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Update 1 from UN, Feb. 11-12
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Hi everyone,

I am writing from the out-moded 2nd floor lobby of the UN Headquarters in New York. Two of us are here as official 'observers' of the General Assembly's two-day debate on Climate Change and the UN.

So far, unfortunately, observing is all we've been able to do. It's been incredibly frustrating through the morning session as we watched a discussion about the importance of "partnerships" and of engaging different levels of governments, stakeholders and individual citizens. After opening speeches by Ban Ki-Moon (Sec-General of the UN) and Michael Bloomberg (Mayor of New York), statements by six panelists, and comments from over 20 delegations and invited audience-members, not ONCE have the words "youth" or "children" been mentioned.

I couldn't count how many times it was stressed by these eminent personalities how important it was to mobilise citizens or forge partnerships with business and civil society; it was practically every second word. But in this "open and frank" discussion, no-one thought to mention what even Ban Ki-Moon has called the most important stakeholder group in the climate change debate: youth and children.

Not once were we asked for our views or allowed to request the microphone. Yet we represent 40% of the world's population and stand to lose (or gain) absolutely everything from our response to climate change. We have the most energy and idealism of any generation in history, but we are being completely sidelined.

So from the 2nd-floor lobby (we weren't invited to the lunch), I am sad to report that despite all the promising signs and kind words in Bali, they still don't get it.

I hope I have better news this afternoon.

February 11, 2008 | 3:34 PM Comments  4 comments





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