A 12-year-old climate champion has been honoured after launching a shop that trades single-use plastic for bags of rice and school stationery.
Licypriya Kangujam is one of the world's youngest environmental campaigners. She first came to global prominence when addressing world leaders at Cop25 in 2019 and the World Economic Forum a year later.
The dedicated activist, who lives in India’s capital New Delhi, has been busy in recent months playing her own part in tackling the climate crisis.
She aims to take the concept of a kiosk she started on her school campus global to reject single-use plastic.
Licypriya’s project is a testament to the power of youth-led initiatives in driving real, tangible change
Beryl Kay,
Action for Nature president
Ms Kangujam’s project was recently selected for the International Young Eco-Hero Award by Action for Nature, a non-profit group that recognises the effort of young people, aged eight to 16 years, to address climate change.
“My main message is, bring me plastic you will use only once and in return I will give you something you can use many times,” said Ms Kangujam in an interview with The National from New Delhi.
“I started my shop because I believe young or old, we can do small things that can make a big difference.
“I don’t want Mother Nature to be treated poorly by big polluters, big leaders and politicians."
Ms Kangujam hit the headlines in December last year when she was removed from the Cop28 venue at Expo City Dubai after disrupting a key session.
“I wanted more people to listen so I went up on the Cop28 stage in Dubai to protest and remind our leaders about pollution and to save our planet.”
She remains determined to make her voice heard and is showing the benefits of taking tangible action.
Meaningful trade
The passionate environmental activist began the Plastic Money Shop two years ago at the Prometheus School in Noida, northern India.
Children and adults queue up at the solar-powered kiosk to deposit plastic bottles, bags, plates, bowls and straws.
If a pupil brings in 1kg of plastic, she hands over a 2kg bag of rice, 500g plastic waste will be exchanged for a plant sapling or a notebook and a single plastic bottle will earn a pencil or eraser.
Ms Kangujam sends the plastic waste to green companies she has partnered with in India’s Rajasthan state.
This is recycled into floor tiles, school benches and desks that she either donates or sells to schools.
She buys stationery, rice and plants for the store with the money raised from selling recycled products to schools.
Any cash awards and reimbursement money she receives when she travels for functions also goes towards stocking the store.
The project is attracting attention in India with messages from educational institutions asking her to bring the kiosk to their city.
Ms Kangujam hopes the idea will take root overseas too.
“I really want there to be meaningful change and I would love other people to start similar work,” said the campaigner who turns 13 in October.
“I take my shop to different schools and to events. I have got emails from kids in India and abroad asking how they can start the same shop.”
Power of young people
California-based non-profit organisation Action for Nature said the young campaigner’s project stood out among hundreds of applications as it showed the “incredible impact” young people can have.
“Licypriya’s project is a testament to the power of youth-led initiatives in driving real, tangible change,” said Beryl Kay, the group’s president.
“By creating a system where plastic waste can be exchanged for essential goods, she has found a creative way to engage communities in environmental action.
“Her work not only raises awareness but also motivates people to actively participate in reducing plastic waste. Projects like hers remind us that age is not a barrier to making a difference.”
Other awards were won by children who launched campaigns to convince schools to replace styrofoam lunch trays with eco-friendly alternatives, turned home gardens into wildlife sanctuaries and built early warning sensors to save lives from deadly tornadoes.
The award gives Ms Kangujam the chance to engage a global audience with her message on climate education.
“My mission is to eliminate single-use plastic from our planet,” she said.
“It is a major crisis. Plastic is a good product but we as human beings have made it bad because of how we use it. I want to raise awareness so people have more knowledge.”
The climate champion has big dreams linked to tree-planting drives and climate education programmes she advocates governments should implement.
“I’m working on reaching out to governments including the Indian government to pass a climate change law to control carbon emissions and greenhouse gases,” she said.
“I believe climate education should be in every school curriculum so young children learn more. I also ask students to plant 10 trees every year.”
Global crisis
Plastics that are used for a few minutes can last for hundreds of years emitting chemicals that disintegrate into microplastics harming health and killing wildlife.
A million plastic bottles are used every minute, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.
The UN has committed to deliver a legally binding agreement by the end of this year to transform how countries produce and dispose of plastic.
Professor Chandan Ghosh is Ms Kangujam’s mentor and said the vision of young people is the key to creating change.
“I have been with Licypriya on her activities in many cities and even in villages and seen so many children just come to listen to her,” said Prof Ghosh, a retired Indian government official who headed the federal disaster management department.
“I connected with her when she was just 7-years-old, asking questions and wanting to make a difference. Instead of playing in a park like other children, she has devoted herself very specifically to climate change This is very unique.
“She is a sensation not only among her peers but to parents and older people also. We need motivators like these to inspire the young so they are directly involved and impact change.”
Top 10 most polluted cities
- Bhiwadi, India
- Ghaziabad, India
- Hotan, China
- Delhi, India
- Jaunpur, India
- Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Noida, India
- Bahawalpur, Pakistan
- Peshawar, Pakistan
- Bagpat, India
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Kabir Singh
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Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
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The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Key products and UAE prices
iPhone XS
With a 5.8-inch screen, it will be an advance version of the iPhone X. It will be dual sim and comes with better battery life, a faster processor and better camera. A new gold colour will be available.
Price: Dh4,229
iPhone XS Max
It is expected to be a grander version of the iPhone X with a 6.5-inch screen; an inch bigger than the screen of the iPhone 8 Plus.
Price: Dh4,649
iPhone XR
A low-cost version of the iPhone X with a 6.1-inch screen, it is expected to attract mass attention. According to industry experts, it is likely to have aluminium edges instead of stainless steel.
Price: Dh3,179
Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
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%3Cp%3EEncourage%20innovation%20in%20the%20metaverse%20field%20and%20boost%20economic%20contribution%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20outstanding%20talents%20through%20education%20and%20training%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20applications%20and%20the%20way%20they%20are%20used%20in%20Dubai's%20government%20institutions%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAdopt%2C%20expand%20and%20promote%20secure%20platforms%20globally%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EDevelop%20the%20infrastructure%20and%20regulations%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%20train%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%20and%20synchronous%20electric%20motor%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20power%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E800hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20torque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E950Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEight-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E25.7kWh%20lithium-ion%3Cbr%3E0-100km%2Fh%3A%203.4sec%3Cbr%3E0-200km%2Fh%3A%2011.4sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E312km%2Fh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20electric-only%20range%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2060km%20(claimed)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Q3%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1.2m%20(estimate)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ZAYED SUSTAINABILITY PRIZE
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory