Nepal: Young people protect their environment
The Dudhmati is an important flow for Hindus. He is considered the birthplace of the goddess Sita. But the Holy Strom has become deteriorated into a dump. Aanand (21) has been fighting against garbage mountains and land speculators for four years - and therefore is increasingly experiencing a headwind.
“My grandfather drank out of the Dudhmati. This is no longer possible today. Fabrics are in charge of their waste water. And because we don't have any garbage dumps, people also throw everything into the Dudhmati. Instead of drinking river water, we now have to get water out of the ground. And dig deeper and deeper.
Since I was 13, I've been committed to children's rights. When I was 17 I started fighting for the protection of the Dudhmati. At that time, the administration had decided to connect wastewater channels directly to the river. So more garbage would have been washed into the Dudhmati. Together with friends, I started writing letters to the local government, protesting the sewer project and organizing clean-ups.
We managed to prevent the channels in our community. But the administration simply built them below on the river, where there was no resistance. It was clear to us: we have to do more. Since then we have been asking politics and authorities to meet their responsibility. We plant trees on the bank of the river, do information campaigns and provide workshops in schools.
The headwind becomes stronger
Not everyone likes that. Because of our commitment, people can no longer easily dispose of their garbage in Dudhmati. Many think we paid for it - and insult. Some time ago, influential people started building on the bank. That drives the prices up. And the more money in the game, the greater the headwind. We are now receiving threatening calls. I put great hope for the children's rights confirmed by the United Nations Children's Rights Committee on a healthy environment. It is now important that the governments implement the specifications. Also in the country. Even in small, marginalized municipalities like ours who are susceptible to environmental threats. «