Today was the first day of the main COP-15 conference. It has set the scene for the next 2 weeks, which will be amazing, tiring, busy, interesting and at some points overwhelming, but also a valuable learning experience.
We all attended a press conference held by UNICEF and FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation), which focused on using youth and music to break barriers and build bridges towards global climate action. These 2 organisations have partnered with WAGGGS to produce the Climate Challenge Badge. There were 8 youth delegates speaking on behalf of the Children’s Climate Summit, and they shared their experiences of music’s influence in the climate change movement. During the open question time, 2 WAGGGS delegates asked the panel questions regarding the impact of climate change on girls and young women in their communities, and how they were being included in the decision making process to take action. A number of WAGGGS delegates also attended a press conference held by the Women’s Environment and Development Organisation, which identified why gender equality matters in a global climate change agreement.
After lunch we took part in a joint youth action, performing a ‘flash dance’ in the main common area of the Bella Centre. Over 200 youth took part to demand climate justice through dance and song. These types of actions are important as they gain the attention of the media and put pressure on government delegations.
A number of delegates also had the opportunity to attend a panel discussion including the Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and the Executive Director of Greenpeace Kumi Naidoo. The closing statement of this discussion was made by Professor Wanguri Maathai, an exceptional woman whose work and influence has grown from a one woman campaign to save the environment to being internationally recognised for her struggle for democracy, human rights, and environmental conservation. She was presented with a World Citizenship Award by WAGGGS in 2007, and we were lucky enough to meet with her and have a photo taken.
It was a jam-packed day, challenging at times, but we can’t wait for more!
Girl Scout love,
Maria, Sarah, and Emily
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
It is just wonderful that you are representing our country at this important meeting. You have the right values, frame of reference, commitment, and energy for this difficult work.
ReplyDeleteIf we wonder how important it is, we only need look around the world to find thousands of examples of the direct impact of warming. Today, for example, the NBC nightly news did a piece on Bangaladesh and the estimated 26 million people who live in the area that will be under water in a matter of a few years, and who are flooded out of their homes with every typhone that comes in off the Indian Ocean.
The situation needs the freshness and courage of the next generation to finally fix what has taken many generations to cause. Do this important work knowing that there are many, many who you represent and who support what you are doing.
Thanks,
Bob