Interview with Aarav Seth – a Climate activist from India

Hello Aarav what is your opinion about Instagram, TikTok and all these so-called “Social Media”?

According to me, social media apps like Instagram are a mixture of both useless content and cognizant content. Besides their usefulness, Social Media definitely stands as a go-to platform for  anybody who wants to promote their work. Whereas, other social media sites like TikTok are usually perceived as mere sources for entertainment, rather than platforms to create awareness about one’s work.

I can see strikes all over the world but no or only little real changes. Do you think climate strikes are efficient?

Climate Strikes is an easy yet a just way for displaying one’s stand against the climate crisis. As of now, climate strikes have only managed to gather some of the Youth, but they are far away from creating a major impact on reducing emissions  because a good chunk of people around the world are not paying attention to the climate crisis itself. Without their role, climate strikes would not be able to lead the social and political revolution for environmental justice.

What do you think about doing interviews instead of strikes?

For me, interviews and strikes, both, are notable approaches for showing my support for climate justice. However, interviews are more connected to the audience and may result in a better impression on the people, regarding climate change, when compared to strikes. Still, I would prefer to do both instead of doing one of them.

What are you working on at the moment?

Currently, I have settled my focus on bringing a positive environmental and social change in my region through my organization, We Rise Together Foundation, a non-profit, with an aim to work for tackling environment & social issues through three initiatives- Helping Hands, She Hygiene and Sunday4SecuredFuture.

Sunday4SecuredFuture is a movement started  by me to encourage young climate activists to take at  least one climate action every Sunday. I have received an  overwhelming response from many activists around the  world. So far, we have planted more than 1000 trees. We plant trees on birthdays, death anniversaries and anniversaries of someone’s known one, as well. (I, individually, have planted more than 4000 trees and distributed more than 3500 plants)

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A post shared by Aarav Seth (@aaravseth_)

Helping Hand is another initiative where I along  with my friends encourage people to give us their used  items such as clothes, books, shoes etc., to help  underprivileged children. Through Helping Hands we have provided 400 used books, board games, footwears and even food to over 150 children  as of now. We have tied up with schools, who educate underprivileged kids to provide them with such necessities every month. 

She Hygiene focuses on distributing sanitary pads to girls  who cannot afford to buy this basic necessity. Under She Hygiene, we have been conducting drives throughout the pandemic, providing 100% compostable sanitary pads to over 200 women and girls, every month, who struggle to practice safe and healthy menstrual hygiene. 

Which charities do you support and why?

In the past, I have extended my support towards those affected by climate effects, such as floods, droughts and wildfires by donating to relief funds and NGOs or organizations, working in the impacted area. I have also donated for Save Khyati Fundraiser, which aims to save the life of a year old girl, Khyati, who is suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy and her last hope of survival is to be treated with Zolgensma, a 16 Crore Rupees Drug.

What do you look for when choosing projects to support?

I look at the following criterias, when choosing or starting any project:

1. What is the scope of the project in the region?
2. What will be the impact of the project?
3. What would be the required necessities for the project?
4. Ways to raise funds for the project.
5. Involvement of community in the project.

Do you have any other innovative projects or what’s next? 

We Rise Together plans to begin Smile India, an initiative to distribute bamboo products, primarily bamboo toothbrushes to deprived sections as an alternative to the plastic products. This will improve the health of the people as well as create awareness to reduce the usage of plastic from our lives.

We Rise Together has been collaborating with a school which educates kids deprived of basic resources for quality education, to provide their children with books, food, clothes, board games etc. and sanitary pads to girls there.

Since they do not have any proper source of electricity, many of their children sit in darkness while studying. To resolve this issue, we look forward to installing Solar Panels, if someone volunteers to sponsor the project. This will be a benefit for both the children and the health of the environment.

Have you ever hugged a tree? When was the last time and why? P.S. is healthy… 

I hugged a tree some years back, as I read about an article on Upliftment of Mental Health through Nature. So, I went on to experience it and I felt a boost in my mood after hugging the tree. 

Who should I interview next on www.MyTree.TV? 

I suggest approaching Kaosarra Sani, a climate activist from Togo, who is spearheading the actions for a more just environment and society. 

Thank you very much for your time and energy and keep up with your impressive work!

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Schoolkids on strike for the environment: Will they save the world? Are climate summits helpful – or must we all just consume less? Guests: Anjali Ramakrishnan (MCC, Mercator Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change), Quang-Anh Paasch (Fridays for Future), Alan Posener (Die Welt)

A conversation with Fridays for Future- Meet the Youth Activists from around the world | #COP26

A panel event with youth activists from MAPA Counties ( The Most Affected People and Areas) and Fridays for Future Scotland. An exciting panel filled with Young People from Fridays for Future Scotland and The Most Affected People and Areas (MAPA) in regards to the climate crisis. MAPA are people who are primarily from the global south though it is not limited to just this. They are people who are on the front lines of the climate crisis and whose lives will be impacted the most by the decisions carried out by world leaders at this conference. Fridays for Future Scotland is the Scottish branch of the international network of youth climate activists that was started in 2018 by Greta Thumberg. In 2019, Fridays for Future Scotland mobbolistioned over 40,000 students in Scotland who were striking from School and University to demand climate action. Event Organiser: Fridays for Future