Kolkata: Aparna Sen and Andrea Jeske flagged off the Move for Earth movement, a six-day Cycle Yatra across West Bengal to celebrate and inspire Climate Action by SwitchON Foundation. The cycle yatra, which started from Kolkata on Monday will cover 800km in Bengal passing through Ranaghat, Krishnanagar, Burdwan, Durgapur, Asansol, Purulia and culminate in Bankura on February 11, 2023.
Commenting about the initiative, Vinay Jaju, co-founder of SwitchON Foundation said, “During the journey we wish to connect with the farmers, women and youth of the areas to address the issues of clean air and sustainable mobility, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy. We also plan to host a series of activities in cities, towns and villages across different states of India apart from West Bengal to build resilience with future friendly skills, technologies and practices to mitigate the climate crisis our planet Earth faces.”
The main motto of ‘Move for Earth’ movement is to celebrate and inspire Climate Action with a purpose to build a smarter and brighter future for ourselves, our children, our farmers and life on earth. The whole movement would cover cycling over 3,000 km across different states in East India.
Celebrating its 15 year anniversary SwitchON Foundation will engage with Farmers, Youth, Government, Financiers, Technologists and Civil Society Organizations through the Move for Earth journey and offer solutions to community-specific issues related to water, soil, energy and clean air that are directly impacting the livelihood and health of citizens.
The movement aims to unite and amplify the collective voice of Climate Champions, equip communities with key tools, resources, new age skills and create a networked ecosystem for them to be the ambassadors of change.
The initiative will encourage urgent climate action and facilitate purposeful events and activities that will range from skill development training, stakeholder meetings, seed festivals and buyer-seller meets, to handicraft fairs, millet and tech expos, street art and puppet shows.
In each state the ride will conclude with a ‘Citizens Jury for Earth’ in which small groups of farmers and urban youth will interact with experts and get involved in the process of making recommendations on our collective future, leveraging the values of democratic decision making.
