Ladakh Vikalp Sangam
 July 20 – 24th, 2015, Agenda

Video: Issues before the Leh Confluence of Vikalp Sangam. Ashish Kothari of Kalpavriksh spoke of how the different rounds of Vikalp Sangam  while Tsewang Namgail of Snow Leopard Conservancy called for a discussion on the Vision Document in view of the deterioration of Ladakhi livelihood as well as the environment specially the plastics waste issue.  Video in Ladakhi

The discussion began with a explanation of the context of the various themes in the Vision Document by Sonam Wangchuk (SECMOL) 


In Ladakhi..

Pema Bhutia of  Kanchendzonga Conservation Committee spoke of how they decided to clean up the  waste left by trekkers to their holy mountains and now they enforce a system of trekker bringing back the waste, to base and recyle that waste.

Alex Jensen (Local Futures) however feels that recycling is not the answer. We need to address the policies issues that created such a hugh amount of plastics. He spoke about the co-benefits of the alternatives which would not only provide more meaningful livelihood, but also protect the environment and peoples health.


Can Environment & Develoment go together?


Separate video of Part III of Ashish's presentation talking about the five pillars of Sustainable and Equitable Society and outlines in the Alternatives Framework being evolved at the Sangams.

During the Field Trip to SECMOL (Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh), Becky spoke about the programme at SECMOL, while Sonam Wanchuk gave a fascinating account of the local innovations, brought about while engaging the students in understanding and seeking solutions to local critical issues.



Normaly Cultural programmes represent the performers going away from their context, which makes the performance "showy". Here students do folk songs and dance every day in order to go back deeper into their own roots and culture.






The participants watched the film – Story of Stuff .
Click for more information

Video Coming Up in this space..:
Waste issues in Ladakh: causes, consequences, way forward by  Sonam Wangchuk, SECMOL
Experience sharing  by Piyush Mohapatra, Toxics Link
Issues with Processed food- 
Dr. Thinley, physician
Local traditional food and medicines by Henasku Amchi 
(Amchi’s are traditional healers)
Feedback and discussion on LVD
Bharat Mansata
Vanvadi, Maharashtra