Part II: Our Future is Worth It: How YOUth can take ACTION for Sustainable Development

Our Future is Worth It:

How YOUth can take ACTION for Sustainable Development

A Rio+20

Toolkit Series :

Part II

In partnership with:

IN THIS ISSUE

The Story of Rio+20 pp. 1-5

How you can have An Impact on Rio+20 pp. 6-7

Introduction to Lobbying pp. 8-9

How to Organize an Event p. 10

Tips for Effective Presentations p. 11

Online Resources pp. 12-13

Contacts p. 14

act local,

think global!

Design Your Future

“ As the young leaders of tomorrow, you have the passion and energy and commitment to make a difference. What I'd like to really urge you do is to have a global vision. Go beyond your country; go beyond your

national boundaries."

"You have to work and think about how we can make this world a better place for all. This is what I'd really like to ask our young leaders. We will

try as leaders of today to minimise the problems which we will hand over to you. But it is to you. You have to take ownership and leadership

of tomorrow. For that to be possible, you have to strengthen your capacity and widen your vision as a global citizen."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon to the Young Atlanticist Summit

Lisbon, Portugal, 20 November 2010

In part one of our toolkit series we mentioned that something big is

happening in June: the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development.

What is significant in the lead up to Rio+20?

The answer is YOU.

YOU can share your voice with millions of youth around the world.

YOU can appeal to your leaders to make change.

YOU can take local actions.

Small actions for sustainable development in the lead up to Rio+20, multiplied

by millions of youth world-wide, can make a huge impact to design our future!

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A timeline of

events leading

up to Rio+20:

1992 The Earth Summit was the first meeting of its kind: more than 17,000 people,

including 240 delegates and civil society organizations, gathered to discuss the

creation of a sustainable future.

The first Earth Summit

Earth Summit 1992 also established the UN Commission on Sustainable

Development (CSD). The CSD monitors international treaties on the environment,

provides policy direction, and coordinates action within the United Nations

system to achieve the goals of Agenda 21.

The CSD meets each year for negotiations and the Major Group of Children and

Youth have participated in all of these meetings. To find out more about the con-

tributions made by Children and Youth to these sessions check out their

history: http://uncsdchildrenyouth.org/what-weve-done/

1972: UN Conference on the Human Environment

1992: UN Conference on Environment and Development (Rio Earth Summit)

1994: Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island States

2002: UN International Conference on Financing for Development

2002: World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10)

2005: UN Conference on Small Islands

2012: UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)

Learn more about these milestones for sustainable development in the next few pages.

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The Earth Summit in 1992 was the catalyst for a lot of changes, including a greater use of the term “Sustainable

Development” in politics, as well as a greater feeling of urgency that humans should act to protect the planet.

10 years after Earth Summit 1992, came the Rio+10 Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa,

which produced a follow-up document to Agenda 21, called the Johannesburg Plan of

Implementation (JPOI). This document focuses on operational steps to ensure:

Poverty Eradication

Changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production

Protecting the natural resource base

2002: Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10)

From 20-22 June 2012 the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) will take place in Rio de Janeiro,

Brazil. The Conference will be focused on:

Objectives

The Green Economy in the context of Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development

Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development (Governance)

The process: Several important steps have led the way to this important conference. Check out the diagram below!

2012: UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)

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Fun Fact: The 2002 conference is called Rio+10 because it happened 10 years after the original Earth Summit,

whereas the 2012 conference is called Rio+20 because it is happening 20 years after the original Earth Summit.

1992-2012: A snapshot of world challenges

Since the 1992 Earth

Summit a lot of things

have happened.

Sustainable

Development has

become more

prominent on the

political agenda and

more people have

started talking about

it. Issues such as

climate change,

global warming and

growing social

inequality have

created a sense of

global urgency.

Despite this urgency,

the political will to

follow up on agreed

actions has been

limited. 20 years after

the Rio Earth Summit

progress has been

made, but there still

remains a lot to be

achieved. Addressing

these issues is of

global importance.

A complicated picture of good things….

and some bad things….

In 20 years:

The population has gone up by 26%:

(1.4 billion people!)

GDP has gone up by 75%, but this economic

growth does not reflect the huge, and growing,

inequalities, between “the global North” and the

“global South”, OR the massive cost to the

planet in terms of resource overexploitation and

ecosystem degradation.

Over 3500 million people live in urban areas, but the

number of slum dwellers has gone up to 827 million

Food production has gone up by 45% but the number

of people who suffer from hunger in the world is

about 925 million (almost 1/7 of the world’s popula-

tion)

The ozone layer hole has been restored but the tem-

perature of the earth has gone up by o.4 degrees

Celsius, while the oceans record an increase in

temperature to 0.5 degrees Celsius above the average, and an increase in sea-

levels of about 2.5 mm per year.

Carbon parts per million in the atmosphere have gone from 357 ppmv to 389

ppmv; the use of fossil fuels has increased due to growing demand, especially

from developing countries such as India and China

We have lost 300 million hectares of forest since 1990 (that’s about the size of

Argentina), or about 16 million hectares of forest (contributing to about 12-15% of

global warming).

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You have probably noticed that after every major UN conference, outcome

documents or plans are released. These are plans of action aimed at guiding

the national policies of member states to achieve sustainable development.

These recommendations affect non profits, non governmental organizations

and individuals like you, also known as civil society.

An outcome document is also expected to come out of the Rio+20

conference. This document is known as the Zero Draft. The Zero Draft is

expected to build upon the impact of previous agreements like Agenda 21 and

the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (Rio+10).

The Zero Draft gathered proposals from governments, international and

regional organisations, as well as stakeholders that include youth voices via

the UN CSD Major Group of Children and Youth.

To see what proposals were submitted on behalf of Children and Youth, go to:

http://bit.ly/mgcyzerodraft

If you are interested in finding out what your country submitted to the Zero

Draft, use this handy tool from the official conference website:

http://bit.ly/zerodraftsubmissions

The Zero Draft proposals have been criticised for not being ambitious enough.

The document as it stands does not put enough pressure on governments to

ensure past agreements are adhered to. The Zero Draft also fails to incorpo-

rate enough measures to protect developing nations and island states at the

same rate of lessening consumption practices of developed ones.

Read the official Zero Draft and compare it to the one submitted on behalf of

children and youth. What goals are missing?

Once you have identified areas of the Zero Draft that need strengthening,

you can then raise awareness and take action!

The Rio+20 Outcome document

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And now the Zero Draft

The Concerns with the Zero Draft

Most children and youth will not be physically present during the Rio+20

conference.

Here is how you can still participate in the process.

Raise awareness!

Keep up to date with news about Rio+20 and share this information

within your community.

Organize a gathering where people can discuss the issues and create a

community action plan.

Create a viral video or design Rio+20 art.

Coordinate a peaceful demonstration.

Make sure to stay safe and follow the appropriate laws in your country.

The outcomes of Rio+20 must be implemented with all members of civil soci-

ety, including people from communities just like yours. The examples above

are local actions that can help you make Rio+20 relevant for your community

and draw the attention of decision makers.

Help youth inside and outside of the conference with planning and

co-ordination. Youth delegates will need your help and ideas to ensure

children and youth have a greater impact in the decision making process.

Search for youth-led conversations within online platforms such as

websites, mailing lists and social media to engage with other youth activists.

Commit to putting governments under pressure to reach positive outcomes

during Rio+20.

Follow up with your government to make sure they stick to commitments

after Rio+20.

Be prepared, gather friends with whom you can work and take actions, and above all, BE BRAVE!

Gather friends and family with you to work together and take action.

You can do it!

How you can have an impact on Rio+20

“Participation comes in

many forms, and you

can take on different

roles when engaging

into the process.

Everyone’s

participation is

valuable because we all

contribute in different

ways based on our

interests and capacity.”

(Rio+Twenties

Participation Guide)

From YOUR AREA

You can also support youth activists attending Rio+20

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Young people that are attending the conference are accredited by either a

Non Governmental Organization (NGO), as part of the press, or as an

official Youth Delegate representing their country.

There are many ways children and youth can influence the process while

attending the conference. Youth can lobby delegates to strengthen the

policy measures and make the negotiation process more accountable to

children and youth.

Here are some tactics that youth have be able to use in past negotiations :

Tracking the negotiations

Corridor lobbying

Participating in workshops

Holding side events

Oral interventions

Come to the MGCY Youth Blast (Conference of Youth)!

Over 2000 young people are expected to attend the Youth Blast

scheduled for 7-12 June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro.

The three aims of the Youth Blast are:

Build capacity amongst young people to effectively participate in

the formal and informal processes of Rio+20

Strategise for MGCY engagement in the official process of Rio+20

Plan for a post-Rio+20 agenda that incorporates the

implementation of the outcomes of Rio+20

For more information about the Youth Blast go to:

http://uncsdchildrenyouth.org/rio20/youth-blast/

If you are in Brazil but not at the conference

If you are attending the Rio+20 Conference:

Whether at home or at the conference, you can lobby decision-makers for sustainable development practices that will make the outcomes of Rio+20 work in reality.

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How do I influence Decision-Makers? An Introduction to Lobbying Advocacy Vs Lobbying

“Advocacy” involves influencing attitudes or opinions on a specific issue or cause.

“Lobbying” is slightly different- it usually involves asking for a specific ACTION to be taken, often by a government.

To do this, you will need to influence decision makers - the people/person with responsibility for the thing you

want to change.

Decision makers usually work at one of these 4 levels:

STEP 1: CHOOSING AN ISSUE

Ask yourself: “Why do I care about this issue??” Write or draw a few notes about the issue and why it matters to you, your group and

young people. If this problem were solved, who would it help? Why ? Decision makers often focus on the “Big Picture”...Issues that affect everyone Health, Education, the Economy (Money), Peace and Security are likely to be priorities.

STEP 2: FIND OUT WHO THE DECISION MAKERS ARE!

Find out who is in charge of decisions on this specific issue if you can. Use the internet, the local directory or by locating offices of decision makers and asking in person or writing a letter.

When thinking about WHO to contact, try to think back to the levels of decision makers (above) and who has the biggest influence.

STEP 3: DECIDE HOW YOU WILL CONTACT THEM

Write a letter or email (1 page is enough). Send a petition (ask them to change something, and get other people to sign their name too).

Arrange to meet with them to discuss the issue (if possible with other people who support your idea)

Call them - if you can get their office telephone number, get a lot of people (your friends, your entire class/school/youth group) to call in and speak with the decision maker at a specific time, or leave a message to share their opinions on the issue.

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Meeting Decision Makers

Top tips for lobbying face-to-face

Work together with others who care about the issue. Form a

group and share ideas.

Contact other organisations/people who are working on the is-

sue in your area.

Keep your messages short and simple: make a few key points to

give them ideas on how to solve the issue. Try not to criticise what

they have already done, but suggest ways to improve through

specific actions.

Make it personal: policy makers are more likely to remember letters and visits

that include personal experiences. Briefly describe a personal experience that

shows why YOU care about the issue. How does sustainable development

affect young people in the community/country?

Be creative! You can use art, music or photography to get your message across.

Consider making a giant piece of art with a message on it or send a video

message (keep it short).

Be specific: What do you want them to do? If you want a vote, information,

answers to a question, or a signature on a petition, make it clear and ask if they

will agree to do it.

Always give them your contact details so they can let you know when/if they

have done what you have asked.

If you are lucky enough to meet with a decision maker, remember lobbying is like a conversation...

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Sustainable development can sound like a boring term to young people. One of the ways you can encourage others to discuss and practice sustainability is by making the terms and issues youth-friendly.

Events can be anything from fun activities within local communities, to a more high profile event with television personalities and media presence.

Games, art (painting murals, drawing an activism tree, music shows) or simple discussion groups are a good way to bring people together under a theme.

You can raise awareness by hosting events and giving presentations! Break down the ideas, present the facts and inspire people to join you.

Raise Awareness: How to Organize an Event

Some things to consider:

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Tips for Making Effective Presentations

Inspire! Give presentations that do more than simply provide information– do not only present facts about sustainable development. You want them to feel concerned and connected as well as encouraged to voice what they really want.

Outline! Provide the outline of your presentation so it becomes easy for the audience to follow. Stick to 2-3 main points to help focus your audience.

Consistency! Identify a theme and make it consistent throughout the presentation. Be clear on what you want to achieve. Introduce the audience to your reasons for giving this presentation and what you expect from them.

Keep it simple and make it a show! Try to use visual aids such a slides or props wherever possible, but don’t overdo it. Use simple language – you don’t want to confuse your audience.

Enthusiasm! Be passionate and amaze the audience. It is important that you believe what you are saying to convince them. Have confidence and show that you have no statements, especially if you want to reach an agreement. Make your presentation like a show with conviction!

Facts and figures! Shocking statistics often make people reflect, but should be used responsibly. For example, compare the amount of food wasted in rich countries (220 million metric tonnes) to the same total amount of food produced in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY AND RIO+20!

I. Websites

Official Rio +20 Website http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.html Planetpals (free games, activities and more!) http://www.planetpals.com/ Young Scot (Scottish Youth Information for 11-26 year olds): Sustainability http://www.youngscot.org/info/670-sustainability EchoEarth.Info Environment Portal and Search Engine http://www.ecoearth.info/links/Sustainability/Information/For_Kids/welcome.asp Waste Free Lunches (tools to create change!) http://www.wastefreelunches.org/Resources.html - For schools K-12 http://www.informinc.org/getatlunch.php - For colleges and universities II. Organizations

Youth Entrepreneurship and Sustainability (YES) http://www.yesweb.org/ WiserEarth http://wiserearth.org/ Green Assembly http://www.greenassembly.net/ III. Other helpful toolkits and media

Human Impacts Institute MobilizeUS! toolkit for Rio+20 http://www.humanimpactsinstitute.org/Resources%20Rio+20/HII%20Toolkit%20Items/MobilizeUS!FAQ.pdf Youth Roc Toolkit for Youth on how to build a Sustainability Youth Council http://youth.reroc.com.au/content/sustainability-toolkit

UNICEF Youth Community Mapping Toolkit for those who want to spark conversation in their community

around sustainable development.

http://futurewewant.wordpress.com/toolkit-eng/mapping-toolkit/

TakingITGlobal Sustainability Youth Leadership Toolkit

http://www.tigweb.org/resources/toolkits/view.html?ToolkitID=2757

YOUTH PARTICIPATION Rio+twenties Participation Guide: For more information on how children and youth can participate and influence global decision-makers http://rioplustwenties.org/?page_id=970

Additional Online Resources

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LOBBYING

Millennium Development Goals Youth Action Guide (World Health Organisation –WHO)

This action guide was created by young people, to give anyone who wants to make the world a better place

everything they need to start a campaign, or link up with movements already happening in their country. It

includes information on how to plan and carry out an activity or campaign to tell others about the Millennium

Development Goals: http://www.who.int/pmnch/topics/mdgs/youthactionguide/en/index.html

PLAN International: Capacity Development for Youth Groups – Advocacy Training Guide

An introduction to advocacy for people who work with children, in 8 simple chapters, developed jointly by Plan and

development partners in Togo. http://plan-international.org/where-we-work/africa/publications/advocacy-capacity-

development-for-youth-groups-training-guide

[USA] Youthrights.net This is a youth lobbying guide designed to help young people become successful

advocates for policy change regarding youth rights at the local, state and national governmental levels.

http://www.youthrights.net/index.php?title=Youth_Lobbying_Guide

[UK] British Youth Council Youth Guides: These guides are most relevant to the UK and Europe. How -To Guides in-

clude : Lobbying, Campaigning, Running an Organisation. http://www.byc.org.uk/resource-centre/how-to-guides.aspx

[USA] Advocates For Youth.org:

Tips for Lobbying on sexual and reproductive health specifically.. Includes: Lobbying, Using the Media, Direct

Action, Building Coalitions... http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/tips-for-advocates-sercadv

Download the Youth Advocacy Kit: http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/storage/advfy/documents/advocacykit.pdf

[Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS) - Youth In Action Advocacy Guide [USA]

This guide offers a few tricks of the trade to help make advocating for your causes a little easier. Take this guide back to

your home and continue advocating for change at a local level.

http://www.tnoys.org/youth/WeWantChangeGuide.pdf

UK Christian Aid – How to Lobby

This is a guide to lobbying success - how to put your case forward and make good things happen!

http://www.christianaid.org.uk/ActNow/usefulstuff/how_to_lobby.aspx?Page=1

Other guides from Christian Aid:

How to organise an event, How to speak in public , How to write a press release , How to produce a leaflet

World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) - Advocacy Guide

Supporting and encouraging young people to speak out, educate,and take action http://www.wagggsworld.org/en/

resources/document/view/3384

Also from WAGGGS - Campaign and advocacy tools http://www.wagggsworld.org/en/resources/campaignandadvocacytools

PRESENTATIONS How to stage an event: http://www.ehow.com/how_2246624_organize-community-events-raise-awareness.html

How to tell a story: NPR's Scott Simon shares his experience and wisdom to help you with your own

storytelling skills: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiX_WNdJu6w

How to overcome speech anxiety: http://www.howcast.com/videos/174024-How-To-Overcome-Speech-Anxiety://

How to give presentations like Steve Jobs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-ntLGOyHw4

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If you are interested in getting involved, taking action, or simply knowing more

about what we’re doing, feel free to contact any of us for more information:

MAJOR GROUP FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Website: http://uncsdchildrenyouth.org/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/UNCSDYouthCaucus

Twitter: @MGCY_UNCSD

EARTH CHARTER INTERNATIONAL

Website: http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EarthCharter

Twitter: @earthcharter

EOTO WORLD

Website: http://www.eotoworld.org/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EOTOWorld

Twitter: @EOTOWorld

CONTACT US!

Thanks and acknowledgements

Authors: Barkha Mossae (Mauritius), Sasha Pratt ( UK), Neringa Miliauskaite

(Lithuania), Elischia Fludd(USA) and Nora Mahmoud (Costa Rica/USA).

Photo Credits: Oliver Rieche, Cynthia Keza and Vietnam Jump and Kyle

Kaianaupuni Robertson.

THANK YOU!

This completes the second section of our Rio+20 toolkit series.

In part 3 of our series, find out about a concept that relates to Rio+20 known as the green economy, how to use media, additional activities you can take for sustainable development and more!

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