Poor waste management is considered one of the leading causes of climate change. To convey this and educate the country’s future leaders about climate change, a man is on a mission. An actor and an environmentalist, Jamyang Jamtsho Wangchuk started a month-long cycling campaign from Pema Gatshel Middle Secondary School yesterday. He will visit schools in 14 districts.
It was a proud moment for Pema Gatshel Middle Secondary School to see one of its former students fighting for a good cause. Students and staff gathered to pray and wish for his success early yesterday.
Planting a Jangchub Shing or pipal tree on the school campus, Jamyang started his green campaign. The dusty road and the bumpy ride of more than 20 kilometres did not deter his resolve to choose his former school as the starting point of his mission.
“The title “The Messenger-Ride for Action” is also not only aimed to raise awareness of the impacts of the climate crisis. But we also hope that we can inspire the youth to take part in the form of action. It doesn’t have to be big; we can always start from a small thing,” he said.
Holding a 250-ml cola bottle filled with water, Jamyang says it’s a grim reminder of what contributes to the climate crisis and the result thereof. The water is brought all the way from Thorthormi glaciers lake at Lunana.
“I used this discarded plastic bottle because it stands for plastic pollution. The waste problem, that’s rampant not only in Bhutan but all over the world. And the water inside represents the rapidly melting glaciers in the Himalayas,” he added.
To drive home his message, Jamyang and his team are using an electric taxi for the campaign. The long rough ride is expected to complete at the end of this month in Thimphu.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Sonam
