NASHIK: A former Filipino diplomat-turned-climate activist is set to visit Nashik on August 31 during the Kumbh Mela. Currently in India, Yeb Sano, who started the People's Pilgrimage walk from his homeland in the Philippines in May, is expected in Nashik soon with the motive to reach out to the sadhus for their support for the 'Clean Kumbh' initiative undertaken by the Bhumi Project through OurVoices, an international NGO.
The activist would be visiting Mumbai, Hyderabad, Gujarat, Varanasi and other states of the country. He is on his way to the UN climate change negotiations in Paris — the 21st Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21) meeting in December later this year that is aimed at addressing the global warming challenges in the world.
Sano said, "I see the potential for India to be a leader in embracing clean energy. Our actions today determine our future."
Startegic advisor of the Clean Kumbh initiative Sonalee Tomar said, "While in Nashik, Yeb Sano will be offering prayers along with millions of other worshippers, interacting with the religious heads and speaking at the Kumbhathon, an initiative taken to bring technological solutions with the help of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. His aim is to raise awareness for climate change and quick action in the near future," she said.
In 2013, Philippines had experienced the horror of an extreme weather calamity, hurricane Haiyan, which left a trail of devastation across his hometown Tacloban. At that time, he could not even find out if his family was still alive. He committed to fasting until the end of that meeting as a demonstration of his personal anguish and for all those in a similar situation as himself. In turn, he triggered a worldwide movement —#FastfortheClimate — which has inspired thousands, especially young people to follow his example.
He is currently in the country to visit the survivors of Cyclone HudHud, the holy leaders in Varanasi and the Kumbh, and to visit one of India's flagship solar farms.
Tomar said that the Khumbh Mela in Nashik is the world's largest gathering of humans and it will serve as the innovation sandbox for an unprecedented intersection of religion, high-technology and academia, all driven by a start-up approach with the singular focus on keeping the environment clean.
"The Clean Kumbh initiative, a project driven by the Bhumi Project at the KumbhMela 2015, will draw on the support of the Hindu gurus, MIT Media Labs and the former Filipino ambassador who is on a walking pilgrimage from his hometown in the Philippines to the UN talks on climate change in Paris," she said.
OurVoices is an interfaith group that aims to provide a forum for people to raise issue about climate change. The Bhumi Project, under the aegis OurVoices, is a worldwide Hindu response to the environmental issues threatening the planet. The project is facilitated by the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies in the UK.
Speaking to TOI, she said that about 10,000 solar lamps would be distributed to the pilgrims when Yeb Sano visits Nashik during the mega event and it is expected that between 50 and 100 million people will be exposed to the benefits of renewable energy solutions through this approach. The aim is to encourage people to use renewable energy and reduce carbon footprint.
"The Clean Kumbh campaign aims to align itself with the facets of the Clean India campaign by culminating with an actual on-ground clean-up of the Kumbh grounds at the end of the holy month," she added.
