With UNICEF celebrating World Children’s Day on November 20, the team of Mumbai Live got in touch with Sadiya Shaikh, a 12-year-old Mumbai-based Child Rights Advocate from the Child Parliament (Amcha Ghar) actively creating awareness among her community about the impact of climate change.
Speaking about the challenges a regular 12-year-old child feels every day with, Shaik stated, “As a child, we face issues like the polluted air, an un-eco-friendly environment, no proper grounds for us to play and if there are grounds, those are filled with litters as well.” Elucidating more on some of the concepts adults get wrong, the 12-year-old chirped, “Some people believe that acid rain is not harmful. It tastes and feels like normal rain so taking a walk in the rain will not have any direct implications.”
When questioned about Mumbai and the everyday changes that can be implemented to make the city a better place, Shaik added, “We can grow more plants and start using eco-friendlier products. Moreover, we need to learn how to dispose of industrial waste in a proper way.” Further propagating the use of public transport, Shaik also spoke about the axing and felling of trees adding that some people in the name of development have been chopping trees which have had a harmful effect on the environment.
Climate change happens to be an existential threat to the natural environments, biodiversity, vulnerable populations and future generations. This has caused widespread concern not only among environmentalists but in recent times we have witnessed many child activists coming forward to speak about the same in order to protect the environment.
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