Vinisha Umashankar is one of the finalists of the Earthshot Prize (Eco Oscars). She has been recognised by the Duke of Cambridge for her concept for a solar-powered ironing card that can be used to cut coal usage in India. She was invited by Prince William to speak at a meeting discussing clean technology and innovation at the climate conference.
"Today I ask, with all due respect, that we stop talking and start doing. We, The Earthshot Prize Winners and Finalists, need you to back our innovations, projects and solutions, not an economy built on fossil fuels, smoke and pollution. We need to stop thinking about old debates because we need a new vision for a new future. So you need to invest your time, money and effort in us to shape our future!" the girl told the world leaders.
Brilliant innovation and brilliant speech 👍'I’m not just a girl from India,I’m a girl from Earth.”- Here is Vinisha Umashankar, just 15 years old from Tamil Nadu, India,one of the finalists of @EarthshotPrize addressing world leaders at @COP26 #vinishaumashankar @CMOTamilnadu pic.twitter.com/h4OFEH6h1I
— Supriya Sahu IAS (@supriyasahuias) November 3, 2021
"On behalf of The Earthshot Prize Winners and Finalists, I invite you to join us. I invite you to stand with us. We hope that you will give up the old ways of thinking and the old habits. But let me be clear we! When we invite you to join us, we will lead even if you don't. We will act even if you delay. And we'll build the future, even if you are still stuck in the past. But please accept my invite and I assure you, you will not regret it," she said.
"Many of my generation are angry and frustrated at leaders who've made empty promises and failed to deliver. And we have every reason to be angry. But I've no time for anger. I want to act. I'm not just a girl from India. I'm a girl from Earth and I'm proud to be so. I'm also a student, innovator, environmentalist and entrepreneur but most importantly, I'm an optimist," she added.
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