Every day on my way to the Conference Centre I see small children begging on the side of the road at a traffic light. It doesn’t seem right, but a lot of things don’t seem right around here.
Today is Young and Future Generation’s Day at COP17 and speaking of children and youth brings me to the importance of young people at these negotiations. Many young people I have met here come from countries where they are already suffering climate change impacts and they came to Durban to send a clear message to negotiators: It is not about what is politically possible, it’s about survival for young people and future generations. It’s about a turning point!
In solidarity with youth from around the world, the Canadian Youth Delegation and the United Kingdom Climate Coalition have partnered together to hold a bake sale in order to raise funds to buy back our common future – which is jeopardized in the current negotiations by governments acting on corporate lobbyist and polluting industries. Evidently money speaks louder that the voices of their electorate. Therefore youth have decided that it is time for us to start speaking the only language that these governments seem to understand.
Right from the beginning of COP17 I felt a certain vibe going on as one name has been on everyone’s lips – Canada. Canada is doing a good job of installing confusion into the process for delegates here on the ground. Though its actions are not entirely unexpected, that doesn’t make it sting any less. Canada’s plans to pull out of the Kyoto Protocol, the only legally binding emissions agreement as well as the Environment Minister’s comment “to play hardball with developed countries” deeply affects many of the people here, such as developing countries and youth, who have the most to lose from a lack of action on climate change.
Environment Minister Peter Kent will fly to Durban, South Africa, this weekend to take part in the climate change conference already under way. It isn’t realistic to expect Canada’s participation in this conference to move humanity closer to the goal of reducing climate change. There is no reason to go to a United Nations meeting if you haven’t paid your dues and intend to quit anyway.
There is something I learned in South Africa today, a common rally cry, which is heard amongst people demanding their rights. Dating back to the days of anti-apartheid resistance – a call and response, the leader yells out “Amandla!” (Power!) and the crowed replies “Awethu!” (To Us!)
I would put the same call out to Canadian people. It is time for us to send a clear message to our government to stand up for our common future.
Awethu!
Amandla!
Power to the People
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