To Leaders of the Developed World

Dear Political Leaders of the Developed World,

We are 3 billion youth in the world. We are disillusioned by your attempts to save our ravaged future. How do you justify your decisions to 3 billion youth? Climate change has affected millions of people. People are suffering every day, and yet you adopt this apathetic attitude. Have you no conscience?

You have had enough time.And now you want to wait until COP16.How much will you dilly-dally in your discussions? Do you realize the repercussions of your ’small talk’ on our generation?

You have a family, as much as I have a mother and father. Are you not bothered about your children, their generation, their life, their survival? How selfish can your decisions be? How can you continue with your business as usual activities when people are suffering because of your weak attempts to sign a politically binding treaty? What are the choices you have left for us?

When I was young I was taught that my bad actions will back fire on me. We as a human race are facing the brunt of your irresponsible actions. Are you under the impression that the impact of your actions will not affect you?

Even if you are not bothered about our survival, what about your own? Will you get away with your decisions to delay? What are human rights according to you? Have you ever asked Mother Earth what her rights are? No, you continue your business-as-usual activities.

How does it touch you if millions of farmers commit suicide in India due to extreme drought conditions? How does it affect you if Bangladesh and Maldives go under water? How does it look to you if ancient small island civilizations cease to exist? How does it feel to you if 40% of the worlds population looses their water source, the Himalayan Glaciers? Will you only be affected when your near and dear ones die in the climate holocausts of the future?

I understand that it is not easy to strike a deal and come to a consensus. But have you tried hard enough? Have you the audacity to stand up to your government and push for a climate bill to protect my bleak future? Have you the gumption to lead your people along the higher road to protect their future? OUR future? Can you be the ‘NATION’s HERO’ for your country?

A ‘hero’ to hear millions of us asking for climate action. On 24th October, the 350 global day of action, people from 181 countries marched to ask for action. Wasn’t it a clear enough wake up call?

Have you become deaf and blind?

We as a human race cannot be silent. We are far from silent. We are agitated! We are contemplating our next step. We can no longer wait for your steps to lead.

I wonder, do we only elect leaders who go against the public opinion, time and again? Not just local public opinion, this time it is the WORLD public opinion. When can we start believing in you?

Help us believe in you. We want to believe in you. But you have made it very tough.

I want to support you. Only if you allow it! Don’t underestimate us,the youth,and the future.

You have only left us the choice of struggle. You have no respect for our existence. You have become used to people dying everyday. I have ambitions as well,I want to be happy. I have dreams to live in my future as well.

But all this seems like a distant vision now. From extreme summer temperatures to no water during the rains. Not to mention the pain of hearing people washed away in extreme flood conditions, to thirsty land patches scattered with rotting cattle carcasses. I know that I have a responsibility too.

I am still young. And I hope! I hope…