PUDUCHERRY: As part of the international movement to create awareness on climate change, around 50 school children and their parents from Auroville sang the song ‘Do it now’ at the Farmers’ Market, Youth Centre in Auroville here on Saturday.
The song, based on the famous Italian melody ‘Bella Ciao’, was originally a protest song against fascism, but with new lyrics penned for the occasion, it became a song to create awareness about the devastating effect of climate change.
After the song became enormously successful in Belgium in 2012, it went worldwide and was sung during events in twenty countries including the Netherlands, Spain, Lebanon, Israel, Indonesia, Gambia and Germany. India was the 21st country where the song was performed. In Auroville, Jo Cuypers from Belgium conducted the coir with the music track played in the background.
Besides singing the song, the Aurovillians also put up stalls demonstrating what one can do to prevent or reverse climate change. Most scientists agree that human behaviour is one of the main causes. The stall displayed organic farming, products and implements, methods to reduce garbage generation and management of garbage, use of eco-friendly vehicles, avoiding the use of plastic shopping bags, etc. Cycling to school instead of taking a vehicle and not burning plastic waste was also advocated. Use of solar and wind energy on a larger scale to improve the climate was also among the messages sent out.
A similar programme would also be arranged next week at the solar kitchen in Auroville and subsequently another programme in October. The organisers of ‘Sing for the Climate’ in Auroville hope that their initiative will be replicated across India.