Honorable Minister Dr. Mathiventhan, Chairman Dr. Ramasamy, Dr. Shan, Dr. Jaya, Dr. Akila and honored guests:

It is my privilege to speak to you today. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.

We are at a critical time in human history. We all know the facts. The earth’s climate is changing faster than expected. The world has seen record temperatures, fires and floods. People are dying due to climate change.

India had record temperatures of 62 deg Celsius, 143 deg Fahrenheit in May of this year. Birds were dropping dead out of the sky. Animals were dying in the streets due to the heat.

Wildfires have become so common in the American Southwest that fire season is now year round.

Record floods took the lives of dozens of people in Italy, China and Australia just in the past month.

Spain and Portugal are experiencing the driest climate in over 1000 years.

Wild animals are dying everywhere. Our waste and appetites are killing them.

These are the facts and they are not in dispute. But how we respond to these facts is up to us.

Benjamin Franklin said that there are three kinds of people: those that are immovable, those that are movable and those who move.

I am in the presence of those who move. I am pleading with you to move in the right direction.

We know what to do. Animals teach us every day on how to become better humans. Dogs teach us to be faithful and protective. Pigs teach us to be affectionate and curious. Sheep teach us to take care of each other. Cows teach us to be gentle and strong.

Our ancestors have also given us the knowledge to act wisely.

I am the daughter of three continents. My Akimel O’otham ancestors from the Valley of the Sun in North America taught me that all earth is sacred. The mountains are sacred, the rivers are sacred and all my fellow beings are sacred. They taught me that we must tread lightly in sacred relationship with our mother Earth if we wish to thrive on this planet.

My ancestors from Africa taught me about Ubuntu: I am because you are. I have taken the Ubuntu pledge: I pledge to honor and protect all the animals, people and the planet herself by following an infinitely sustainable, cruelty free, Vegan lifestyle that heals the climate and restores right relationships in the true spirit of Ubuntu.

I invite you all to take the Ubuntu pledge.

My ancestors from India taught me about Yoga and Ahimsa. Yoga showed me to look for happiness within myself.

I am beautiful from within.

Every one of us is beautiful from within.

Ahimsa is nonviolence towards all beings. Ahimsa is Veganism. India is the land of Ahimsa and also the birthplace of Yoga.

The solution to climate change is to build our lives around Yoga and Ahimsa. Look for happiness within. Be kind to all life.

This is not hard. This is especially not hard for the people of India.

I have a dream that the words of all my ancestors are put into action in our daily lives.

I have a dream that India will lead the world in building a new way of living around Yoga and Ahimsa.

I have a dream that schools, colleges and universities around the world will teach everyone to look for happiness within and be kind to all life.

I want to join such a school. I want to grow up and join such a university.

I call on those who move and those who are movable to create these schools and universities so that my relatives and I can look forward to a bright future on this planet.

A future in harmony with nature.

A future where animals are not afraid of humans.

A future where the climate of the planet is healed.

A future where no one goes hungry.

A future where the rivers run clean and the ocean has no trash.

We can do this.

If not us, who?

If not now, when?

Let us get to work.

Thank you. I love you all!

Humbly Submitted by
Sailesh Rao on behalf of Kimaya Rainy Rao, Vega, Cow and Climate Healer and the Climate Healers team.