By Shams Uddin, Chitral Association for Mountain Area Tourism (CAMAT)

A vigil rally was organized in Booni, northern Chitral, Pakistan, as part of the global “Vigil For Survival” movement calling for a strong climate treaty in Copenhagen. Standing in solemn solidarity with the citizens of the nations whose very survival is threatened by the climate crisis, thousands of rallies and candlelight vigils were held around the world on December 12^th and 13^th, 2009. (Source: 350.org)

Community members gathered in Booni with signs bearing messages to showcase support for strong climate action and solidarity with those around the world threatened by climate crises and in need of urgent help to ensure their survival. The Booni rally, in addition, aimed to highlight the issues related to climate change which are very real challenges to the communities in the Hindu Kush mountain region.

Many students from the Government High School of Booni and Pamir Public School participated in the rally, joining the local businessmen, political leaders, social workers and people from different walks of life, and walking the one-kilometer vigil rally leading to the main Booni square.

Following the walk, the participants gathered in the main square for the addresses by local community, business and political representatives sharing their perspectives. These addresses reminded people of recent calamities brought on by climate change-related causes, including: the destruction of the Sonoghor village three years ago resulting from glacier bursting; the avalanches that devastated the Washeech village and the Brep village.

The glaciers high up in the Eastern Pamir region, which have been the vital source of cultivation for centuries in the entire northern Pakistan, are melting very rapidly. If these natural water reservoirs are lost, the people in this region will not have any option other than to migrate to other places – much like some of the valuable bird species have already done.

Climate change has severely threatened the natural habitats of much of the wildlife populations of the Hindu Kush region. Some of the rare birds species like the black throated thrush, finches, magpie and golden eagle have almost disappeared as the local ecosystems have failed to support their needs. Many species of wolf and fox and their natural habitats are also being threatened by the changing climate. The disappearance of vegetative covering, which has led to the migration of the Markhor and wild goats, has had ever negative implications for the elusive snow leopard, which, has now lost its critical food source.

The speakers at the rally maintain that students, with their energy and innovation, can contribute in a meaningful way to the local and global climate change movements by raising awareness of the issues affecting the natural environment and by joining together to protect the important priority of the world’s mountainous communities.

Moreover, it was emphasized that only within a healthy natural environment can we effectively adjust our social, political and economic needs for the broader welfare of our nations. If land resources are eroded and natural biodiversity degraded, then it will surely threaten our very existence. Forming a united front against global warming, therefore, is now, more than ever, critical to these communities and communities around the world.

The participants of the rally unanimously passed the resolution pledging to continue efforts against global warming, and calling for immediate measures including:

• Harness the strength of schools, places of worship and other social centers in order to raise awareness and prepare workable plan to cope with the environmental issues at the grassroots level.
• Encourage authentic research initiatives on the part of developed nations to measure the continuing damages to the natural environment of the mountainous communities in northern Pakistan.
• Develop courses on environment education to be included in the curriculum of schools, both in the government and private sectors in order to impart proper knowledge and understanding of the challenges facing our communities today.
• Promote innovative approaches to environmental challenges caused by climate change fully utilizing our Indigenous knowledge.
• Help reduce pressure on the existing forest belt by exploring credible options to developing alternative energy sources.

Related articles:

• October 26, 2009 – “The Impacts of Global Warming on the Kalash Communities“
• August 18, 2009 – “Community initiatives for the sustainable development of tourism in Chitral, Northern Pakistan”
• March 2008 – ECOCLUB interview with Shams Uddin