YOUNGO at Moon Palace

Throughout the past two weeks, we have been participating with the YOUNGO group which consisted of youth from all over the world, including young people from 350.org and SustainUS. Of all the days at COP16, our last day was the most meaningful and certainly the one event that impacted us the most as youth delegates. We arrived at Moon Palace Friday morning expecting to participate in an event with the YOUNGO group. Little did we know how much attention we would attract... Around 2:30 pm we met with the group and discussed the two events that were to take place. Of course, they all depended on UNFCCC approval because without it we would risk losing our accreditation to the conference. It was very important to youth delegates and YOUNGO that these events be approved since all other events that we were expecting to perform had been cancelled. Eventually, we heard that we had one hour approved from 4 to 5 pm to do our events.

During the time we waited, Paul from 350.org, interviewed seven of us. He had us answer three questions: (1) What's your name? (2) What has impacted you most here at COP16? (3) What will you do once you get home? All of us had fairly similar answers which related to the overall culture, people, and environment that we were experiencing. We all wanted to share our experiences here at COP16 back at home and we are eager to do so.

Around four o'clock we huddled up and discussed the plan, passed out signs, and shared the two banners created for the events. The banners reflected the overall message of our event; to limit global atmospheric temperature increase to 1.5 degrees celsius and to send a warning that "Justice delayed is justice denied". As for the small signs held by numerous counters during the event, they read "21,000 climate related deaths in 2010", "Flooding in Colombia - 176 people", and "Landslide in Oaxaca - 500 people". These were just some examples of climate change related tragedies - and the major cause... humans. They are "crimes" committed indirectly by human kind against fellow humans. It was important that we had our voices heard.

 

Isabelle led the first event which included a massive thermometer. 

In a dramatic display, members of YOUNGO acted out how we survival is possible at a 1.5 degree celsius temperature increase and and below and anything above it will have lethal consequences. This display attracted a crowd of reporters and witnesses to our next event - counting to 21,000.

Counting to 21,000 was estimated to take approximately five hours, but SES delegates only stayed for the time approved by the UNFCCC. Standing up there among crowds of people gave me chills because every single number represented one person in the world that had died and every death has it's story. As we counted, members would speak up and tell a story, plead, or share a message that evoked emotion in them or in the audience. We were surrounded by so many people recording us and taking pictures which only caused our event to be even further extended to the world.

By the time one hour passed, we had reached around 1,500. Unfortunately the SES delegates had to leave, and many of us felt badly because of our desire to help convey the urgency of our message. Although we left, we contributed as best we could and I am sure we all feel somewhat accomplished that we had an influence on the people watching.

The counting continued on until security began to interrupt. YOUNGO members insisted on counting until they were forced onto shuttle buses and taken away from the scene. Hundreds and maybe even thousands of people witnessed the emotional event that took place. The youth are determined to push for real action and ask for only justice for humanity and our planet.

"You have been negotiating all our lives. You cannot tell us you need more time."

Sincerely,
The Youth, Future Leaders