MYCJN

So the first day was pretty exhausting, but things began to lighten up on the second day. After breakfast the next day, we all got on the bus for a round of tree-planting in a nearby community.

Albert from Indonesia having fun.

Planting more trees!

Hard, manual labor!

Each of us (somewhat comically) decked out in traditional costumes representative of our countries.

The VIP table -- officials from the Thai government.

Presenting our joint statement

Arm from Thailand presenting our activity-based handbook for public places.

Lively performance by representatives from the College of Dramatic Arts.

Later on, we were given a chance to speak with a reporter for an educational radio station in Thailand. We took the opportunity to stress how easy it is for youths to make a difference in reducing their impact on the environment. This can be as simple as turning off the lights when not in use or making an effort to conserve energy, to segregating your waste for recycling/composting/disposal, to volunteering on Sundays of alternate weekends to plant trees at a certain peat swamp

Amazing people

Memorable times.

So, kob khun ka! [that's Thank You in Thai, btw ]

We landed at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok at about 3PM on Monday, picked up our luggage, got through immigration and then headed over to Gate 3, level 2, to meet Saranjit, one of the organizers. We waited for the rest of the delegates from Laos to arrive before setting off together on the approximately 90-minute trip to our hotel in Nakhon Pathom.

Empowering Youth to Take Action on Climate Change

We had an ice breaking session the night before, where we met the youths from every other (ASEAN) country. With three representatives from each South-East Asian country and another 10 youth observers from Thailand, there was a total of 40 participating youths.  The guy in charge of our ice breaking was just, putting it simply, awesome. He effectively “ice-broke” us in all definitions of the word (except literally, of course), having all of us warming up to each other and laughing away by the end of the night. Breaking down barriers and convincing us to shed away our shyness, he got us all prepped up and ready for what we had in store for us the next day.

Getting to 'know' each other

The seminar officially began the next morning with youths from each country presenting their national climate policies, as well as their opinions on the role of youths and pilot projects to be pursued. Our Cambodian friends went first by explaining how, in their country, the livelihoods of those dependent on agriculture were adversely affected due to fluctuations in weather conditions. During the wet seasons, floods frequently occurred; whereas during the dry seasons, droughts plagued the fields. Either ways, the farmers lost out as they were unable to harvest sufficient crops.

Generally, the climate policies in each country were mainly focused on improving energy efficiency as well as cutting down carbon emissions. There was also emphasis on community-based development as poverty eradication is still a main concern is some of these countries. Certain countries were in danger of being worst affected by climate change, including Myanmar and Vietnam, therefore making the call for action more urgent.

Did someone mention nuclear?

Many suggested “go-green workshops/seminars/camps” as a possible pilot projects, as well as organizing youth networks (hello!) to connect and mobilize youths. It was also agreed that the role of youths is critical in all levels of decision-making and it is up to us to get informed and initiate action plans.

(Well, it is our future.)

Presenting our climate policy

We were later joined by a Dr. Chaiyod Bunyagidj, deputy director of the Thailand Environment Institute, who gave us a overview of the whats, whys and solutions of global warming. One of the projects that they are working on sustaining is the school carpooling program, of which 48 students of the Benchamarachanusorn School in the Nonthaburi Municipality are currently taking part. Running such a simple program can effectively reduce emissions from transportation, which is why they are now looking into extending the project to other schools in that municipality.

Later on, we were given time to clarify our understanding on global warming and how it relates to each of us, by separating all the participants into three discussion groups. This was followed by us being assigned tasks on crafting our joint statement for the seminar, as well as designing the activity-based guideline that can be virtually distributed across the internet.

A few of our new Thai friends

By the end of the day we were all drained, unable to come up with even simple, operative ideas. Yet by working together we managed to pull together the drafts of what was required and then we were told that we could return to our rooms to rest.

Beginning tomorrow, youths from each of the 10 ASEAN countries will be gathering to share knowledge and ideas on tackling global warming. Thankfully, there will be three representatives from Malaysia as well, sent by the Malaysian Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS). Organized by the Office of Welfare Promotion, Protection and Empowerment of Vulnerable Groups (OPP) under the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security of Thailand, the objective of this seminar is to create a platform for youths to discuss and formulate action plans to be initiated in our home countries.

List of ASEAN countries

The seminar will be kicking off with the diffusion and assimilation of information between the countries. Representatives from each nation will present their own national climate policy and action plans, followed by inputs from guest speakers and then discussions between groups. By the end of this 2-day seminar, delegates would be prepared to return home to share the knowledge and spearhead projects in their own communities.

As for myself, i look forward to being at this seminar and meeting the other delegates. Perhaps this seminar can shed a new light or put in effect a new perspective on the issue of global warming and man-made climate change for me. Who knows, it may even be the grounds on which an effective network for ASEAN youths can be formed, hence creating the opportunities for us to coordinate future projects together, engaging youths, eliminating apathy among the general public, getting everybody to band together and take a stand against global warming, then saving and taking over the worl –

Hm. Well, okay, to be realistic, that probably won’t happen. But one can always hope! *sheepish smile*

JR & friends in college

Anyhow, i will be presenting on the topic of the role of youths in driving our national climate policy to success. The thought of speaking in front of delegates from 9 other countries is slightly (okay, maybe more than slightly) daunting. Nevertheless, it (i sincerely hope) won’t hinder me from sending the one message across: that youths play a crucial part in this issue — after all, this is about our future.

Nakhon Pathom province of Thailand

Well, well. Thailand, here i come.

- Jin Rui

Dear international allies in scrapping the Sabah, Borneo coal plant,

Finally, and thanks to all your support, Sabah is celebrating a coal-free future. April 1st, 2011 @ Tanjung Aru Beach, Kota Kinabalu – you are all invited to the mother of all beach parties. We suggest three low carbon footprint ways to be present (1) you Skype in and say hello to a few hundred Sabahans on our 20′ X 20′ screen (2) you send us a simple webcam-produced video message which we will play on the screen (3) you send us a few lines via email which we will put on the screen.

Apart from the celebration of the win, we are also launching a new LEAP project – the creation of the Borneo-Pacific Rim civil society/NGO hub. The purpose of the hub is to expand on the work of the Green SURF coalition, and create a dynamic physical space in which to connect, organize and mobilize local, national, regional and international civil society movements. From the coal campaign, we realized the power of connecting movements and campaigns across local to global boundaries. We’re inviting all of you to join us @ the hub. We’ll have 80,000 sq ft of office spaces, hot desk spaces, event spaces, food/art spaces, exhibit spaces, outdoor spaces, etc. powered by solar, garbage, organic waste, etc. The civil society movement walking it’s talk and showcasing a model, while changing the game!

In gratitude and solidarity from Sabah,
Cynthia

In support of International Women’s Day 2011, we will highlight gender & climate change issues throughout this week. – www.mycjn.org

Days before this talk, journalist Naomi Klein was on a boat in the Gulf of Mexico, looking at the catastrophic results of BP’s risky pursuit of oil. Our societies have become addicted to extreme risk in finding new energy, new financial instruments and more … and too often, we’re left to clean up a mess afterward. Klein’s question: What’s the backup plan?
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In support of International Women’s Day 2011, we will highlight gender & climate change issues throughout this week. – www.mycjn.org

An international expert on nature preservation has called for a bigger role for women in discussing climate change, as they are more vulnerable to its impacts.

“Why are women, particularly poor women, disproportionately vulnerable to climate change? It’s because many women live in conditions of social exclusion,” Lorena Aguilar told The Korea Herald as she prepared for the Global Women Capital Forum in Seoul.

Aguilar currently serves as a Global Senior Gender Advisor of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. She has dedicated more than two and half decades of efforts toward sustainable and equitable human development incorporating social and gender issues into the use and conservation of natural resources.

Lorena Aguilar, Global Senior Gender Adviser of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, says climate change and gender inequality are inextricably linked. (Chung Hee-cho / The Korea Herald)

“Climate change will and has been affecting all countries in all parts of the globe,” she said.

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In support of International Women’s Day 2011, we will highlight gender & climate change issues throughout this week. – www.mycjn.org

The Greens

The role of human activity in accelerating climate change is beyond doubt. The fourth assessment report (4AR) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), confirmed that overwhelming scientific evidence links impact of human activity to climate change and unless action to significantly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases is taken, the world is on a path to runaway warming.

Why is it so important to integrate gender aspects into debates on climate change?

Climate change and climate impacts are not gender neutral.  Gender equality is a critical component of responses to climate change at all levels – it should be integrated in all aspects of climate change planning and decision making.

At first glance, it might seem unintuitive to link climate change and gender issues. However, since societies still largely rely on gendered roles and responsibilities, both sexes do not have the same impact on climate change, and perhaps more importantly, are differently affected by it.

Women are disproportionately affected

Gender aspects of climate change are a matter of justice, human rights, and human security. Women are the poorest people in the poorest areas. Moreover, several studies indicate that the death rate in natural disasters can be four times higher for women. We have compelling data on how women are more vulnerable to climate change. It is thus important to be committed to gender sensitive approaches. We must adapt the mechanisms in place so that they reduce, or at least do not increase the gender issues.

Women empowerment and women’s role

Women are change agents on both household and community levels with regard to natural resource management. Women are long-time leaders on poverty eradication and sustainability, and gender equality is a key issue in the climate change debate. If we do not implement gender-sensitive policies to fight the climate change, it will have disastrous consequences on the gender balance.

On the other hand, if we include and empower women, who are often responsible for agriculture, food and water supply, as well as first education of the next generation, we will do a better job in addressing the climate change and its consequences.

Mainstreaming the gender perspective is not only a sensible choice for our societies; it is a better, more efficient way to reach our goals.

Because this subject is at the very core of our preoccupations as members of the Green Party, we need to have better information and understanding on this subject, and answer these questions:

How can we counteract the disproportionate burden of climate change on women? How to empower women so that they become a key partner in reducing climate change?

How can gender equality be fully integrated into climate policies?

We encourage everyone to send us a paper with ideas and propositions on these issues.

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Contributed by Natasha Manan

Full scholarship for MSc in Climate Change and Development at University of Sussex/Institute for Development Studies, UK. A full scholarship (fees plus maintenance and travel) funded through the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship scheme is available for applicants to the MSc in Climate Change and Development programme for entry October 2011.

Note: Potential applicants must undertake the following process in the order stated.
1. Check their eligibility for the award (see criteria below)
2. Submit an application for the MSc in Climate Change and Development using the online application facility at http://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/pg/2011/taught/3331/23691
3. Only after applicants have received an offer of a place on the course should they request an application form for the scholarship, be contacting climate@sussex.ac.uk. The deadline for applications for the scholarship is 1st May 2011.
Scholarship Criteria

Applicants must
(i) be nationals of (or permanently domiciled in) a Commonwealth developing country, and not currently be living or studying in a developed country (please see the booklet for a list of eligible countries)
(ii) hold a first degree at either first or upper second class level;
(iii) be sufficiently fluent in English to pursue the course
(iv) have not previously studied for one year or more in a developed country
(v) not be employed by a government department (for this purpose the Commission counts this as being employed by a Government Ministry)
(vi) be able to confirm in writing that neither they or their families would otherwise be able to pay for the proposed course of study
(vii) be willing to confirm that they will return to their home country as soon as their period of study is complete

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the sharpest rock on the wildest shore can never break that ocean apart, they can never wear that ocean down, because it’s the ocean that shapes the shore.

Tim DeChristopher’s Speech After Guilty Verdict for Climate Civil Disobedience – Jamie Henn – 350.org

On Thursday, a jury in Salt Lake City declared climate activist Tim DeChristopher guilty for his interference with an oil and gas auction held at the end of the Bush administration. He faces a sentence of up to 10 years, to be determined by a judge.

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Our agency implemented a project that was constructed around the idea of overconsumption of products in the world. This initially developed when our chairman and chief creative officer Mr Thirasak Tanapatanakul experienced his four year old son screaming like crazy as he refused his request for the latest smart phone. He came to realize that due to the creative nature of our advertising work, our jobs are to stimulate people to consume. As a result we are now living in a world of over-consumption, surrounded by things that are not necessary but are told by all forms of media that we need these in our life to be satisfied. We wanted to help the next generation by exploring the principles of self- sufficient living and help people realize what they need in life and what they don’t.

From this idea “My Family Project”, Burg Barn Buri was born, this is the place of the project where five acres are dedicated to the principle of self-sufficient living. We went back to the basics and came up with the following necessities like food, energy, medicine and entertainment. At Burg Barn Buri we have grow organic rice, herbs, and vegetables, raise fish, make energy from nature as well as built a huge natural playground. Right now over 400 families have already experienced this way of living, and we are currently in the process of building a website to increase the numbers of families. Also using the project as a stepping stone to target the creative people in advertising and enlist their help to challenge and change the attitude of this world.