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‘Europe has to grow out of the mindset that Europe’s problems are the world’s problems, but the world’s problems are not Europe’s problems.’- S Jaishankar 

Foreign Minister of India, an oriental country (“rest” from the “west”), probably had not forgotten how Churchill’s exploitation of the word “barbarians” to fuel ‘western war’ in 1943 led to a devastating famine causing the death of nearly 3m people, including children, women and elderly. A decade later, he was awarded with the Nobel Prize in Literature, for his biographical description about defending human values. This is an irony of eurocentrism. Eurocentrism is rooted in a colonial mind-set that is poised on the idea that the knowledge, culture and civilization of Europe, including its extension to America and other former white colonies, are superior and the remaining as savage. As Jaishankar stated, Europe’s problems and its policies have always been presented as the global problems and policies, without considering the relevance for the whole world. 

The concept of global world, i.e. globalization of politics, economics and culture have derived its roots from the ideas of the western world, as opposed to ‘Vasudhaiba Kutumbakam’, meaning, the world is one family. It is the same mind-set that the western lens dominates what we think globally. Academic fields favor European perspectives, restricting global understanding and fostering ethnocentrism, leading to stereotyping and discrimination against non-European cultures. Today, extensive Eurocentric social theories have blended with neoliberalism that determines our vision of globality. Neo-liberal ideas claim to champion prosperity and development, pointing to calibrating numbers as indicators of progress. However, a question arises: is this growth a result of continuous human progression or the influence of neoliberalism? Even the term ‘sustainability’ derives its origin from the Western concept. After Europe and the United States had submitted benefitting from the development driven by industrialization, they popularized the principle to mean to protect the earth and its environment for the future generation. 

Now, when it comes to saying that human life has improved and we're moving towards sustainable development, my take is a bit nuanced. Certainly, technology, healthcare, and education have brought positive changes for certain sections of society. But are those changes accessible to all sections of society? While the champions of neoliberal economies are organizing the feast of prosperity, one large section is uninvited and another large section is struggling to appear at the table. The opulence and resources of the feast were one time or another expropriated from those who are not at the table today. 

The uncontrolled spread of neo-liberalism and globalization in South Asian countries is causing havoc, particularly in the realm of economic competition. The flood of inexpensive imported products from dominant market economies has overtaken our locally made goods, resulting in a trade deficit and creating further dependence on external markets. When eurocentrism historically has created a huge global economic imbalance, how can there be fair competition among first world economies and third world economies? 

The flagbearer of neoliberalism, Bretton Woods System, probably was the first of the Eurocentric policies presented to the East as a magic wand for development. The preconditions of structural adjustment to obtain monetary aids caused malfunctioning of the existing governance mechanism leading to perpetual political instability in the developing countries. The peculiarities of the Asiatic society were blatantly ignored to glamify the European idea of development. 

In South Asia, this has resulted in further marginalization of vulnerable populations, increasing economic disparity, limited access to essential services, and displacement due to market-driven policies. Privatization of essential services like healthcare, education, and utilities lead to a further exclusion of the marginalized. Agricultural sectors in South Asia are also vulnerable to the effects of neo-liberal policies. Market-oriented reforms have caused disadvantage to small farmers, sustenance agriculture based economies contributing to rural distress and migration. 

Multinational companies, the new Trojan horse have penetrated underdeveloped countries through neo-liberal policies starting to exploit natural and human resources right from their onset. Climate change, degradation of biodiversity, and social disparities persist as pressing challenges at a global scale. Indigenous people, once at the forefront in making truce with nature are likely to suffer from the climate disaster- mainly a result of neoliberalism, while others enjoyed the fruits. The crisis on food security is one of the evident and major failures of the Euro-centric idea of development. The production of hybrid and genetically modified seeds by multinational companies like Monsanto take over the entire agricultural system, a direct hegemony forced over indigenous scientific knowledge which has resisted unsuccessfully through food sovereignty movements. 

Addressing the problems associated with neoliberalism outside Europe, requires a careful consideration of the social, economic, and environmental impacts of market-oriented policies. Europe needs to realize that the Oriental societies are not the experimentation ground for the Eurocentric ideas of neoliberalism. Plus, the Orient societies do not require a European-meter to curate their progress. Although global challenges require global efforts of mitigation and prevention, the peculiarities of the Orient societies should never be meddled with. 

It is true that the world has made progress in recent times in numerous aspects, but Europe is not the cause of the improved human condition. Rather it is the opposite. Before European colonialism came to the Oriental Societies, civilization was thriving. Asia constituted the majority of the world’s wealth and prosperity. The ongoing major thirty eight conflicts continue to further deteriorate living conditions—which are either the problems Europe created or are the remnant of the Eurocentric idea of superiority mastered through imperialism. Only after the fall of colonies, the world’s societies have been progressing towards an improved human condition. Europe can only be credited for the progress towards sustainable development in one way, i.e., its colonial downfall. Moreover, it is now high-time that the Oriental and Indigenous ideas of governance should be credited for the progress towards sustainable development.

During our visit to America in 2008, my brother Lokdarshan Shrestha, a resident of Fairfax, Virginia, took us on a sightseeing trip to his workplace in Baltimore, Maryland, and to Washington DC, the capital of the United States. By the time of our 2017 visit, he had legally become a permanent resident of Virginia. He was excited to share his happiness with me, as we had always been close. Keeping us in suspense without revealing any details, he surprised us by taking us to Mount Vernon—an iconic landmark I had never heard of before. Mount Vernon is actually the residence of America’s first president, George Washington. When I first heard the name, I imagined it to be a towering mountain. But to my surprise, it was simply an estate set on slightly elevated land.

Spread over a large area, Mount Vernon is managed by volunteers from a cooperative established for its preservation. The estate is open to the public for viewing, and at the entrance, there was a notice informing visitors that they could leave the entrance fee in a donation box at their discretion. The house where President George Washington and his wife Martha (not Mary, as I mistakenly thought) lived is small but beautiful. The atmosphere within the estate made us feel as though they might still be watching over the place from somewhere nearby.

The various exhibits and activities displayed throughout the grounds made it clear that George Washington was a wealthy landowner during his time. The Potomac River flows along the southern side of the estate, adding to the serene beauty of the environment. It is said that Washington would supervise his vineyards and other agricultural activities, often traveling by boat. He even used to commute by boat between Mount Vernon and Washington DC, the nation's capital. Interestingly, the pond at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC is fed by water from the Potomac River.

Our visit to Mount Vernon allowed us to witness a glimpse of how a self-sustaining economy operated in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was fascinating to see how people produced what they needed and traded for goods they didn't have through the barter system. Even though it was a reenactment for visitors, we watched demonstrations of various traditional crafts and skills. We saw rooms where workers spun yarn, wove cloth, crafted iron goods, and extracted oil. In addition, we observed farming activities, including the cultivation of fruits and vegetables, within the compound. We even saw the living quarters of workers and slaves from that time, along with stables for the horses used to pull carriages. The security personnel were dressed in period uniforms, adding to the authentic feel of the experience.

Later, we visited the tomb of President George Washington and his wife Martha, located about a hundred meters below the house. Standing before their final resting place, it felt as though they were still watching over the estate and its visitors. This visit to Mount Vernon made my trip to America truly meaningful, and I believe every enlightened visitor to Washington DC should also make time to visit this historic site.

Our second round of exploration at Mount Vernon took us to the museum located on the western side of the estate. The museum displays various artifacts from George Washington's life, including items he used in his work, the weapons he used in battle, and the clothes he wore. There are also several theaters screening documentaries about his life and the American Revolutionary War, two of which we had the chance to watch.

George Washington led the American Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1783. After the war ended, he became the first president of the United States, serving two terms from 1789 to 1797. If he had wished, he could have become an emperor, a dictator, or even president for life. But he voluntarily stepped down, returning to private life, and in doing so, he became a guide and inspiration for future generations. To this day, America seems to follow the example he set, with no interruption.

Dashain is the biggest festival for Hindus and it signifies different things for different people. Most people have a favorite memory and lament that things are no longer the same. ApEx spoke to some people to find out what Dashain means to them and how they think it has evolved over the years.

Sumit Kumar Shah, 18

For Nepalis, Dashain is a major holiday that is observed for several days. The celebrations include getting together with friends and family, worshiping the gods, and exchanging good wishes. I enjoy the vibe of this festival but I think that the Dashain that we celebrate now and the one that we used to celebrate a few years ago are two very different things. Traditionally, people would gather and celebrate Dashain. They would make it a point to come home. These days, we can see people celebrating virtually via video calls. There are even provisions to send ‘dakshina’ digitally via money transfers.

Khusbu Nisha, 27

Since everyone in Nepal celebrates Dashain with a lot of aplomb, I think it’s a powerful festival. I’m a Muslim and I don’t celebrate the festival but I have witnessed a lot of my neighbors enjoying the holiday season. I’ve been working in Bhaktapur for ten years, and during that time I’ve seen a lot of changes. A few years ago, Dashain was marked by a significant increase of shoppers out on the streets. There would be sales and huge crowds in the market. But these days, there is much difference between Dashain and other regular times. People have migrated to online shopping and there is that sense of hustle and bustle that marked Dashain.

Dhan Bahadur Tuitui, 80

I have many things to do before Dashain but I’m not working at the moment and I don’t have much money to indulge in the festivities. There was a time when Dashain meant a lot of traditions and rituals. Most of them are limited to memories today. We used to celebrate Dashain by slaughtering goats, ducks, and hens. There used to be a lot of fanfare about it. We don’t do it anymore and I miss those days when Dashain meant being surrounded by my family and friends. I want to be able to do things like we did when I was young, like cooking meat in clay pots, over a traditional stove. Things have changed and not all changes are good.

With more frequent glacial lake outburst floods occurring in Nepal and with the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, launching an SOS from the South Pacific Nation of Tonga asking for nations to “Save our Oceans”, climate action is not an option but an imperative.

We should paraphrase and recontextualize the advice given by Michelle Obama during the recently held Democratic National Convention when she encouraged her fellow democrats in the USA “to do something” to win the elections in November. Indeed, we need to “do something” to stem climate warming and repurpose our industries and societies towards a meaningful and net zero scenario. Pathways must be found to give a voice to youths because without their engagement and advocacy, climate action won’t really happen.

While there are many ways for youths and the general population to be, not only part of the conversation on climate warming but also be truly engaged on it, it is paramount to create platforms where young people can truly express their concerns and provide new ideas and propositions.

I am referring to enabling youths to be involved in the sphere of policy making, by ensuring that their contributions, either in the forms of projects or in terms of innovative approaches for new progressive laws and regulations, do matter and are taken into consideration. With Nepal preparing its 3rd Nationally Determined Contributions or NDC, the document that each signatory party to the Paris Agreement must present with its commitments to reduce greenhouse emissions, having youths firmly involved in climate related decision making, can make a huge difference.

One venue for them to start working at policy level is the Local Conference of Youth or LCOY, a national forum under the umbrella of YOUNGO that is officially recognized as the constituency of young people within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

At the beginning of August, Nepal held its own national version of LCOY over two days of intensive discussions.

It was jointly organized by Youth Action for Sustainable and Eco Nepal (YASEN) and Sustainability Week Kathmandu (SWK) after months of hard work that included a myriad of in person and online interactions with a main national event bringing together 200 young leaders. I approached the organizing team to have a better understanding of the initiative and its significance.

If the federal government in Kathmandu is truly committed to work with young people, then a platform like LCOY can turbocharge innovative ideas and ensure that bold commitments are going to be included in the NDC 3.0.

The Focal Point of LCOY Nepal, Dikshya Subedi who is also the Founder of YASEN shared her reflections. "LCOY Nepal 2024 was a powerful demonstration of youth-led climate action, bringing together diverse voices from across the country to address the pressing issue of climate change”

“I have witnessed firsthand the dedication, passion, and collaboration that made this conference an extraordinary platform for youth engagement and climate action. LCOY Nepal 2024 was more than just a gathering; it was a testament to the power of collective action and the unwavering commitment of young individuals to drive positive change”.

“This year's conference brought together diverse voices from across Nepal, each contributing unique perspectives and innovative solutions to the pressing issue of climate change. Our goal was to create a platform where young people could contribute innovative solutions and be recognized as key stakeholders in global climate discussions”.

Subedi recounted how the overarching preparation was a huge task across multiple interlinked sectors with a real effort to involve youths from all backgrounds as diversity and inclusion are two essential features to ensure climate justice.

“It was intense, requiring immense dedication and collaboration from our team and partners. We discussed critical themes like indigenous knowledge, climate resilience, and sustainable practices, leading to actionable resolutions”.

For Ganesh Paudel, the Technical Lead, LCOY Nepal 2024, the whole experience was “transformative”.

“Our mission was to gather youth from various regions to address climate change issues, pushing back against the false notion that this event was just for certificate seekers. We wanted to empower young people to voice their concerns and take action against the climate crisis. The success of this event is a testament to the dedication of our organizers, volunteers, and partners. I’m proud of the collaboration and impact we’ve achieved, and I’m confident that the discussions and resolutions from LCOY Nepal 2024 will resonate in global forums like COP."

Hemanshu Kafle who, as Design Lead, was in charge of putting together all the sessions in coherent flow, believes that the whole process, not only the two days of final discussions, was a game-changer.

He highlighted to me that an initiative like LCOY” truly enables youths to lead in global climate discussions”.

Indeed, we need both a new process of decision making in the field of climate action centered around empowerment, the dynamics that help young people build and strengthen their agency and ownership.

And yes, we need tons of shared, grounded but at the same time bold, values-based leadership among young people to tackle climate change head on.

Kafle also echoes the win-win approach based on multi-stakeholders’ involvement.

“The event’s success was the result of meticulous planning and support from partners like UNICEF Nepal, ICIMOD, UNDP, Nelis Nepal, WYCJ, SHE CHANGES CLIMATE. We tackled vital themes like indigenous knowledge, climate resilience, and sustainable forestry”.

What about the way forward?

The second day of the LCOY focused on drafting a so-called National Youth Statement, a series of key priorities that should be addressed by the Federal Government while drafting its NDC 3.0.

It is a blueprint centered around the importance of building the capacity of young people while meaningfully allowing them to have a real voice, a voice that should not be discounted, a voice that instead should be taken into account by politicians.

“Moving forward, we aim to translate the energy from LCOY into actionable outcomes, presenting our resolutions at COP events and continuing to strengthen youth networks across Nepal” Kafle shared.

Subedi added, “We are serious at ensuring that the voices of Nepali youth are heard on the global stage”.

For her, the LCOY 2024 “is just the beginning of a broader movement, and we are committed to continuing our work towards a more resilient and equitable future."

Indeed, this is just a start but ideally, we should find ways to institutionalize events like LCOY rather than being a once in a year process. This for me it’s the real challenge that goes at the heart of the current governance system. It is a general problem, not only specific to Nepal but governance at national and local levels should be reformed in a way to truly give a permanent voice to young people.

Consultative processes are good but actually we need a major reform of the entire system, creating a new space to ensure young people’s right to participate and have a role in the decision-making process. Will politicians, in Nepal and elsewhere, realize the urgency of taking bold actions by involving and engaging young people? What should it take for them to really have agency and a seat where decisions are made?

LCOY like events are important because they can help us imagine a different way of doing “politics”. Climate change could become not only the spark of a new wave of civic engagement but a stepstone to rethink democracy in its entirety.