Kelani Nadee Yathra:

A journey for climate justice

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

Nature has no boundaries. It never laid boundaries for countries and regions. What happens to nature in one country could affect the entire earth. All of us are siblings of the earth whether black or white, Western or Asian.

Located between 6-10 degrees of the north latitude and between 80-82 degrees of the east longitude, the pearl of the Indian ocean - Sri Lanka is becoming a victim of climate change too.

Scorching heat, irregular rain patterns, increase in vector borne diseases with bizarre names are becoming quite common and yet never was it realised that climate change, global warming has a part to play. Climate change impacts become significant through vector ( specially mosquitoes) and rodent borne diseases, food and water borne diseases, changes in nutritional levels and many other environment related health disorders.

Rather than safeguarding ourselves and preparing to face the possible fiasco we prefer to sit and watch while blaming the developed world for their higher carbon emissions. Fortunately Sri Lanka is one of the countries which emits carbon less than 1 metric ton. According to recent statistics carbon emitted by Sri Lanka is around 0.6 metric tons whereas the world average is 4.5 metric tons and in USA alone carbon emission per person is 25 metric tons.

The ‘Kelani Nadee Yathra’ A journey to raise awareness on adversities of climate change will take place from August 15-29 organized by eco friendly Volunteers Twenty young nature enthusiasts, between the age of 18-20 will start the journey for climate justice from Nallathanniye on ‘Sripada’ (Adam’s peak) and will be trekking, floating and cycling along the Kelani river.

Eco Friendly Volunteers is a non-profit organisation to conserve nature. The Provincial Environment Ministry of the Western Province, UN Volunteers and the Sri Lanka Scout Association jointly supports the endeavour. Among the volunteers are rehabilitated ex-LTTE military cadres who are now enjoying their lives with their families.

“The community project will help change the attitudes towards climate change and its effects,” on nature at grassroots level, said Western Province Minister of Environment Udaya Gammanpila. “Many people are not aware that climate change is one of the main reasons for agricultural, health and climatic problems we face,” Minister Gammanpila said. Highlighting the importance of choosing Kelani river minister Gammanpila said that with the rise in sea water levels more salt water tend to flow inland thus making the water of the river unusable. “Extracting river sand despite the ban and limitations imposed on the trade has aggravated the situation,” he added.

The salt water has caused irreparable damages to arable lands at certain locations along the Kelani river.

“Climate change has not been properly discussed at grass rootlevels. People need to understand how to change their lifestyles and adopt strategies in their day-to-day life to mitigate the impact of climate change,” said President of the Eco Friendly Volunteers (Eco-V) Kanchana Weerakoon.

“We need to educate the younger generation how to adapt eco-friendly habits. It is high time that a national awareness campaign is launched to enlighten people on climate change rather blaming the developed world for their higher carbon emission,” Weerakoon said.

Weerakoon said sensitivity of the community towards environment issues should be elevated and the best way to educate the younger generation and develop these skills. “We hope to enlighten policy-makers by bringing to their notice issues among communities. Kelani Nadee Yathra highlights these issues among the residents along the Kelani river which is polluted by human activities.

Armed with Sri Lankan youngsters the Scout Association Colombo District branch joins hands with Eco-V into this group of Samaritans. “Scouts enjoy the outdoor life for over 100 years and have always considered environment as a key part in the success of an individual,” said the Assistant District Commissioner of the Colombo District Scouts Darshana Ranathunga. “Hikers would stop at the Salawa Camp in Kosgama of the Scout Association on August 25 and several programs will be conducted before leaving to Wattala to end the journey,” Ranathunga said.

This camp site located along the Kelani river is providing the scouts a place to enjoy nature and outdoor life, he added.

For the scouts it is also the Scout Centres for Excellence for Nature and Environment. Sir Robert Baden Powell, the founder of the Scout Movement said “For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, the forest is at once a laboratory, a club and a temple. The UN Volunteers supports the Eco-V effort as 2011 is the UN year for volunteers. Representing UN Volunteers Fadhil Bakir Marker said it is high time to appreciate and recognize the hard work of volunteers.

Starting a long walk the ‘Kelani Nadee Yathra’ will start the campaign from the ‘Sama Chaithyaya’ in Siripada and journey along the Kelani river. The Eco-V targets communities to live along Kelani River, people in Sri Lanka and later the Asia_Pacific region as a post-project activity. The whole travel will be done as segments with stop-overs by bus, bicycles and on foot at pre determined places. Once the journey starts several awareness workshops for the respective communities with presentations, film shows and discussions will be organised at seven different stations where the trekkers will be camping overnight. The tree planting campaigns at which 100 trees will be planted at each stop will be organised at those stations with the support of local governmental agencies.

Energy saving bulbs and water saving tips will be introduced at the same stations where local environmental groups can continue promoting them even after. Final day gathering will be held at Kelaniya Temple where experience will be shared with the government officers, and various stakeholders.

All the participants and organisers will maintain an environmental friendly lifestyle during the river campaign and the carbon footprint will be minimized. Local environmental groups will be empowered by sharing information.

A community action plan and a final report of the outputs will be prepared by the youth group with the support of ECO-V and will be presented to the higher government authorities. Each youth traveller should initiate a project related to climate change issues at local level and the best project will be selected and rewarded. According to Weerakoon necessary guidance and support will be given by Eco-V to the travellers.