Leave it to us

Forest and Bird, Issue 279, 1 February 1996, Page 24

Leave it to us

DEAN SCHNEIDER,

Last October 800 children from over 80 countries met in the English seaside resort ‘of Eastbourne for the first-International Children! 's Conference .on the Environment.

one

of the adults privileged to be in attendance, reports on the event:

ITH A conference slogan "Leave it to us’, and rejoinders to wayward delegates to "stop behaving like adults", the first environmental conference of children from the countries of the world lacked nothing in youthful self confidence or hope for the future. The three-day forum was the brainchild of 13-year-old English girl Debbie Simmons, who was also its chairperson. "We felt that if we got lots of children together, adults would listen to what they have to say. We wanted to find out what problems people in other parts of the world had and to encourage each other". While held under the auspices of the UN Environment Program as part of Agenda 21, the environmental blueprint hammered out at the 1992 Rio Earth

Summit, the conference was very much inspired by children, run for children and much of the key decision making was in the hands of children. The 10-to-12-year-old delegates were no ordinary kids. All have made an impact with campaigns in their home countries and by the year 2020 could well be some of the world’s political, economic and environmental leaders. "They couldn't have chosen a better time to meet to discuss global environmental problems," said David Bellamy. "I don’t think the living earth has ever been in greater danger than it is today." New Zealand and Australia had some of the strongest of the 6,000-plus applications received worldwide for places at the conference. The standard of applicants from this country was so high that British Airways, who co-sponsored the event and flew the delegates to London, invited seven young Kiwis rather than the original plan of only two. Christy Flaws, 10, from Dunedin, was typical of the seven New Zealand delegates all of whom had already made substantial environmental contributions. Christy took part in a whale rescue course for adults when she was nine and then organised a Brighton beach clean-up operation which drew over 35 people. Terehia Hassan was able to give one of

only 18 presentations to the conference — on the yellow-eyed penguin. Terehia has helped at the Kataki Point sanctuary south of Oamaru caring for injured birds since she was five and gives talks to children on the dangers to penguins from discarded rubbish. Morning sessions at the conference were given over to three themes: waste and recycling; wildlife in danger; sustainable development and the media. Each afternoon there were over 30 interactive workshops to choose from. These ranged from finding out about wildlife habitats, caring for injured animals, learning to write books and newsletters and use the media, and, one of the most popular, exploring an estuary and seashore by foot and bike. With the tight scheduling of the programme it was difficult to add additional items. Fortunately the seven New Zealanders were assertive and were given time to address the conference about French nuclear testing at Mururoa. They asked delegates to stand up to show support for their opposition to the tests. Everyone stood except an embarrassed John Gummer, British Environment Secretary, who was visiting for the session and was left sitting alone on the stage. Chris Woodcock, 11, from the UK wrote an article for the local paper: "I

wasn’t really surprised at how seriously all those children took the world’s problems. But the conference was an eye-opener for my mum, Sue." Follow up from the conference will include a regular "Leave It To Us" newsletter, a children’s conference home page on the Internet and regular surveys by UNEP every two years of young people’s opinions on and involvement in environmental issues. New Zealand has offered to host the next International Children’s Conference and a decision will be made in the next few months. Watch this space. Wade Doak was once asked if he ever gets depressed about the magnitude of global environmental problems and his reply was that he is basically an optimist for when he looks around at nature it is always growing and evolving: "New life is always optimistic". We must also listen to children for they have a freshness, enthusiasm and optimism that many of us have long forgotten and lost as we go about our daily routines. And all too soon — for better or worse — our kids will inherit the earth. ® Note: if you would like to receive information about the next International Children’s Conference for the Environment, the complete list of the 26 Challenges and the first two newsletters please send two large stamped self addressed envelopes to Gaia Environmental Education, PO Box 5500, Dunedin.

DEAN SCHNEIDER teaches environmental education in Otago schools. He attended the children’s conference as one of the UNEP facilitators.