US ambassador to India Richard Verma today batted for people-to-people cooperation in dealing with global environmental challenges even as he underscored the "important" role films and technology can play in spreading awareness in this regard.
Addressing a gathering at a curtain raiser event for 8th CMS Vatavaran, an Environment and Wildlife Film Festival and Forum, which was also attended by activist Rajendra Singh and filmmaker Krishnendu Bose, Verma maintained that climate is a big area for cooperation between India and the US.
"To solve these (environment and climate) challenges, it's not just government-to-government (cooperation), it's also society, people at all level, need everyone to come together, research community, businesses (to solve these problems).
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"...This notion of bringing film and technology and popular culture together is really, really important (for spreading awareness amongst people in this regard)," Verma said.
On his part, Singh, popularly called 'waterman', stressed that films can play a crucial role in creating awareness amongst people and urged movie makers to come up with new ideas with the help of those working for reviving water bodies, especially Ganga as he stressed the river can be revived only with the help of people.
"Our government is showing big dreams to clean Ganga, but Ganga is becoming filthier. Why it is becoming so? 90 per cent of Ganga water goes to sugarcane cultivation. Sugarcane can be cultivated if we give treated water from cities for it. The river can't be restored to its glory if we don't respect right of the nature," he said.
The Raman Magsaysay award winner added, "So, filmmakers should seat with those working at ground to make movies on new issues, which can tell governments that the (Ganga) river won't be restored to its glory by seeking funds from World Bank but with the help of people. If anyone is going to make such a film, then I will devote my time for the same."
He insisted that in order to spread awareness amongst local people in an effective way about Ganga rejuvenation, a film needs to be made in Hindi language.
