Time is Passing, Let’s Wake Up!Young Minds Enriching Their Environment
Session 4B, Theme V
Sharm El Sheikh: September 2, 2007:
“During the time spent in this session, 3000 people have died from hunger.” With these words, moderator Ismail Serag El Din wrapped up this session concerning youth participation and environmental issues. This session provided an excellent example of problem- and project based learning, as it was almost entirely devoted to finding a solution to two issues: 1) How can youth best engage themselves in order to improve sustainable development, and 2) How can we enhance their engagement?
The participants offered a wide variety of solutions and suggestions incorporating a number of approaches. Among the more tangible suggestions was an awareness-raising bicycle ride across the MENA region – something that indeed seemed possible after it was revealed that participants in the Youth Forum had actually arrived on bicycle from Cairo. Another suggestion was to have participants bring their own cups in order to reduce the number of plastic water bottles wasted and to conserve water.
The expert panel also made a number of interesting comments, in particular addressing the more policy-oriented aspect of environmental issues. Specifically, there was a consensus about a need for an institutional and educational framework that makes use of the positive aspects of globalization. Another point that was raised in the expert panel regarded the very system in which environmental change takes place – capitalism. “Markets do not tell us the ecological truth. Today everything is assessed in terms of financial capital. But we also need human capital,” speaker Gillian Martin Mehres said.
Of the other esteemed speakers, Dumisani Nyoni paraphrased Descartes, stating “I am because I participate”, and by that also addressed the question of how to engage youth in issues of sustainable development. Although there was recognition that young people could do more, there was acknowledgement that youth are the main driving force in the environmental movement and a belief that youth indeed have already contributed to change.
The session was attended, not only by Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, but also by the Egyptian Minister of Environment. Their presence as well as the outcome-oriented and creative exchange made this inspiring two hours the perfect venue for starting this change.
Note to Editors:
Moderator
Ismail Serag El Din, Director, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt
Speakers
Poonam Ahluwalia, Executive Director, YES Campaign, India
Hoda Baraka, , Center for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE)
Gillian Martin Mehres, capacity development consultant and the Senior Capacity Development Advisor for LEAD International
Dumisani Nyoni, Director, Zimele Institute, Zimbabwe