The announcement was made in the historic parliament square building in the city of Copenhagen, Denmark on December 11 coinciding with the International Mountaineering Day. [break]
Some 35 summiteers from home , including the 19-times climber Apa Sherpa and the young two-times summiteers Dawa Steven Sherpa along with 12 members of the Inclusive Female Everest Expedition 2008, led the march along 2 km round the parliament square for 40 minutes chanting slogans like "Save, save, save, save Himalayas save," and sang famous national songs like Yo Nepali Sir Uthai drawing a huge crown of spectators in street.
After the march, a message from Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal followed by Secretary General of UN, Ban Ki Moon was read out. Both send best wishes to the Save the Himalayas Campaign.
Addressing a crowd of 600 people gathered at the square, Apa said, "When Dikchu lake burst, me and my wife ran with one blanket and saw our filed and house being swept away. I was saved as it was day time," adding, "If Imja bursts, the disaster will be much bigger."
Dawa Sherpa said, " We want to draw the attention of the world to our plight. We will not let the rich nations destroy our lovely Himalayas.
During the occasion, legendary climbers and record holders also spoke. Amongthem were Linda McMillan, president of Union of International Alpine Association and Mountain Protection Commission, Sushmita Maskey, leader of Inclusive Female Everest Expedition, Hank Huang, Executive Director, Chinese Taipei Mountain Association and a veteran mountaineer, Wangchhu Sherpa, Chairman of Everest Summiteers´ Association of Nepal, and Ang Tsering Sherpa, president of Nepal Mountaineering Association and member of Union of Asian Alpine Association.
Dr Andreas Schild, director general of ICIMOD, Renata Chlumska, the first Swedish female to climb Everest, Ladislav Jirasko, chairman of International Alphinism Festival, Henrik Hansen, president of Danish Alpine Club, and state secretary Ib Peterson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark were other speakers.
Ministers of Forest, Environment, Tourism, Culture, Finance from government of Nepal were present, including the chairman of RPP, Pashupati Shumsher SJB Rana.
The event was made lively with famous Nepali folk singers Bom Bahadur Karki and Komal Oli´s evergreen songs. The duo sang the famous deusi song and another song in resham phiriri tune but with climate change message. There was a large gathering of Non-Resident Nepali diaspora in the venue led by Jiva Lamichhane, the vice president of NRN Association,
The climate change declaration adopted by the government at Kala Patthar on December 4 will be presented to the heads of states meeting at COP-15 on December 17-18.
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