Ecospeak

EcoSpeak MAD Project is a CAS initiative that was started by 15 students of Grade 12 in order to provide a platform to raise awareness about environmental concerns. Along with a panel that featured three prominent climate activists from Mumbai, we have also published two editions of our magazine, The Ecopedia. The panel served as a way for students to learn from the first-hand experiences of those involved in tackling environmental issues, while the magazine provided a way to use the creative talents of our student body to create a dialogue on these critical problems.

 

 

The Ecopedia had five subcommittees to come to fruition: editing, administration, outreach, social media, and layout. Every Tuesday and Friday, we would move to breakout rooms to collaborate on different aspects of this complex project. 'The Ocean’ was the perfect theme to base our first edition on because of the ocean's azure blue aesthetic and unimaginable vastness. For our next edition, we decided on the theme – 'Fire and Ice', to explore the detrimental and terrifying effects of climate change. Both these magazines were broadcasted to all students in Grades 8-12, as well as published on our school website.

 

On 4th October 2020, the DAIS CAS Team 'Ecospeak' also organised a virtual panel focusing on “Mumbai: Conservation, Activism, and Sustainability.”

 

The panel featured distinguished panelists Stalin Dayanand, responsible for saving the Aarey Forest, Sumaira Abdulali, founder of the NGO Awaaz, and Pawan Sharma, founder of RAWW.

 

 

Mr Stalin Dayanand spoke about not only his own pioneering efforts but also the initiatives of other young students in protecting the forest, inspiring listeners to take action no matter how small the scale. Ms Sumaira Abdulali provided novel insights on the sand mining industry in India. She shared with the listeners the extreme measures she took to fight against the environmental injustices that were prevalent in her community. Mr Pawan Sharma highlighted measures that students can take to ensure the well-being of animals and wildlife. He highlighted the importance of coexistence between wildlife and humans especially in urban environments like Mumbai. The students also engaged in discussions about the leopards in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai, who are under threat due to human development.

 

DAIS students across age groups enthusiastically attended the panel to learn about environmental consciousness and conservation measures. The panel embodied Ecospeak's mission of bringing sustainability from the margins to the mainstream.

 

Saachi Jain, Prarthna Chabria, Jispa Doshi, Eesha Bodapati, Tia Jasra, Rashi Lalan, Farrah Patel, Krish Bajaj, Tara Agarwal,Suakshi Soni, Paree Rohera, Nandini Pradeep, Yohan Kuriyan, Yuvan Chugh, and Shanaya Piramal.