BARCIK and Student solidarity team, an organization comprises of students and youth community on 20-21 of June arranged a 2-day Climate Camp in the Sunderbans. Students across the country namely Satkhira, Barguna, Pirojpur, Netrakuna, Moulvibazar, Manikgonj, Sunamgonj, Khulna, Gaibandha, Barisal and Chapainawabgonj participated in the two days camp and shared their opinions to protect the climate from being changed rapidly that cause immense damage to human kind and the earth.
Inaugurating the exceptional event, UNO (Upazilla Nirbahi Officer) of Shymnagar Md. Doullatuzzaman Khan said, “I express solidarity with the climate camp. I firmly believe that it is the youth community who could show a ray of hopes for us in combating climate change. They could play vital role to create awareness among community people regarding protection of our planet if they are trained and shaped with knowledge associated with climate change. I assure you any kind of support, if you think that it could foster your initiative to fight against the change.†People who expressed solidarity with the climate camp include: students, teachers, journalists, development activists, members of local administration bodies, members of local CBOs, social and political organizations, youth representatives, farmers and other occupational groups. However, Afazalul Haque, a social worker while expressing his gladness to participate in the camp said, “A climate fund has been initiated to assist the poor and vulnerable countries. But assessment and justification should be made before allotting the fund. Sidr and Aila are the most devastative disasters I have experienced in my 61 years of life which occurred due to climate change. I appreciate the initiative of the youth to create awareness among the community people and take the responsibility to fight against the changeâ€. Ali Akbor, journalist and local representative of Daily Kaler Kantha said, “Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. But Bangladesh is less responsible to climate change though it has to pay huge for that. We should be united to claim our demands and compelled the rich country to minimize their carbon oriented development initiatives. Therefore, the youth community of our country has come forward to take the responsibility to fight for climate justice. I appreciate their initiative and extend thanks to BARCIK for motivating themâ€.
The camp was organized to learn the success of the local community in that area in adapting to and mitigation of climate change and natural disaster, to take over the lead of sustainable development initiatives which are run based on the integration between local and academic knowledge, to persuade in integrating nature learning in the textbooks and formulating a work plan and strategy while sharing the success of youth community in different areas. However, BARCIK and Sunderban Solidarity team named the Launch where the two days event took place “Climate protection boatâ€. They decorated the boats with forest resources, herbs, plants and flora and fauna. The venue where the whole activities of the camp took place was named “Climate Assembly†and Zakiya Sultana Jui, participant of the camp was selected as symbolic minister of the assembly. She on behalf of the participants presented the demands of the participants through “Climate Declaration†to the representative of the government on the last day of the event.
The demands that the participants in the climate camp raised through Climate declaration include:
Developed and rich countries are responsible for the rapid climate change so we are not obliged taking the responsibility to combat the negative impact of climate change alone. They should compensate for what they have so far done.
Take initiative with emergency to identify the cause of climate change and address them accordingly.
Take development initiatives considering their effect on the education, health, abode and food security of the youth community and community people.
Take responsibility of the studies and other activities of students which hampered during disasters
Recognize the youth community as “Climate Heroes†who has been contributing to mitigate climate change and ensure food security of the state for a long time.
Take initiative to integrate between indigenous knowledge and approach of youth community and incorporate information in the text books regarding climate change, adaptation and environment.
Nonetheless, earlier participants in the climate camp were divided into groups and visited the Aila and Sidr affected areas. They presented their findings in a session with others. The climate declaration is the compilation of the findings and recommendations of the participants. The participants in these two days
while sharing their area’s experience and uniqueness with others did entertain themselves through cultural function. The whole event was moderated by Pavel Partha, coordinator, food security program of BARCIK.
