Today was Youth Day at the Climate Summit: appropriate as it will be
these next generations that will be most affected by the impacts of
climate change, whether they be extreme weather conditions, natural
disasters, rising sea levels, climate conflict, environmental refugees,
or food and water shortages. It was a day to be inspired to make change
so that our future and our children's future is safeguarded. It was also
a day to be inspired by the enthusiasm, activism and commitment of the
youth to the cause of climate change and their desire to make a
difference.
In the last few years, I have been inspired, as have many other activists I know, by the story of the Maldivian President Mohamed "Anni" Nasheed and today, I had the opportunity to watch a film about his struggle entitled "The Island President". I couldn't have asked for better inspiration or a more positive role model for the young people in the audience, or indeed the not so young!
President Mohamed Nasheed came to power only about 7-8 months before the Copenhagen Climate conference (COP15) in Denmark in 2009. He won the presidency in a landmark election after more than 30 years of political monopoly, corruption, human rights abuses and authoritarian rule in the Maldives: an island nation better known for its pristine beaches and clear blue waters, a paradise for those who have the money to take advantage of it. However, for those living under the previous regime, life was not so heavenly.
After bringing democracy to his country, this straight speaking President now had to combat an even larger danger, Climate Change. As a result of rising sea levels, climate change will irreversibly impact low lying island nations such as the Maldives. They are at the forefront of the battle to cut carbon emissions and lower temperatures. The Maldives sit just 1.5m above sea level and cannot survive at the current rate of change that we are experiencing as a result of Global warming. Leading up to the Copenhagen Climate Summit, President Nasheed and his allies, bravely campaigned for an international commitment to a 350ppm cap on emissions and 1.5 degree cap on temperature rises. Unfortunately, no legally binding agreement came out of the 2009 conference, although recommendations were made. Today at COP18, we are still fighting these battles and time is running out.
This film charts the courageous moral journey of the President and his staff to gain a voice in the negotiations through widespread media coverage and sustained lobbying. I was truly inspired by the stand taken by the President and the commitment shown by him and his staff to changing minds, educating others and creating change. What was sad was that these islands were truly fighting for their survival, and yet consistently ignored by larger countries. The Maldives and other low lying island nations will not simply be affected by climate change, they will be wiped out. Even at the current calls for a 2 degree cap, beyond which many scientists say climate change will become irreversible, the sea levels would rise by 2 metres, submerging the 2000 islands that make up the Maldives.
Films such as these and stories such as these are important to share and should be seen by everyone as they bring home the reality of the Climate problem. It is affecting people today and we all have a responsibility to help, whether by changing our own lifestyles or by lobbying our governments and industry. We can no longer say "we did not know", indeed the truth is before us. As Muslims we are not only Khalifa on this Earth but Allah will hold us to account for our inaction. If we see an evil, we should act against it, and truly the loss of species, the loss of forests, the loss of people and resources, these are all evils we should be changing with our hands.
"Whoever among you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand [by taking action]; if he cannot, then with his tongue [by speaking out]; and if he cannot, then with his heart [by hating it and feeling that it is wrong] – and that is the weakest of faith"
(Narrated by Muslim, 49)
In the last few years, I have been inspired, as have many other activists I know, by the story of the Maldivian President Mohamed "Anni" Nasheed and today, I had the opportunity to watch a film about his struggle entitled "The Island President". I couldn't have asked for better inspiration or a more positive role model for the young people in the audience, or indeed the not so young!
President Mohamed Nasheed came to power only about 7-8 months before the Copenhagen Climate conference (COP15) in Denmark in 2009. He won the presidency in a landmark election after more than 30 years of political monopoly, corruption, human rights abuses and authoritarian rule in the Maldives: an island nation better known for its pristine beaches and clear blue waters, a paradise for those who have the money to take advantage of it. However, for those living under the previous regime, life was not so heavenly.
After bringing democracy to his country, this straight speaking President now had to combat an even larger danger, Climate Change. As a result of rising sea levels, climate change will irreversibly impact low lying island nations such as the Maldives. They are at the forefront of the battle to cut carbon emissions and lower temperatures. The Maldives sit just 1.5m above sea level and cannot survive at the current rate of change that we are experiencing as a result of Global warming. Leading up to the Copenhagen Climate Summit, President Nasheed and his allies, bravely campaigned for an international commitment to a 350ppm cap on emissions and 1.5 degree cap on temperature rises. Unfortunately, no legally binding agreement came out of the 2009 conference, although recommendations were made. Today at COP18, we are still fighting these battles and time is running out.
This film charts the courageous moral journey of the President and his staff to gain a voice in the negotiations through widespread media coverage and sustained lobbying. I was truly inspired by the stand taken by the President and the commitment shown by him and his staff to changing minds, educating others and creating change. What was sad was that these islands were truly fighting for their survival, and yet consistently ignored by larger countries. The Maldives and other low lying island nations will not simply be affected by climate change, they will be wiped out. Even at the current calls for a 2 degree cap, beyond which many scientists say climate change will become irreversible, the sea levels would rise by 2 metres, submerging the 2000 islands that make up the Maldives.
Films such as these and stories such as these are important to share and should be seen by everyone as they bring home the reality of the Climate problem. It is affecting people today and we all have a responsibility to help, whether by changing our own lifestyles or by lobbying our governments and industry. We can no longer say "we did not know", indeed the truth is before us. As Muslims we are not only Khalifa on this Earth but Allah will hold us to account for our inaction. If we see an evil, we should act against it, and truly the loss of species, the loss of forests, the loss of people and resources, these are all evils we should be changing with our hands.
"Whoever among you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand [by taking action]; if he cannot, then with his tongue [by speaking out]; and if he cannot, then with his heart [by hating it and feeling that it is wrong] – and that is the weakest of faith"
(Narrated by Muslim, 49)
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