{"id":919,"date":"2017-11-06T22:13:14","date_gmt":"2017-11-06T22:13:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalchangeecology.com\/?p=919"},"modified":"2018-06-25T14:58:00","modified_gmt":"2018-06-25T14:58:00","slug":"day-1-bula-zone-save-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalchangeecology.com\/2017\/11\/06\/day-1-bula-zone-save-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"COP23: “Save the world”"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Barbara Zennaro<\/a><\/p>\n

In 1992, during the Earth summit in Rio de Janeiro, a 12 year old girl gave a speech<\/a><\/strong> \u201cfor all the generation to come,\u201d telling the present leaders:<\/p>\n

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\u201c We are your own children.
\nYou are deciding what kind of world we will grow up in \u2026
\nAre we even on your list of priorities? “<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Similarly, today’s opening ceremony started with a procession of kids with signs that read: \u201cSave the world\u201d<\/em>. They performed a song entitled \u201cI am an island\u201d<\/em>, stressing our connectedness.<\/p>\n

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Save the World – Presentation of the music video “I am an Island” (Photo Credits: Katharina Funk)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The exiting COP president gave the first speech, underlying the cost of not acting<\/strong>\u00a0and how ambition, solidarity, and action are the principles the COPs are based upon. The priority, he said, are the young people–and history will remember us for what will be able to deliver.<\/p>\n

The new COP23 Fijian president was then given the seat, and as is tradition, a kava ceremony was performed and offered to the Minister of Environment, Barbara Hendricks.<\/p>\n

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Incoming COP 23 President Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama of Fiji. “Let us turn the necessity to opportunity.” (Photo credit: Katharina Funk)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As observers, we were not permitted to enter the open ceremony, but we watched it by screen in a room close by. Despite the fact that today’s attendance was lower than expected, the rooms and the halls felt filled with people (with women and men apparently equally represented) from all ethnic groups.<\/p>\n

I participated in different press briefings, which bitterly discussed the delusion of the USA’s withdrawal. Despite this, US cities, municipalities and citizens are still acting<\/strong> and supporting the Paris Agreement. The power of change is in all of us.<\/p>\n

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Fidji Police Band in their traditional clothing. (Photo credits: Katharina Funk)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the final speech I attended, a young girl, together with other children, filed a lawsuit against Trump to reduce the carbon input, asking:<\/p>\n

\u201c… not to leave a mess for young people to clean up.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

She stressed again that the work being done here is for the future generations.<\/p>\n

I came out of this first day of meeting motivated to engage more for our planet’s future, both as a \u201cyoung research<\/strong>\u201d and, maybe even moreso,\u00a0as a woman<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By: Barbara Zennaro In 1992, during the Earth summit in Rio de Janeiro, a 12 year old girl gave a speech \u201cfor all the generation to come,\u201d telling the present leaders: \u201c We are your own children. You are deciding what kind of world we will grow up in \u2026 Are we even on your […]<\/p>\n

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