From the first Hyderabad Youth summit on climate in June 2009, that proved to be the launchpad for kicking off IYCN's activities in the city, it has been a rollercoaster ride for many of the members. Andhra Pradesh has seen a recent flurry of organizations and activities that are addressing different environmental issues. Besides the veterans like WWF, CSA, Greenpeace, DDS, APNGC et al, new bodies and networks like the Andhra Pradesh Environment Connect, Lets unite for a greener tomorrow, SOUL, Planet 3 protection alliance and a multitude of small environment clubs across schools, colleges and corporate campuses have added to the variety and diversity to the people and the ways deployed to tackle the environmental crises. This is evidence enough of growing awareness and people taking up action irrespective of any support from the Govt. or otherwise.
The campaigns and workshops we organized brought us closer to organizations and individuals from various backgrounds and it is always wonderful to recollect the fact that a majority of the people out there are concerned about the issues we fight for and are only waiting for the push that will come through mobilization and/or being an example of change ourselves. This aspect runs across the country and is one of the major reasons for IYCN to begin engaging people beyond campaigns and get into projects and influencing policy at different levels of Govt. operation. It is always easy to convert the cynicism that proliferates the status quo into a element of motivation and encouragement when we work in a team and look at the examples of change that people are busy creating around us. Often quoted examples of Pragati Nagar in the city that banned plastic in the entire colony or the first green commercial (CII-GBC) and residential green building from Hyderabad remain positive influences for many young groups which need to see and understand the possibilities out there.
Most if not all the members of the chapter are young people who are exposed to an incredible amount of information and activities happening across the world. With communication becoming global and easier, one can expect to find a sense of dissonance and delusion to the events of our time amongst the youth. A changing climate does not merely change the temperatures but affects the political, economical and social spheres in many unknown ways. This is a crucial aspect that IYCN Hyd works on by networking and working with different organizations that are not necessarily working on climate change at the surface. Events around Bhopal, contemporary media, human rights, peoples struggles, energy issues and a lot more. Sensitization aside, this gives the person a holistic experience and an opportunity to piece things together and view them in relation to climate change.
2010 and the years ahead hold a lot of promise with new teams settling in and new opinions and ideas entering the organization and we have moved into a new office as well. IYCN Hyderabad with the Great Power Race is aiming high to reach out to campuses across the city and create massive awareness that will definitely result in a few projects being executed on the ground. Communication is one of the major focuses this year and employing innovative ways of communication through art, audio, video are underway. Documentation can always be an Achilles heal for NGOs that fail to record their activities and to avoid that, documentation of all activities meetings will be done through effective and innovative means for benefits in the future. Partnering with more organizations and continuing to explore and understand new areas that find a relation to climate change will be a key focus for the team here. IYCN recently started a chapter in Kakinada and that gives us immense pride.
Credits: Ranga Prasad, Shiva Prasad, Swetha, Bharat, Chaitanya Kumar and a lot many more.