Nepal: Flash Mob - How to raise awareness a bit differently?
15 Apr 2011 Trafficking, abuse and exploitationNepal| Did you know? Children as young as six are working full time in 120 brick factories around Kathmandu. Working in brick factories exposes workers, especially children, to irreparable health damage including acute respiratory infections, back injuries and lung cancers. Black carbon released by the chimneys is a mass killer and is highly toxic. It is estimated that air pollution results in 1600 premature deaths per year, in Kathmandu alone. Every year 837’600 tons of carbon dyoxide are released by the Valley’s brick kilns. |
To increase the awareness of Kathmandu people, an amazing event has been organised by the Terre des hommes delegation in Nepal, at the heart of the Durbar Square. Passers-by and invitees admired Achinto’s mesmerizing photographs, especially when so beautifully lit up by Photo.circle. Many people took away the leaflets spelling out the hardship of brick kiln workers and offering solutions on how to transform the brick industry into a socially responsible one. Highlights of the event included an enthralling performance by Kutumba – Our friends offered last songs on the condition that people would start buying clean bricks. A stunning flashmob with 200 dancers with red and orange transforming into “greens”. The flashmob which was immediately followed by a giant “domino effect”, more live music by Samsara Chakra and, as dusk settled in, a contemporary art performance by Karl Knapp.
A momentous event which has triggered a positive chain reaction. It has already encouraged Embassies, INGOs and home owners to buy clean bricks.
Further information on www.brickclean.net
