At least 18 mountaineers, who have climbed the Mt. Everest, took part in a rally in front of the United Nations building on Tuesday at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 47th Street, New York, USA, as the world leaders gathered inside the UN building. The climbers included Appa Sherpa (20 times climber), Ang Chhiring Sherpa (first South Asian journalist to summit), Nima Gombu Sherpa (15 times climber), Pasag Rinji Sherpa (five times climber), Ang Pasang Sherpa, Ang Phurba Sherpa and Chuldim Nurbu Sherpa. Likewise, other summiteers to join the rally were Kipa Sherpa, Lakpa Gelje Sherpa, Mingma Chiring Sherpa, Mingma Nurbu Sherpa, Pasang Kami Sherpa, Chuldim Nuru Sherpa, Serap Jangbu Sherpa, Sonam Sherpa,Nima Gombu Sherpa, Ang Babu ( Jinpa) Sherpa, AC Sherpa and Dawa Stephen Sherpa. The rally was organised as a series of events that started with a cabinet meeting at Kalapaththar, the Everest base camp and an awareness rally at Copenhagen, Denmark. Speaking at the event, the head of the Nepal’s delegation to the United Nation and the minister for home affairs, Bhim Bahadur Rawal, appealed to the world leaders to pay attention and support to check the melting of Himalayas. Expressing the government's commitment to save the Himalayas, minister Rawal also praised the efforts of the non-resident Nepalis in the issue. Meanwhile, coordinator of the event, Ang Chirring Sherpa welcomed the crowd and his opening remarks included witnessing melting snows and glaciers in the region. President of NRN America, Suman R. Timsina, said, "This is not just a task or an event but a responsibility of every Nepali and an issue of identity."
The permanent representative of Nepal to the UN, Gyan Chandra Acharya, expressed that his office was fully committed to influence other nations in his capacity at UN regarding Save the Himalayas. Similarly, former Assistant Secretary General of the UN, Kul Chandra Gautam, asked everyone to act from an individual level and thanked the organisers for such a rally in a timely manner. During the event, noted folk singer Prem Raja Mahat dedicated a song to the theme of Save the Himalayas and his song drew serious attention to Nepali identity, climate change and socio-cultural and environmental impact. An online petition to collect signatures was also taken to the United Nations with the help of Nepal Mission to get signature of other nations to appeal to the UN and global community to Save the Himalayas. The event organisers are planning to submit a petition to the UN Secretary General and finally to world leaders. The rally was organised by NRN America in collaboration with the Government of Nepal and National Trust for Nature Conservation. Representatives from over 10 States and a number of Nepali organisations participated in the rally, sponsored by local supporters.