With the widespread apathy among governmental bodies with regards to the global environmental crisis, it’s really up to citizens like us to do something about it. Especially in the digital era of the internet. Here’s one great example of how you can help clean up The Himalayas by simply casting a vote online.
Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI) along with Zero Waste Himalaya (ZWH) organised the Himalayan Cleanup (THC) in 2018 which was a pan-Himalayan initiative taken to raise awareness about waste in the Indian Himalayan Region. On May 26th 2018, 12 states, 200 organisations and more than 15000 volunteers gathered to conduct cleanups in various areas on a single day. The resulting report of trash collected has revealed that more than 60 per cent was multilayered plastic waste and more than 95 per cent was plastic with no place being free of this waste. The mountains do not have adequate systems of waste management where the waste travels up only to be trashed in the sacred Himalaya.
The good news is, The Himalayan Cleanup 2020 has now been shortlisted for a grant by the European Conservation Outdoor Association (EOCA). It is the only project from India that has been selected. The project has entered the final voting round under the mountain category where all shortlisted projects are given two weeks to gather as many votes as possible in order to secure the grant. The voting window has opened on 28th March and closes on 11th April and the project with the most votes will win the grant. The voting process includes a simple click of a button without any compulsory additional requirements. The activities supported by the grant includes a clean-up across the 12 mountain states and equipment for THC 2020 along with workshops and training on waste management.
So spread the word and go to their website to caste the vote and do your bit!
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