Loading...
Ridhima PandeyLoading...
Loading...
Child Climate ActivistLoading...
by Mike Capone
WHO IS RIDHIMA PANDEY?
This is the story of a young girl who believed in standing up for what is right. This is the story of a girl who who believed in fighting for change, who believed in fixing things and making life better for herself, for her family, and for others. This is the story of Ridhima Pandey.
Ridhima lived in a northern part of the country of India called Uttarakhand. Over 10 million people live in this region with a rich history – its name means Land of the Gods due to its importance to Hindus, and it lies close to the Himalayan mountains near the border with Tibet and Nepal.
This is the story of a young girl who believed in standing up for what is right. This is the story of a girl who who believed in fighting for change, who believed in fixing things and making life better for herself, for her family, and for others. This is the story of Ridhima Pandey.
Ridhima lived in a northern part of the country of India called Uttarakhand. Over 10 million people live in this region with a rich history – its name means Land of the Gods due to its importance to Hindus, and it lies close to the Himalayan mountains near the border with Tibet and Nepal.
START TO ACTIVISM
Uttarakhand had major environmental disasters – the most devastating occurred on June 16, 2013. Heavy rainfall caused major flooding and landslides leading to over 1000 deaths and many more people were stranded from roads that were washed away or blocked by debris.
When environmentalists came to Uttarakhand to figure out what went wrong and why there were so much damage, they concluded that climate change had a major impact – particularly green house gases and spray can emissions. They also found that roads had been built poorly and places where water should had flown freely in rivers were greatly restricted leading to more flooding and more landslides. Climate change and poorly planned building caused the disaster.
Uttarakhand had major environmental disasters – the most devastating occurred on June 16, 2013. Heavy rainfall caused major flooding and landslides leading to over 1000 deaths and many more people were stranded from roads that were washed away or blocked by debris.
When environmentalists came to Uttarakhand to figure out what went wrong and why there were so much damage, they concluded that climate change had a major impact – particularly green house gases and spray can emissions. They also found that roads had been built poorly and places where water should had flown freely in rivers were greatly restricted leading to more flooding and more landslides. Climate change and poorly planned building caused the disaster.
FAMILY
This disaster influenced Ridhima’s interest in the climate. Her father – Dinesh Pandey who focused on preserving wildlife – began to explain issues like global warming to her.
Ridhima grew up in a family who wanted to make changes for the better, by both protecting the environment and preserving the natural climate.
This disaster influenced Ridhima’s interest in the climate. Her father – Dinesh Pandey who focused on preserving wildlife – began to explain issues like global warming to her.
Ridhima grew up in a family who wanted to make changes for the better, by both protecting the environment and preserving the natural climate.
Haridwar and the River Ganges
Haridwar, Ridhima's home town, has its own set of challenges. The town is on the banks of the Ganges and its people depend on the river for their livelihoods. High temperatures cause droughts that threaten the Ganges river in Haridwar by lowering water levels. The rainy season causes heavy rains leading to the danger of flooding in the Ganges.
While the devastating rainstorm in Haridwar and the resulting disastrous flood greatly affected Ridhima, the pollution of the Ganges River also bothered her. As a young child, she regularly found statues, clothes and plastic on the river banks. These were left behind by pilgrims after their prayers to the river goddess!
Haridwar, Ridhima's home town, has its own set of challenges. The town is on the banks of the Ganges and its people depend on the river for their livelihoods. High temperatures cause droughts that threaten the Ganges river in Haridwar by lowering water levels. The rainy season causes heavy rains leading to the danger of flooding in the Ganges.
While the devastating rainstorm in Haridwar and the resulting disastrous flood greatly affected Ridhima, the pollution of the Ganges River also bothered her. As a young child, she regularly found statues, clothes and plastic on the river banks. These were left behind by pilgrims after their prayers to the river goddess!
PLASTICS ARE A PROBLEM
Plastics have become a huge source of the climate change problem. Plastics larger than 2 inches were entangling, choking, and killing millions of aquatic animals every year. Plastics floating on ocean surfaces may also affect surface temperatures and cause unanticipated climate change effects.
Besides these effects, smaller pieces were further contaminating the water systems. And plastics were eaten by a wide variety of fish and other forms of water life like plankton, fish, and mollusks. And if fish eat them, and we eat the fish, then these plastics end up inside of us and that can not be healthy.
All of these problems spurred Ridhima to action.
Plastics have become a huge source of the climate change problem. Plastics larger than 2 inches were entangling, choking, and killing millions of aquatic animals every year. Plastics floating on ocean surfaces may also affect surface temperatures and cause unanticipated climate change effects.
Besides these effects, smaller pieces were further contaminating the water systems. And plastics were eaten by a wide variety of fish and other forms of water life like plankton, fish, and mollusks. And if fish eat them, and we eat the fish, then these plastics end up inside of us and that can not be healthy.
All of these problems spurred Ridhima to action.
