Close your eyes and imagine yourself in your favorite city in 1942. Those times in history marked the zenith for the German army, controlling a vast territory stretching from France to deep within Russia, and from Norway to western Egypt. Now, picture a world that despite the ongoing war and the global crisis of unparalleled scale and devastation, the majority of society remains silent. Amidst the destruction and suffering faced by millions of people due to the war, there’s a disconcerting absence of discussion and, more importantly, action in everyday life, from grocery stores and taxis to evening gatherings and university classrooms. As if nothing is happening in the world! Does this world sound surreal to you? Well, I must tell you my friend, welcome to the 21st century! Today, we confront a crisis that extends beyond just humanity; it engulfs the entire planet, our beloved planet #Earth. Scientists and experts have been sounding the alarm for years, warning of an impending catastrophe that could lead to a mass extinction event for all species. Yet, astonishingly, this crisis often fails to dominate our daily conversations, concerns and actions. Climate change stands as the defining crisis of our era, and it’s unfolding even faster than our worst fears. However, it’s crucial to recognize that we hold the power to confront this global
threat! But first, we must acknowledge the crisis threatening our home, ourselves, and the future generations. Every corner of our precious #planet feels the impact of climate change—there’s no escape. As temperatures rise, it triggers a cascade of problems: environmental damage, extreme weather, food and water insecurities, economic turbulence, conflicts, and even unsettling encounters with terrorism.
But that’s not the entire story! Sea levels are rising, the Arctic is melting, coral reefs are fading away, oceans are becoming uncomfortably acidic, and forests are igniting more often than we’d like. You might now be wondering, “What’s my role in all of this? Why should I speak up or take action? What am I doing amidst all of this?” Well, for many of us (and absolutely not all) living in this time in history, we do have a part and therefore a responsibility in this!

Let’s delve into science and history a little. As Science Exchange explains Earth’s climate has undergone significant shifts throughout its long history. The most recent shift, approximately 11,700 years ago, marked the onset of the modern climate era and the rise of human #civilization. While past climate changes can be attributed to slight variations in Earth’s orbit, affecting the amount of solar energy reaching our planet, the recent rapid warming observed in the last few decades cannot be solely explained by such orbital changes or by #solar activity. So, how can it be explained? Great question! The simple answer lies in how modern civilization has been built upon. Since the start of the Industrial Revolution, around 1750, human activities, such as burning fossil fuels like coal and oil, have increased greenhouse gas concentrations in our atmosphere. Our contemporary lives are built on technologies powered by fossil fuels, which provide the energy for electricity, transport, heat, and more. As explained by UN Climate Action, fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas, are the primary culprits behind global climate change, responsible for over 75 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and almost 90 percent of carbon dioxide emissions. These emissions create a blanket of greenhouse gases that trap the sun’s heat, resulting in global warming and climate change. Our planet is experiencing warming at an unprecedented pace, disrupting established weather patterns and upsetting the natural equilibrium, posing substantial risks to humans and all life forms on Earth. Now, the most crucial action to combat climate change is a significant reduction in our use of fossil fuels. Burning coal, oil, and natural gas in various sectors, including buildings, industry, and transportation, is the primary driver of emissions causing global warming, accounting for over 75 percent of such emissions. As we proceed keep in mind that discussing the human causes of climate change isn’t about blame or guilt-tripping; it’s about recognizing the issue to find effective solutions. We must honestly acknowledge our role in the current climate crisis, stemming from past leaps in productivity. By channeling our innovation and embracing shared responsibility, we have the potential to reverse the warming trend, combat climate change, and build a fairer, more
sustainable future. So, what should we do? How can we take effective action?

There are numerous ways to take action for this cause, but the most important thing before taking action is to realize that we need to change the status quo of how this world operates. And for that, we need a systemic change. Solutions of all kinds have been designed by geniuses, innovators, and people who care about the current status of our world. However, to shift the system, we need governments to act swiftly. Unfortunately, governments don’t seem to be eager to act promptly, and that’s why we need to raise our voices and push those in power and opposed to systematic changes to act fast! We need to take action NOW as the clock is ticking. As we stand united in our global hunger strike, we send a powerful message to the world. We are not complacent. We are not indifferent. We are the guardians of our planet and the future, and we refuse to let it wither away. Our hunger strike symbolizes our collective action for change, for justice, and for a sustainable future. Join us.

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