"Raise Your Voice, Not the sea level" this year's theme of WED motivated everyone to raise their voice against climate change and impact being caused by it. My attempt was same, raising the voice in WED 2014 with all the power shifter at Patan Durbar Square, Lalitpur. Raising the voice against climate change Power Shift Nepal has been working with 100 youth since March and conducted various programs in different schools, institutions and communities of Kathmandu Valley. Reaching more than 20, 000 people physically and through social media in a very short period of 2.5 months, power shifter have floated the positive message of youth involvement against climate change in Nepal, moreover the additional work like plantation in UN park and Ratnapark cleanliness and maintenance program have made them more accountable towards their action and internalized the need of action. However it is a known fact that one should spread the message to get more support and evaluate the quality of work they have done. 5 June 2014 was an attempt to raise voice against climate change and give people message that youth have come forward to fight against climate change along getting the opinion on people if power shifters are in right track in raising voice against climate change. The day Power shifter raised their voice against climate change through direct actions and people appreciated it.  

Banner of Power shift Nepal in Paper mat

Power shifter explaining about their research to Ex Environment Minister Mr. Ganesh Shah

Coming to June 5, most of the power shifters have felt the change within themselves, development of self confidence and vivid knowledge on climate change and organizing events had made them a different person from what they were while joining Power Shift Nepal. But the real test was if they can effectively convey their message to wide range of people ranging from a layman to learned individuals of the society. Interaction through exhibition could be the best medium of showcasing the actions and initiating discussion with the visitors which ultimately would raise the voice even louder. 6 stalls of 5 different theme were set up, a stall showing how alternative energy can be instrumental in mitigating and adapting climate change, while a group focused on promoting eco friendly business which developed the crafts from waste material and brought up the stories from the field conveying if Business and environment go hand in hand, it reaps better results.

Power shfifter with their product from waste and lessons of Eco friendly business

Visitors being explained about Eco friendly Behavior

The stall of research team was dedicated in conveying people that not our every problem is due to climate change but there are other factors playing their part, moreover it is hard to believe every articles on newspaper in the newspapers as some journalists themselves don?t have sound knowledge on issue and also shared that though we are talking more on biofuel the sector is still unexplored and lot can be done in the field. But the key message was, we can reduce our ecological footprint if we try to do so. Moreover the exhibition also conveyed that there is no option of adapting eco friendly behaviour to adapt and mitigate climate change.

Visitors in different stalls

A message for Eco Friendly Behavior

Power shifter from different theme were sharing their learning from the field and study, while more than 5000 visitors were being motivated by one or the other stall, most of them returning with a say, ?we need to act?. Visited by hundreds of student each power shifter in the stall explained in the simplest way and made them clear why we need to act and how we can act against climate change. Besides all a team of power shifter, explained visitors about the power of writing, writing stories, poems, essays and so forth to raise voice against climate change. Visitors participated enthusiastically and internalized the power of writing.

Trying writing skills

But the highlight of the program was drama – Pariwartankari (change maker) performed by power shifter on the cause of climate change and how we can halt the rate of climate change. Performed in very simple language the drama targeted understanding of layman and explained accordingly. Audience were impressed with the drama and took the knowledge with them back home.

Drama being performed at Patan Durbar Square

In WED, I raised my voice through all power shifters and their actions and illustrations, I being in the organizing team contributed in conceptualizing and managing the event. For me the event silently raised voice against climate change through direct action and inspiration, not only to visitors but the voice within the power shifter was even louder as they saw the change that they have brought within themselves and society.

Action speaks louder than words, for me the voice raised by power shifter (where I could contribute) was louder enough to be heard by people.

Please follow the following link for more photographs of the event

http://goo.gl/mn44CY

and follow the link to check out the actions of Power shift Nepal

http://goo.gl/3iZaTy