Voices of Youth

For thousands of people who convened for the Rio+20 conference billed as the “most historic of our generation” –much has been lost because of the lack of political will to deliver the world out of its challenges.

Anyway, out of all the things that Rio+20 could not achieve something right did happen. Something which is most of the time overlooked by you, I and everyone else. As the dust settled on two decades of negotiations, some of those among us and most vulnerable to climate change because of their “unique abilities” are finally given the recognition they deserve.

They are our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, relatives, neighbours and friends living with disabilities. The Rio+20 Outcome Document is inclusive of disabilities! For this group of people – the world’s largest minority group – inclusion did not come easy and it was through partnerships between individuals and groups who had consistently advocated for inclusiveness in the society and in any activity that would have an impact on people with disability.

We are aware of the impacts of climate change and how we all feel it in one way or another. But we must also be aware that this global threat will not impact everyone equally. Women, children, the elderly, the indigenous peoples and those with disabilities – all are affected differently.

According to the International Disability Alliance, in a world of seven billion people there are a billion people living with disabilities and at least 80% percent of the disabled population live in developing countries. Now that is something to think about! How can we make sure that our society is inclusive of people with disabilities, giving them the respect they deserve and treating them as equal?

The Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) defines the term disability as “those who have long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.” Fiji signed the CRPD in July 2010 but has not yet ratified it.

The Rio+20 Outcome Document, "The future we want", has five specific references to disability.

We need frameworks and policies that are disability-inclusive and based on the key foundations of equality, fair participation and empowerment. When leaders talk about development – it has to include disability because we are all in this world as one. We can only progress if we move together at the same speed.

There is a need to encourage action from our Governments. But we also need to get involved. As individuals, thinking and acting inclusive to stop believing that disabilities stop people from doing things. Changing mindsets is not easy, but it not impossible also.

Many of us live in a world where we are blinded to see the potential people with disabilities have, and often feel and act as if they are not part of society. I had a similar mindset once. But that changed when I befriended a young man who was a very good athlete. We had similar sporting interests. He loved playing sports like most young people, he also provided for his family, and fully participated in all activities that he is involved in. My friend has vision impairment. Yet, it feels as if he is merrier than me and many others in our circle of friends because he does not see his disability limiting him from living a full, happy, healthy life. He made me realize the ability in his disability.

One of the most celebrated singers, songwriters in the world, Stevie wonder, who lost his vision shortly after birth once said, “Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes does not mean he lacks vision.” Imagine the world without the vision and music of Stevie wonder. It does not sound as nice as one with him now, does it?

We are seven billion people, living in one world with unique abilities. To appreciate what we have – we need to create a culture of inclusiveness!

References: Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities; International Disability Alliance (IDA website); Rio+20 - The Future We Want (Full text of the Rio+20 Outcome Document); Alert Net (Live Bloghttp://s3.amazonaws.com/voy/attachments/1705/original/CIMG0004.JPGs - Sightsavers at Rio+20 by Helen Hamilton).

The odd of any breakthrough at the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil is highly unlikely as far as the concerns of young people who convened for the at the 6th World Youth Congress (WYC).

While there was and still is a lot of optimism among leaders from the youth event – whether the Rio+20 Earth Summit will have any real impact on individual governments and its politics is anybody’s guess.

The reasons for their reservations are many; however, the ‘failure’ of the past 20 years of international negotiations, resulting into very little progress, speaks for itself. Shellfish political interest, greed, and the drive by political leaders to abuse the very essence of the planet that we occupy has left the world hanging in the cold.

Will the Rio+20 offer something different or will it be another global negotiation where decision makers get together and just put up show, and then to come back after some 20 years or so to make real change happen?

Well, from where young people see it – the time to make things happen is now!

“International negotiations have only enabled governments to make huge profits and not done much for the people,” shares Muna, a youth delegate at the WYC from Palestine. “This is the time when world leaders must come up with realistic solutions,” she adds. How much longer can governments work in isolation from its peoples? This cannot be stretched any further because the people of entire nations are getting concerned.

World superpowers also have to risk some of the privileges they hold over the developing nations. Indeed it is important what leaders will discuss at the Rio+20 to develop into concrete solutions as actions.

Daneil Wehner from Germany explains it precisely why sustainable solutions is the only option. “Developing countries may not be able to develop like the developed nations have anymore because the damage that has been done to the environment already.”

In this era of development, can the tough politicians and their shelf-interest politics be the answer to all the social, economical, and environmental problems of the nations of this world and of this generation?

The direction in which we are heading is signalling that it might take more than bureaucrats to find the answers to our problems as Adam Molner from Hungary states: “politics is all about business; it is the people who need to make something happen.”

The challenge of this generation is to change our attitudes towards how we view the future. What will be different at the Rio+20 is the actions of young people in their local communities – modelling sustainable livelihoods and a vision to change the world!

Photo: © UNICEF Pacific

In a few days time the 6th World Youth Congress will set the platform for the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. One of the outcomes of the WYC 2012 is to come up with 20 solutions for a sustainable future to save the world.

As part of the WYC and a delegate from the Pacific region, I involved other young people from the Pacific to share what they view as solutions for a future which is sustainable for the present generation and the generations to come.

These are their solutions:

1. Educate: start grassroots education on Sustainable Development – use the media and creative arts
2. Participate: meaningful and proactive youth participation – empower the future leaders
3. Protect: and promotion of traditional knowledge
4. Invest: more into renewable energy
5. Commit: more genuine high-level commitment
6. Collaborate: solidarity between the rich and the poor nations of the world
7. Prioritize: economic development, environmental conservation and social equity
8. Focus first on climate change adaptation, then mitigation and climate financing
9. Change your mind set – the challenges faced by the world today are global and we can’t solve it locally. We need a global effort!
10. Listen to what young people are saying
11. Take responsibility of your actions
12. Don’t lost hope!
13. Don’t lose hope!
14. Don’t lose hope!
15. Don’t lose hope!
16. Don’t lose hope!
17. Don’t lose hope!
18. Don’t lose hope!
19. Don’t lose hope!
20. Don’t lose hope!

This is what young people in the Pacific believe are answers to some of the most pressing issues of our time. What are your solutions?

Recently, I asked this question to young people in the Pacific: "If we had to come up with 20 (Pacific) Solutions for a Sustainable Future, what would they be?"

SO that when I am at the 6th World Youth Congress, Pacific youth also have a shot at getting their voice heard - and I would not be standing alone. I was amazed with the great responses from the future leaders. I believe it is worth sharing with the world because we here in the Pacific are just like you(th) from any corner or the "centre" of this planet.

The solutions are simple things we now talk about in our everyday lives. But they are important and need to be taken seriously in order for a future where all peoples of the world can live in harmony and complement each others existence.

Something to look forward for the youth delegates at the WYC from around the world!

1. Education: start grassroots education on Sustainable Development – use the media and creative arts
2. Participation: meaningful youth participation – empowering the future leaders
3. Protection: protection of traditional knowledge
4. Invest: invest more into renewable energy
5. Commitment: more high-level commitment
6. Collaboration: solidarity between the rich and the poor nations of the world
7. Prioritization: prioritize economic development, environmental conservation and social equity
8. Focus: on climate change adaptation first, then mitigation and climate financing
9. Attitude: change your mind set – the challenges faced by the world today are global and can’t solve it locally. We need a global effort!
10. Listen: listen to what young people are saying
11. Be Responsible: take responsibility of your actions
12. Don’t lost hope!
13. Don’t lose hope!
14. Don’t lose hope!
15. Don’t lose hope!
16. Don’t lose hope!
17. Don’t lose hope!
18. Don’t lose hope!
19. Don’t lose hope!
20. Don’t lose hope!

Hi, I am Kelvin, a Fijian youth who will be participating at the 6th World Youth Congress from 4-13 June, 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To maximise the impacts of this once in a lifetime opportunity and with the kind assistance and support of UNICEF Pacific, I hope to create as much awareness possible and engage Pacific as well as global youth on the climate debate using social and traditional media before, during and after the WYC 2012. What is climate change? The challenges it poses to us now and in the future? How can we adapt to the challenges? and What are the possible solution?

These are a few of the many questions that I would like for us young people to think about and share our thoughts on. You can also follow me on www.facebook.com/likeunicefpacific and keep engaged as we take on the global challenge of climate change.