The 2018 Ramon Magsaysay Award winner Sonam Wangchuk had been fasting in -15 degree Celsius weather as part of his protest against mining of the region’s resources and to bring to the attention of the Indian government the rapid meltdown of the Himalayas, also known as ‘third pole’. He just ended his 21-day fast on 26th March, 2024 but this is not the end. This is only one part of many more to come.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_esvvCzwtg
Sonam Wangchuk, an educator, climate activist and an engineer, has been a pioneer in building solar-powered buildings where meltwater can be refrozen and used for irrigation later. However, he knows he single-handedly cannot solve the bigger climate issue, hence he wants the prominent people of India who are in power, to do something about it.
Ladakh is the highest plateau of India located in the Himalayan region. Ladakh is so free of pollution that it is possibly the only region in India which boasts of crystal clear skies, beautiful and awe-inspiring landscapes, thrilling adventure activities, highest mountain passes, and of course Buddhist Monasteries and unique festivals. As of now, Ladakh has been untouched by development work, but it might not be the case for very long.
He has been fasting for three weeks at a height of 11,500 sq. ft. where the temperature records -15 degrees Celsius on a normal day. Thousands of people joined him in this protest in their one-day fasts in the belief that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government will designate Ladakh as a ‘tribal area’. Under the constitution of India, getting a tribal status would mean that the region gets local autonomy for the land and resource use. He believes that this is the only way to protect the fragile ecosystem and the way of life of the Ladakhis.
In the past, India has been known to have leaders and protesters fasting for a cause. Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of India, who fought in the Independence Movement and believed in non-violence, was quite famous for his hunger strikes.
Learn more about Sonam Wangchuk and his views:
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This is the kind of commitment we need to fight climate change.
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Dear Varsa Mahananda Your climate love has received over 50 agrees! We have reached out to Sonam Wangchuk (engineer) by email and requested a response. I will keep you updated on any progress! To reach more people and increase the chance of a response, click the Share button above to share the review on your social accounts. For every new member that joins We Don't Have Time from your network, we will plant a tree and attribute it to you! /Adam, We Don't Have Time
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His dedication draws attention to the need for sustainable practices and responsible resource management. Wangchuk's commitment serves as a powerful call to action for preserving the ecological integrity of Ladakh's unique landscape.
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Sonam Wangchuk's 21-day fast to protect Ladakh's glaciers and fragile ecosystem is inspiring! ❄️ Melting glaciers in the Himalayas are a major climate threat.
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This is encouraging..we all should atleast do something to ensure that we are heard and what we care about is protected.
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@jane_wangui It's very true that we need our leaders to pay attention to and listen to all our demands to fight climate change.
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This is amazing. Sonam 's actions underscores the importance of individual responsibility in climate action.
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@rukia_ahmed_abdi Very true.