“Use a bin! Action and not words, against littering” was the slogan chanted by the young environmentalists who recently participated in the people’s climate march in New Amsterdam, Berbice.
The event, held in observance of Global Day of Action, was organised by Berbice Shines, a volunteer group born out of Global Youth Movement Guyana.
Accompanied by youths of the Ebenezer Lutheran Church, the Berbice Shines volunteers marched along Main Street, New Amsterdam, from Philadelphia Road to the town arch and concluded at State House. Throughout the procession, they urged residents to desist from littering and use instead safe and healthy garbage disposal methods.
Then at a rally which immediately followed the march, the youths were addressed by Berbice Shines Media Coordinator Sarah Rambarran. She thanked them for being “history makers” and joining in what she said is “shaping up to be an historic climate change mobilisation all across the globe with more than 2,700 events planned in 160+ countries”.
Rambarran said the march was significant because it will let the heads of various governments know “this moment is about us – the people who are standing up in our communities, to organise, and confront issues that affect climate change for a just, safe, peaceful world.”
Acknowledging that one day or one event will never be enough to “get our governments to act” Rambarran noted that the event was not singular, as the young environmentalists were “standing alongside thousands, perhaps millions of others around the globe at a critical moment.”
She remarked that unlike Indonesians who are marching and having rallies to engage people, build support, and increase awareness on the ongoing coal campaign struggles, or Europeans who are calling for church leaders, universities, city councils, medical institutions and pension funds to break their financial and reputational ties from fossil fuel companies, Guyana’s struggle is against the “culture of littering.” Rambarran argued that “not only does littering make our lands, roads, and towns/villages look disgusting, it contributes to global warming.” She went on to point out however, “it’s a problem we can solve on our own by changing our outlook and habits.”
The government, she admitted, can and should play a part in maintaining a healthy environment by enforcing stricter legislation and being more active in ensuring that its citizens do not litter. But regardless, she maintained that the bottom line is “people cause our litter problem and people can solve it.” This she proposed can be done by curbing the culture of littering, which would ultimately reduce global warming and the effects it has on climate change.
The Berbice Shines volunteers later planted a few trees on the lawns of State House.
