Students meet the Prime Minister of India to demand Climate Action

In August, three representatives from the international youth campaign KidsCall, met India’s Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, to carry out a special Indian tradition: the tying of a rakhi.

The rakhi is a thread bracelet, which is tied around the wrist and symbolises a commitment to the protection from harm. The bracelet was given on behalf of thousands of children between the ages of 7 and 21, who participated in the KidsCall campaign, requesting protection from climate change.

The children also handed over a list of six key concerns to the Prime Minister which, they felt, needed the immediate attention of the Indian Government, such as the promotion of organic farming and a massive increase in renewable energy.

The KidsCall campaign in India is the combined initiative of Navdanya, an environmental research organisation based in Delhi and the Hamburg-based World Future Council, which provide a platform for young people to express their concerns about climate change.

Through KidsCall, more than 10,000 messages from over 30 countries have been collected from children and young people using a variety of mixed media. These messages have been presented to state representatives of the G8, plus the heads of government of Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa, to influence policy makers towards making decisions in the interests of the planet and future generations.

Contact: KidsCall, PO Box 11 17 11,
20417 Hamburg, Germany
Website: www​.kidscall​.info
or www​.worldfuturecouncil​.org

Young representatives put climate concerns before Prime Minister,
Dr Manmohan Singh in New Delhi
Photo: © KidsCall