Posts

Showing posts from 2011

The African Youth Climate Justice Caravan comes Home

Image
I always pride myself in my fluency and ease of writing, but this is one of those occasions where you have to reflect on the moment, look for the right words and savour the moment before setting to write. The ' We Have Faith-Act Now for Climate Justice'  African Youth Climate Justice Caravan, henceforth referred to as the Caravan, made its grand entry into Nairobi, Kenya, on 15 th December 2011, after 42 days of road travel to Durban, South Africa, and back, for the COP17 climate change talks. And, as was the norm – defying all odds – the mood of the caravan youth was euphoric and greatly optimistic, despite all the fatigue from the long travel. The reception luncheon on 16 th December 2011 was the actual testament of what had just happened. The Caravan family poses infront of the Caravan trucks  after the Luncheon in Nairobi In the history of the African continent, this was undoubtedly the biggest youth mobilization project ever! Going through six countries (Keny

Text of Youth Statement to US Delegation at the ICC in Durban

Dec 8, 2011 The Honorable Todd Stern Special Envoy for Climate Change U.S. Department of State Dear Mr. Stern:   We are writing as youth from across the African continent, the Pacific Islands, and around the world to ask you not to sign our death sentence here in Durban. If the United States is not going to lead the world in solving the climate crisis, please stand out of the way.  Delaying a climate deal until 2020 would slam the door on avoiding catastrophic climate change. In order to save our future here in Durban, nations must save the Kyoto Protocol and then urgently push for more ambition.  President Obama said, “The need to drastically change our energy policy is no longer a debatable proposition. It is not a question of whether, but how; not a question of if, but when. For the sake of our security, our economy, our jobs and our planet, the age of oil must end in our time.” For our future as youth here in Africa and around the world, the clean en

African Group sets out key demands as talks enter final stages

Image
We Have Faith Youth Caravan participants at the Saturday Civil Society march in Durban, SA . COP17, Durban, South Africa - The African Group of negotiators have set out their five key demands as UN climate talks in Durban move into the high level stage of negotiations today.  The Group, which represents 54 African countries and is chaired by Mr. Tosi Mpanu Mpanu of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, are demanding: A multilateral agreement that respects the principles and provisions of the Convention, and matches the ambition and substance set out in the Bali Action Plan  A second and subsequent commitment periods under the Kyoto Protocol with ambitious, science-based mitigation targets for developed country Kyoto Parties and provisional application to avoid a gap in the legally binding regime; and comparable efforts by developed country non-Kyoto Parties (United States) under the Convention, including ambitious, legally binding, economy-wide emission reduction comm

The African Youth Climate Justice Caravan from Nairobi to Durban- Winnie's Diary

Image
Day 7-13 th Nov-Lilongwe Concert We head for a drive around Lilongwe early morning, informing everyone that we are headed to Civo Stadium for a climate justice concert in the afternoon. At the various stops many enthusiastic Malawians sign onto our petition and share their experiences on how climate change has affected them. Most talk of intense drought in recent years, of massive crop failures which has wreaked havoc on their communities since it has affected their livelihood and left them really vulnerable. The concert is awesome and the huge stadium has a huge crowd of people who have turned up. The energy Minister is here as well, to support this campaign and encourage youth who have been involved in this to keep on with the good work and energy. Dan Lu the Malawian star does not disappoint, as other perfomers, the Botswana team is charming as usual.Juliani keeps to his element and Simki gets the crowd fired as well. It’s a good day, we have many petitions collected from all

The African Youth Climate Justice Caravan- Winnie's Diary

Day 4-10 th Nov 2011 Dar- Iringa Thursday blues.....I wake up so late as I had slept even later. Its time to leave and the journey to Iringa starts in earnest. Down the valleys and up the hills.....beautiful place this is and I can’t help but marvel at the abundance of Gods’ creation in this part of the world. We all collect petitions at each stop and hope that we have left an indelible mark. My Swahili is much polished am so proud of myself. We get to camp in the evening do an assessment of how the day was like and ways to move forward. .Day 5-11 th Nov 2011 Iringa – Chitimba This is one of the special stretches we’ve passed through. Imagine seeing elephants, giraffes, throw in the grand gazelle and zebras , then hurray thats the package....at no cost, in the comfort of the truck all lining the nearby bushes as if standing in solidarity with the campaign and wishing us well.....We have faith Indeed! And now imagine a world where all this species are threatened because of

The African Youth Climate Justice Caravan- Winnie's Diary

Image
Kick off Concert in Nairobi-7th August Memorial Park Its early noon when the concert kicks off. The atmosphere is rife with anticipation.The concert goes far beyond expectation, there are so many people and close to 10,000 petitions have been collected by the time the concert come to an end. The Botswanan trio just blew it away with their performance which was punctuated with wild screams, reminds one of the world renowed' The gos must be carzy'. Achieng' Abura is cheered wildly as she explains the relevance of the campaign and why it is everybody's responsibility to take action and address climate change issues. It starts with individual, she summarizes. Juliani the Youth Climate Ambassador brings down the curtains on the concert with his energetic moves and powerful lyrics. I dance away to the tune of his climate music, its simply irresistible! What a concert......I can’t wait for the Dar es Salaam Concert. Day One-Nairobi to Arusha Its early morning a

Kenyatta University vice Chancellor, Miss Olive Mugenda and Royal media Services C.E.O S.K Macharia Sign the Climte Change Petition

Image
During the opening ceremony of the culture week in Kenyatta University, the vice chancellor, Prof. Olive Mugenda and Royal Media Services C.E.O Dr. S.K Macharia signed the climate change petition. In a statement made by Antony Opot, the Secretary General to the Kenyatta University Environmental Club, the two dignitaries were urged to have the climate change petition signed to increase the efforts being made by the Kenya Youth Climate Network in having up to 1 million petitions signed from Kenya alone. Kenyatta University Environmental Club has been taking a leading role in addressing environmental conservation.

Statement by the Major Group for Children and Youth delivered at the Seventh Session Of The Committee Of Food Security And Sustainable Development (CFSSD-7) And The Africa Regional Preparatory Meeting For The United Nations Conference On Sustainable Development (RIO+ 20), October 22, 2011, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

We, the Delegates to the Africa Regional Preparatory Meeting on Rio+20 on behalf of  Children and Youth in the continent acknowledge that Rio+20 is of much importance to us being the generation that will be most affected by the decisions to be reached at the   conference.   We are united   in   calling   upon   African   and   World  leaders   to   move towards sustainable development that safeguards the planet earth and its people since this is an opportunity we cannot afford to fail in meeting the needs of the present and future generations. The initiatives pursued in order to support youth as one of the key role players in the advancement towards sustainable development, should acknowledge the vulnerability of children and young people who are in this critical lifestage. On the one hand, while children and youth have the vibrancy, enthusiasm and untapped potentials to emerge as   leaders   in   their   homes,   communities,   society   and   countries,  they   are   most   oft

AYICC Press Statement at CCDA-1, Addis Ababa

Image
African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC) Press Statement at the 1 st Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA-1) Conference, 17 th to 19 th October 2011, Addis Ababa , Ethiopia , * * * The African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC) is represented at the 1 st Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA-1) Conference by young climate activists, professionals and researchers from the six regions of Africa including Central, Eastern, Southern, Northern and Western Africa. As African youth form the bulk of the continent’s population; We therefore applaud the initiative of UNECA, AUC, ClimDev and the AfDB for organizing this conference and for facilitating our active participation. The initiative is indeed imperative in leading Africa on a sustainable development path, and in enhancing youth capacities as well as integrating our concerns in the continent’s plans. . Today, We seek a new way; a new path that shows our humanness which is measured by re