COP-26: The perspective of Kyrgyz journalists
COP26 was held in Glasgow, Scotland. Image credit: Baktygul Chynybaeva
On the 10th day of COP-26 in Glasgow, we, participants from Kyrgyzstan, held an online meeting with climate activists in the country. I found that only seven environmental activists from Kyrgyzstan held a special protest in Bishkek to support the protest rally in Glasgow. Ironically, Bishkek is now one of the most polluted cities in the world.
At COP-26 these days, I saw various sports, met with famous environmental bloggers, and interviewed a professor who reported on climate change in the art.
Activist of COP26. Many people regret the lack of women, youth and indigenous people. Image credit: Baktygul Chynybaeva
When I was looking for someone who could comment on the UK’s early environmental education program, I found a lady in the Nuclear Energy Museum. She is very polite and nice. We had a wonderful conversation about nuclear energy, discussed the correct way to teach nuclear energy to school children, and introduced it to people. At the end of our conversation, she gave me a card. When I returned to the hotel and searched for the name on the card on Google, I saw Dianna Cowwern from @Physicsgirl, a famous climate activist who raised more than $300,000 for the environment! If these activists are in Kyrgyzstan, can they help solve the air pollution problem in Bishkek and reduce the melting of glaciers that are at risk of extinction by 2050?
Another interesting incident occurred outside the COP-26 building. There are usually various protests outside the venue. I saw an interesting event called “The Jacket of Hope”.
Outside COP26 in Glasgow, a singing activist wearing a “coat of hope”. Image credit: Baktygul Chynybaeva
Several climate activists will put on a long coat embroidered with various small fabrics, put on them, and sing wonderful songs. When I became interested in them and started filming the whole process, they invited me to put on this coat myself.
When I put on this coat, my feeling is amazing. It is very warm, but at the same time very heavy. Every piece of fabric on the jacket reflects the climate conditions of the world and the cities of the various climate activists wearing it. Above is a photo of melting Arctic ice and glaciers. Hundreds of climate activists have used thousands of materials and handicrafts to make this jacket. Activists walked thousands of miles to Glasgow to take action. The idea is that everyone on the planet must work together to tackle climate change-it can be overcome through solidarity.
Another outstanding person is Xavier Cortada, who organized the “Hello” event at COP-26. He is an art professor at the University of Miami. When I talked to him, he asked me about the sea level of my country, and I am happy to say that I live in a high mountain area three to four kilometers above sea level. He immediately asked about the condition of the glacier. When I told him that the small glaciers in Kyrgyzstan might disappear in 2050, Cortada was very upset. He explained that he was scared, because if the Kyrgyz glaciers melted, Miami would soon dive to the bottom of the sea. He also talked to me about how he thinks we can bring changes to the global climate crisis dialogue through art.
Glasgow’s COP-26 is coming to an end, but no one knows what other types of surprise meetings are waiting for a journalist from Kyrgyzstan, the country’s glaciers melting so fast.
