aravalli as protected forest areas
A comprehensive and futuristic public transportation policy
Ban on production, import and sale of polythene bags
Demands from Union government
Need the government to declare climate emergency
Impose penalties upon air, water and pollution-causing industries and factories
To launch an awareness campaign about climate change