A ditty that gets Aurovilians going on climate change in Puducherry

The lyrics begin with a clarion call ‘We need to wake up’ and then bring up the predicament of a planet that has a problem, before issuing a rallying call for everyone to get involved.

September 21, 2014 11:12 am | Updated September 22, 2014 09:30 am IST - PUDUCHERRY:

PUDUCHERRY, 20/09/2014: (FOR PAGE 2) Participants at the ‘Sing for the climate’ event held at Auroville on Saturday. Photo: S.S. Kumar

PUDUCHERRY, 20/09/2014: (FOR PAGE 2) Participants at the ‘Sing for the climate’ event held at Auroville on Saturday. Photo: S.S. Kumar

What started as a war song is now a virtual global anthem for urgent action on climate change.

On Saturday, the ‘Do it now’ ditty with its simple lyrics and catchy tune swept into the sylvan setting of Auroville as a group of 30 adults and children, some of whom probably had never crooned on stage, delivered a most zestful rendition of the song.

The lyrics begin with a clarion call ‘We need to wake up’ and then bring up the predicament of a planet that has a problem, before issuing a rallying call for everyone to get involved.

‘We must get wise, take no more lies and do it now, Now, NOW,’ the chorus filled up the Farmers Market at Auroville, prompting even bystanders to sing along and clap their hands to the rhythm.

‘Sing for the climate-Do it now’ is a global movement which mobilises people demanding action on climate change, explains Aurovilian Jo Cuypers, who helped to organise the event.

“Through the song, we want to show governments, world leaders and those who make laws that people want action on climate change now. This first event is geared towards getting the Auroville community involved in this global movement,” she says. The organisers had also put up a climate change stall, providing information on climate and sustainable living.

“The idea is to have a fun way to mobilise people. It is not just singing for fun, but linked to action we can take,” says Ms. Cuypers. Organisers feel everyone can make changes which help to prevent climate change. From not burning plastic to using solar and wind energy, the change can start with the individual, they feel.

The seeds for the ‘Sing for the climate-Do it now’ global movement were sown in 2008 when 6,000 Belgians got together in a short film, appealing for action on climate change, explains Ms. Cuypers. This was followed by a dance event, with 12,000 people. In 2012, Belgian film director and environmental activist Nic Balthazar penned the song ‘Do it now’ based on the melody of ‘Bella ciao,’ an anti-fascist movement Italian song of World War II.

The song has since been chorused by around 4,00,000 people in Belgium, cementing its place as an awareness anthem on climate change, and its popularity has snowballed, carrying the tune to the far corners of the world.

It has already been chorused in at least 20 countries, including the Netherlands, Spain, Lebanon, Israel, Indonesia, Gambia and Germany. India too has joined the musical bandwagon.

Organisers feel that as Auroville is ‘a unique international town,’ it can play a role in reminding the people of climate change in this international campaign. “The website, www.singforclimate.com, has downloadable song, lyrics, posters and everything required to organise a ‘Sing for the climate’ campaign in any part of the world. We hope what we have organised in Auroville today goes out to other places in India as well, with awareness through social media and online videos,” says Ms. Cuypers.

With the upcoming UN summit on climate change on September 23, several events are expected to be held across the world urging world leaders to take action, including public marches, with the largest one in New York on September 21.

‘Do it now’ also provided the ideal start in the lead-up to the Auroville Singing Festival next month. Aurovilians will also reprise the song during similar events and at the singing festival in October, during which around 1000 people are expected to participate.

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