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Prashant Bhandari Year-Prize: The 7th Eco-generation Environmental Essay Competition Item: International Year of Small Island Developing States
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International Year of Small Island Developing States -Youth Group's Role for Sustainable SIDS Winner's name: Prashant Bhandari Prize: Eco-generation Prize Fifty centimeter of rise in sea level will result in Grenada losing 60% of its beaches. One meter rise in Sea level will inundate Maldives. The stats are horrifying. Climate change, desertification, global warming, increased sea level, the list continues. Some of us are at immediate risk. Increased sea level will sink only some of our cities. Only some of us are prone to the immediate hurricanes. This 'some of us' is our brothers and sisters living in the small islands. UN General Assembly has declared the year 2014 as 'The year of small island developing states'. The issue is grave. Most of us know about it, at least the ones with the capital, stake holders, power-holders know about it. Appropriate steps have been initiated? Is it enough? We've talked, discussed and planned for far too long and we haven't walked our talk. Now is the time to act. The path of sustainable development is harder once we propose sustainable development in SIDS. With limited resources, remoteness, natural disasters, infrastructure development is hindered. On top of that they've small skilled force and they practically have no economies of scale. The development seems unfeasible. But we ought to see it as an opportunity rather than as an obstacle. Granted we can't change the remoteness or limited resources of SIDS but we can choose to focus on strengths like the resources of SIDS, few may be but are all endemic flora or fauna or culture, language, tradition. This gives them huge advantage, they can offer the world what no one can, and this creates boundless scope for tourism. Caribbean islands have used this perfectly. Dependence on imported fossils fuel in SIDS is a huge problem. Young scientist ought to come up with appropriate sources of clean energy: tidal energy, solar energy, wind energy or something else. Impacts of climate change on SIDS is immediate and severe, they are contributing least on global warming, climate change and are facing the most damages. The situation seems out of control but we youths in SIDS and all over the world need to take control, we ought to reduce the carbon footprint. If we think about it there is basically two source to this problem. Firstly the factories, industries, laboratories that produces chemicals, byproducts and secondly our lifestyle, our choices. A lot of cases has been fought over factories and industries globally, a lot has been done, needs to be done. Secondly our lifestyle, our choices, to the extent we are willing to use our children?, children's children? future as means to our ends. Our future depends on our choices, simple as that. Just due to our laziness we mix paper, plastics, and wastes all in one bin. It isn't that hard to maintain separate bins, youths have started many campaigns and we need to further amplify our voices to make sure each ear in the world, even the one in the farthest corner hears about campaigns like these. We ought to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Period. Similarly we ought to use and inspire masses to use public vehicles instead of private luxuries. We youths should not limit ourselves to just campaigns and awareness, we should show by example, we ought to change by being the change. For instance we can form an organization of youths from SIDS and other countries and collaborate with farmers in production of endemic fruits, flowers, vegetables. Many products of SIDS need proper marketing & certification, we can work on these things to create global market. Fiji being developed as an 'Organic Island' through Private-Public partnership is praiseworthy, we need to be achieve development like these in other SIDS,After all a healthy economy is a beginning of quality of life and a basic pre requisite. We can work on sewage and drainage management, some fishes are found to feed on sludge. Similarly electricity can be generated from fuel cells that run from bacteria found in sewage. We need to think and act out of the box for problem like these. Governments and international community should use & develop SIDS as a research lab for sustainable future and try to turn into clean energy utopia & beyond. I am not a strong believer of 'The Chaos Theory' but I choose to believe in 'The butterfly effect'. I believe that one newly planted tree in Kenya is responsible for the change we see, we want to see. I believe one active volunteer in a campaign, one concerned youth, one concerned stakeholder, reading this like you is responsible for the future. The future which we share together. You, me, us. Climate neutrality is possible. All it takes is us being human and doing what is right. |
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12 Comments
great essay
Posted 25-10-2015 17:11
Well done mate. Great report!! =)
Posted 13-09-2015 09:58
we Indians may concentrate on Laksadweep
Posted 02-12-2014 01:03
Well written, Prashant. Congrats on your winning.
Posted 01-12-2014 14:27
Congrats =D
Posted 30-11-2014 23:26
congrats!
Posted 29-11-2014 21:53
great essay!
Posted 29-11-2014 21:53
I must say that Jamaica is benefiting continuously from UN in "The year of small island developing states" (Bhandar, para. 2).
A well composed essay. Congrats!
Posted 29-11-2014 09:18
A motivating write up. Can spur anyone to rise up for a just cause. You deserve to have won. Congratulations.
Abel A.
Posted 28-11-2014 02:51
That's great essay. You have written very well and with great flow.
Congrats once again buddy.
Posted 27-11-2014 21:47
Well done, Prashant! Big Congrats! Proud to know you.
Posted 27-11-2014 18:34
This is an awesome essay. The ideas are numerous, vital and have a great impact to the society. You deserved to win. Congratulations Prashant!
Posted 27-11-2014 09:42