BANGALORE: Environmental activism reached a different level when close to 200 students of BNM Institute of Technology (BNMIT) pushed their two wheelers backwards to spread awareness about the impact of carbon emissions on the environment on Friday.
While some students cycled their way through, most students were earnestly pushing their bikes backward in a pledge to “burn fat and not fuel” to mark World Health Day.
“The whole idea of pushing bikes backward is to make a point that carbon emissions are bad.
Who better than youngsters know how to use their bikes wisely? Bikes have power, and the students today are saying that the power comes at a cost,” said Pushpanath Krishnamurthy, renowned environmental activist and global executive at Centre for Social Markets, the NGO that supported the initiative.
Pushpanath, who embarked on a 15-day walk from Baba Budangiri to Mysore last November, said, “It is true that environmental activism needs to gather more momentum.
As for me, I do it because I believe in it.
We have to make youngsters believe that there is need for activism.
I am for skepticism, not cynicism.” The exercise took place in Banashankari II stage, where BNMIT is situated.
Residents and passers-by were curious witnesses to motorbikes being pushed backwards for nearly 2 km.
“I have had people asking me what this is all about.
Initiatives like these, driven by students, will certainly make a difference.
As they say, we are the future of the country and we can do something,” said Kevin Prasanna, a second year Computer Science student.
Raksha Jayaraj an engineering student said, “Bangalore is a city with the highest number of two wheelers in the country.
I often think why I should use a vehicle to commute 5 km? What is the purpose of public transport then? This is one way to tell everyone that we must stop polluting the environment,” she said.
“It is not enough to merely preach.
The key is to take initiative ourselves.
With an exercise like this, we are going back 10-15 years, where there was lesser carbon emitted,” said Prof N Sheshaprasad, a professor in the Electronics and Communications Department and co-ordinator for the World Earth Day initiative