Climate change responsibility
Mock show exposes leaders of developed nations
People at a mock show in the southern coastal city of Khulna on Sunday squarely blamed the leaders of the developed countries of ignoring their living conditions deteriorating by the day due to climate change.
The demonstrators said that they were exposed to increased saline intrusion, frequent cyclones, longer droughts and other adverse natural conditions – all taking place under the direct influence of climate change.
They said that the developed countries responsible for the climate change, instead of addressing the problems, were aggravating the climatic conditions to put the people in the threatened countries, particularly littoral developing nations, on harms way.
The perceived indifference or even the hostile intent of the leaders of 10developed nations towards the uncertain future of the people threatened by climate change was enacted by 10 persons, wearing their masks.
At the mock demonstration, one could see the leaders of the US, the UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Switzerland and Norway throwing miniature human figures, not bigger than eight to 10 inches in height, into boiling water, the effect of climate change.
It highlighted the point that the developed countries continue to ignore cutting carbon emission
to aggravate the living condition for the people threatened by climate change.
It was not for nothing that the mock demonstration at the southern port city’s Shaheed Hadis Park was staged on 10.10.10 (October 10, 2010).
Later, the participants, all inhabitants of the threatened coastal belt, in a procession demonstrated through the city.
They demanded cutting carbon emission by the developed countries and relocation of potential climate change victims.
They also demanded compensation for the victims of frequent natural disasters, occurring under the impact of climate change, new farming technology and seeds for growing foods under changing weather patterns under the influence of climate change.
Under constant threat of climate change, they said, at least two lakh people of the coastal belt were forced to migrate to safer destinations leaving their homes and hearths.
Besides, coastal people, the activists of green movements, civic groups and rights organizations, students and teachers took part in the mock show organized by three NGOs, Uttaran, Humanitywatch and Campaign for Sustainable Rural Livelihood (CSRL).
The mock show over, the participants held a rally at the park to press their demands.
Chaired by Aila Durgoto Sanghati Mancha convener advocate Firoz Ahmed, the rally speakers included Professor Salequzzaman, green activists – Sajjadur Rahim Pantha, Humayun Kabir Bobby and Mahfuzur Rahman Mukul, and Dheeman Mandal and Dwijen Mandal from Aila affected areas.
They said that the people of Bangladesh, especially in the coastal belt, were the worst victims of climate change.
They said that the people in the coastal belt, particularly farmers and day labourers were bewildered about their future hit by frequent cyclones, tidal surges, river erosion, salinity and unpredictability of weather.
