Draws the attention to the preservation of nature against the destruction caused by poppy cultivation
KRC TIMES Manipur Bureau
A young environmentalist from Manipur has drawn the attention of the European Parliament in Brussels to the preservation of nature against the destruction caused by poppy cultivation. The 12-year-old Licypriya Kangujam, a climate and environmental activist from the Indian state of Manipur touched upon the pressing issues of climate change and its impact on children with select Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in Brussels on Friday.
It is reported that her visit was a part of the broader engagement with Europe, which included an address to the people of Europe in Paris, France, an invitation by the Government of Italy as part of Expo Roma 2030 @ World Expo 2030, and an upcoming address at the United Nations World Food Forum 2023 closing ceremony in Rome, Italy on October 20.
In response to the invitation, Licypriya, attired in traditional Meitei dresses, got the golden chance to express her views. She was invited when she recently raised concerns about the violence in Manipur at the European Parliament.
The young lass from the Kakching district of Manipur expressed her views on the violence in the Indian state of Manipur bordering Myanmar which does not boil down to a conflict between majority and minority communities or between specific religious or tribal groups.
“It is a struggle within a particular community, centered on the preservation of nature against the destruction caused by the cultivation of poppy for drugs”, she said. She also pointed out the hypocrisy in advocating for a green future while engaging in actions that harm the planet and jeopardize the future of millions of children through warfare and environmental damage.
She also urged the European Union to back her campaign to establish a free residential school for children affected by the violence in Manipur. Notably, over 22,000 children were affected by the communal violence that broke out between the non-tribals and tribals in Manipur on May 3, 2023. Altogether, 175 persons lost their lives while 60, 000 people were displaced.
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