Politics of nature 

• Protect Mother Earth while protesting for Mother Lanka 

In the last few days, several protests erupted all over the country urging the current Government to step down, take responsibility for their actions, and fix the economic crisis. Some of the notable protests in Colombo were held near Nelum Pokuna which stretched across to Lipton Circus, Independence Square, Galle Road, and under the Rajagiriya flyover. 

Having witnessed some of these protests, it is clear that the country seems to have finally united under one goal and are all fighting for the same beliefs, and while unity is something our country has desperately needed, we couldn’t help but notice that in the fight for our motherland, we seem to have forgotten Mother Earth. 

While most protests were indeed peaceful, there were also a few tense situations reported islandwide with property destruction and fires being set, and although the cause was the same, the damage left behind could further contribute to the steady deterioration of our environment. Several plastic water bottles were littered around areas that would usually be off limits as well as general public places and placards, remnants of firecrackers, plastic packaging, and other items left behind by protesters were seen everywhere the morning after protests. 

As we all know, it is one’s right to peacefully protest and fight for what one believes in, but the environment shouldn’t have to pay the cost for one’s victory. Brunch reached out to a few environmentalists to learn how one can participate in protests in an eco-friendly and environmentally conscious way. 

Speaking to Extinction Rebellion Sri Lanka Member Ranmini Gunasekara, she shared that while they really happy that most of Sri Lanka is now out there exercising their fundamental right to protest against the corrupt Government, we should make sure that we don’t lose the plot when we protest, and remember that whatever public venue at which we are staging the protest belongs to us and our country as well. She added that we need to ensure that we all pick up after ourselves and leave nothing that we brought (posters, empty water bottles, plastic bags, etc.) behind. 

“We also don’t condone the use of fire crackers in protests, because people could be seriously injured if they came into contact with them,” she informed us, pointing out that this will end up tarnishing the good name that has been built so far for these citizen protests, and we’ll be playing into the hands of certain people who are waiting for the chance to call these protests violent. Therefore, she concluded, when going to protest, we must be mindful about our safety, others’ safety, as well as the safety of our environment. 

Adding to this sentiment, another member of Extinction Rebellion Sri Lanka shared that with everyone being excited about this movement and the citizens of our nation coming together, people seem to have lost track of the impact they are making. “Even at Nelum Pokuna, people were lighting firecrackers on the road – all the bats flew off the trees and the dogs were rattled. It’s a loud sound that impacts animals more than it would a human,” she observed. She explained that while protesting, there is no need to create such an environment, which is a home for other inhabitants as well. 

Another issue she pointed out was the massive use of single-use plastic. “People are handing out plastic water bottles to the protesters and while that shows we care about the people, nobody seems to care about what happens after that.” Even if the bottles were to be collected and kept on the side of the road, she pointed out that still amounts to littering as such single-use plastic items haven’t been removed from the environment and can still end up in drains, lakes, streams, and oceans. 

She suggested we collect these plastic bottles afterwards and hand it over to a recycler or a collection centre as we do have recycle bins in Sri Lanka. “It is up to the organisers to educate the protesters to collect the trash responsibly. Even at the beginning of protests – while screaming slogans – they can ask the people to collect their own trash,” she stated. 

“There is no point demanding for a better country with a better future if we are not practical with what we are asking for,” she informed us. 

We also spoke to a representative at Climate Action Now Sri Lanka, who highlighted that it is important that we be mindful of how we conduct ourselves and the qualities we nurture both in life and at protests. “If we are going to use protests as a way to let out frustration and make it a fun experience to be part of, we will lose sight of the bigger picture,” she pointed out, referring to the first protest at Mirihana where it was mothers with children who took to the streets, versus now, where it seems to have become a parade of sorts. 

“Given the change that we want to see, that is currently happening in Sri Lanka – we are fighting a corrupt regime that is suppressing our fundamental rights by using force and power,” she explained, highlighting that we should refrain from adding fuel to the fire and think about how our actions have an impact on the bigger picture. 

One more thing she pointed out was that at Independence Square, a public space, there is not a single bin. “Just as much as people littering is bad, it is the duty of the authorities to ensure that public spaces have infrastructure set up to prevent environmental damage,” she affirmed. 

So next time you’re out on the streets, fighting for your rights, remember that Mother Earth too is fighting for her life and ensure to be more mindful of the mess you leave behind.