Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Feb 10: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and Leh Apex Body (LAP) have announced a Gratitude Rally in Leh on February 12 to thank supporters across the country and Ladakh’s own leaders for their ongoing struggle to address the region’s demands.
The announcement comes as talks continue between Ladakhi leaders and the Ministry of Home Affairs. Addressing the media here today, Wangchuk highlighted the United Nations’ recent declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. As part of this initiative, March 21 will be observed annually as World Glaciers Day starting in 2025.
To emphasize the urgent need for glacier conservation, Wangchuk discloses the plan to transport a block of ice from Ladakh’s Khardongla Glacier to New York, where it will be presented to the UN as a gesture to thank UN for its decision. The symbolic gesture also aims to draw global attention to the alarming rate of glacier recession in the Himalayas, particularly in Ladakh.
This is not the first time Wangchuk has used such symbolism for climate awareness. In 2022, he presented a block of melting glacier ice to the Dalai Lama on Earth Day to highlight the pressing need for climate action.
With Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem under increasing threat, Wangchuk continues to advocate for stronger environmental policies and greater global attention to the Himalayan region’s climate crisis.
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