Feature story - July 17, 2009
DELHI, India — 25 Greenpeace activists queued up outside the Reserve Bank of India to deposit 100’s of pots of water for safe keeping to highlight the issue of the growing water crisis fuelled by climate change. The activists unfurled a banner with a message “Climate Change = water crisis” right out side the RBI main gate.
Greenpeace activists try and deposit water in the RBI to highlight one of the impacts of climate change - Water scarcity.
"Our government's response to the preparation required to
address climate change stinks. At the rate the Gangotri is melting,
it will soon vanish and dilli wallhs will soon have to take turns
to bathe", said Nitin, Greenpeace campaigner tongue firmly in
cheek. Delhi has received almost 60% less than the predicted
rainfall this season. Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh are not to far
behind.
The Indian monsoon which is the lifeline of the subcontinent
will be significantly affected by climate change, according to a
Greenpeace paper titled 'Monsoon Wager: Climate change and the
Indian Monsoon' (1). Stability and predictability of the monsoons
are critical to India's economy society and ecology including our
agriculture and food supply chain. Changes in the monsoon will have
far reaching social and economic impacts.
The lives of millions of Indians, farmers, city dwellers, depend
on the monsoon. Delhi has been at the receiving end of changing
weather patterns with summers becoming hotter every year and
monsoons very erratic and unpredictable. "The time has come for
ordinary citizens to step forward and lead the war against the
climate crisis. If our governments don't take immediate steps to
tackle climate change, we will live to see the day when water will
have to be deposited in the banks for safety" Said Nishant, a
volunteer with Greenpeace.
Greenpeace has launched a campaign called "Greenidol" across
the country to engage with people and get them to sign a petition
demanding a Renewable Energy Law. Since the 4th of June more than
35000 people have signed on. Greenpeace along with citizens will be
presenting these petitions to the Prime Minister of India demanding
for an ambitious central Renewable Energy Law in the country.
Notes to the Editor
1. India's Monsoon Wager: Climate change and the Indian
monsoon-
http://www.greenpeace.org/india/press/reports/monsoon-wager
Preethi Herman, Greenpeace Communications, +91 99014 88482;
Nitin George, Public Engagement Campaigner,
Greenpeace +91 99587 99211,
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