A demonstration on the climate crisis was organised on Thursday at Abahani Playing Field at Dhanmondi in the capital with the slogan “We are not as blind as you are.” People with visual disabilities, students, and others organised the demonstration to call on high-emitting countries as well as the rich nations to reduce their emissions rapidly.
Students representing high-greenhouse gas emitting countries sat in chairs while people with visual disabilities symbolically pushed them to become more active in addressing the climate crisis. Visually impaired people also held up a symbolic globe, showing how countries need to work together to respond to global crises.
Participants called on countries to take strong immediate action such as putting high tax on carbon, closing polluting factories, stopping all subsidies to fossil fuels, and switching from fossil fuel use to clean energy while dramatically reducing energy use. At the demonstration, people with visual disabilities explained that though they cannot see with their eyes, they are well aware of the current and future threats to Bangladesh and other countries due to the burning of fossil fuels. While they are concerned about the crisis, policymakers in high emitting countries seem blind to the urgency of the problem. Participants urged policymakers in high-emitting countries to take strong immediate action during the tiny window of opportunity that still remains.
Students at the rally said that while they come from different countries, they share a joint—and frightening—future damaged by the effects of flooding, drought, wildfires, worsened storms, and intense heat. “The high emitting countries must act now to dramatically reduce, then rapidly stop, their greenhouse gas emissions,” said Samiha Mannan of the Asian University for Women.
“Governments need to take strong action now to dramatically reduce carbon use if we are to have any hope of a habitable globe when we are in our 40s and 50s,” said a visually-impaired student of Dhaka University. “This is a crisis which we cannot continue to ignore. High emitting countries like the US and China must take action now to end their addiction to fossil fuels,” said Gaous Pearee, Director of WBB Trust. “Every year the weather gets hotter. How much more can we bear?” asked Debra Efroymson, Executive Director, Institute of Wellbeing. “Scientists predict that 20% of Bangladesh will be underwater by 2050. Are we going to remain silent? The whole country could go underwater by 2100. We need to stand up for our country!” she added.
Participants included dozens of visually impaired students and professionals, a dozen students from the Asian University for Women, members of Bangladesh Youth Climate Network, and others. The event was organised by the Bangladesh Youth Climate Network.
