About
"[...] UNESCO's role is to think global governance. That is why the Organization was founded."
- Olabiyi Babalola Joseph Yaï, Chair of the Executive Board of UNESCO -
UNESCO Headquarters (Paris, April 2009)
- Olabiyi Babalola Joseph Yaï, Chair of the Executive Board of UNESCO -
UNESCO Headquarters (Paris, April 2009)
- "The road to that new culture lies through global education."
- "[...] our disposal to project a global education reach for through both simple existing and highly advanced technologies. On the all-important local level, [...], the daily newspaper and radio have a crucial role to play in building bridges to the wider world. We must promote these media, defend and expand their freedom and appeal to their professionals at all levels to work with us for global education. At the same time, television provides a visual and 'real time' window on the world which can change perceptions with speed and force. [...], the means exist through the satellite and the earth station to provide global education with the whole world as its classroom."
- "We need immediate measures before irreversible social and environmental damage is done. It is the responsibility of the policy-makers to take rapid action. But they must be given sound advice by the scientists and the thinkers and the religious leaders."
- [...] Unesco, with UNEP, WMO, FA0 and ICSU is working to produce a 'Joint Annual Statement on the Environment'. Aimed at decision-makers, this publication will be clear, concise, readable and, above all, action-oriented."
- "Environmental survival, after all, can be a difficult, abstract concept, unless we can reach each child with a simple and powerful idea that we humans are part of nature and that we must love our trees and rivers and farm-lands and forests, as we love life itself. The school, at village and neighbourhood level, is an extraordinary medium for linking global concerns with local life."
- "Each step is designed to give substance to Secretary-General Perez de Cuellar's inspired plea for an 'earth patriotism'."
- "1st, create a worldwide expert panel of scientists and educators to plan a global education curriculum of practical value and planetary scope."
- "2nd, putting environmental education at the centre of all curricula from kindergarten to higher studies and training the teachers and the administrators who can carry the message into all schools. Environmental education and global education go hand in hand in creating a new era of sustainable growth."
- "3rd, promoting a global civic education by devising teaching methods and materials that emphasize the ethics of worldwide community living. This would involve an examination of the vestiges of the war culture out of which we are evolving."
- "4th, teaching the children of the wealthier countries about the conditions of their brothers and sisters in the developing world and, most important, showing that solutions exist in the here and now to eradicate poverty while preserving our natural resources."
- "5th, working with the mass media and telecommunication enterprises to produce and broadcast audio-visual packages that introduce audiences, particularly children and young people, to the great teachers of this world at all levels and in all cultures. This would be a practical step to preserve our common cultural and educational heritage."
- "We could launch an effort to write world history textbooks for all the world's children."
- "[...] tomorrow is too late!"
- "Europe's potential, as a contributor to advancing the cause of development and the environmental protection for the entire world, is enormous. In construction of this new and inclusive European house, I wish to call on the scientists, teachers, artists, journalists, librarians and others to come together as individuals and as professional communities to weave a new and resilient web of co-operation in constructing and rebuilding the cultural, educational, scientific and communications facilities of this continent."
- "[...] Unesco is a structure of persuasion, with an ethical mission at the global level. This is the strength of my organization."
- Federico Mayor Zaragoza (Club of Rome), Director General of UNESCO -
"Global Forum for Environment and Development for Survival" (Moscow, USSR, January 1990)
"Global Forum for Environment and Development for Survival" (Moscow, USSR, January 1990)
The Hitler Youth (1999)
Girl Scouts
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
- 10 million members in 145 countries, the largest voluntary movement dedicated to girls and young women in the world.
- Mission: Enable girls and young women to develop their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world.
- Governance: World Conference; World Board and committees; World Bureau.
- Partners: Olave Baden-Powell Society; Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Consultative Relationship with the UN; International Alliance Against Hunger; International Scout and Guide Fellowship; Soroptimist International; The Alliance of Youth CEOs; The UPS Foundation; WOSM; WWF International; Plan International; A&N Ferguson Charitable Trust; Academy for Educational Development; Baring Foundation; John Ellerman Foundation; Cambridge University; Carpe Vitam; Design Group International; Dulverton Trust; Edmiston Family Charitable Trust; Exeter University; Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN; International Award Association; International Community of Women living with HIV and AIDS; International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent; International Youth Foundation; Lord Cozens-Hardy Charitable Trust; MEB Charitable Trust; Millennium Campaign; Mutual of America; Oakdale Trust; Plan International and Plan UK; Regional Centre for Quality of Health Care (Uganda); Save the Children; Soroptimist International; Trefoil House (Edinburgh); UK Trefoil Guild; UNAIDS; UNDP; UNESCO; UNICEF; UNIFEM; UNFPA; UN Programme on Youth; Vital Voices Global Partnership; World Health Organization; World Organization of the Scout Movement; World YWCA; YMCA.
UN System
- General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
- Founding member of the Youth and UN Global Alliance.
- Programmes and Funds: UN Children's Fund; The Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS; UN Environment Programme; UN Human Settlements Programme; UN Development Programme; UN Population Fund; UN High Commissioner for Refugees; The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; UN Office on Drugs and Crime; UN Development Fund for Women.
- Specialized Agencies: Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN; UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; World Health Organization; World Bank Group.
- Global Action Theme: Girls worldwide focus on the Millennium Development Goals.
- Food and Agricultural Organization: Memorandum of Understanding and Letter of Agreement; Co-developer of the Our World, Our Food, Our Climate publication; Food Security and Climate Change Challenge badge; Biodiversity educational programme and funds for a number of mini projects on food security and climate change.
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (2009)
- "Today's youth will live and die as a result of the decisions made here in Copenhagen about climate change and environmental sustainability" - Prisca Randriamampihavana, 20 year old youth delegate from Madagascar
- "Girls and young women are the most affected by climate change. It is girls' futures that are most at stake because of climate change." - Linden Edgell, Deputy Chair of the WAGGGS World Board and leader of the COP 15 delegation
Young Men's Christian Association
About
- Founded in 1844, operates in 125 countries, and has over 45 million members worldwide.
- World Alliance of YMCAs: Confederation of National Councils of YMCAs around the world, based in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
Partners
- Ecumenical Organisations: Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance; The Vatican, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity; World Council of Churches; The World Student Christian Federation.
- United Nations: UNICEF; UNESCO; Youth Employment Network.
- International NGOs and Networks: Alliance of Youth CEOs; Conference of Non Governmental Organisations; NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child; International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organizations; Y's Men International; World YWCA.
17th World Council of YMCAs
- Hong Kong, 17-24th July 2010.
- "It is the indispensable work of civil society organizations like the YMCA that truly make the Millennium Development Goals possible." - Amir Dossal, Executive Director of the UN Office for Partnerships, speaker at the ceremony.
- "The theme of this year's World Council ("Global Citizenship for All") sends an appropriate message as the United Nations prepares for a Summit on the Millennium Development Goals in September at which we hope to adopt the strongest possible action plan for accelerating progress." - Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary General, message.
- Sponsors: Star Alliance.
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (2009)
UK Youth Climate Coalition
About
- Founded in June 2008 by two UK ambassadors to the World Wide Fund for Nature's Voyage for the Future programme.
- 2008: National Climate March organised by the Campaign against Climate Change; UN Climate Change Conference.
- 2009: UK version of Power Shift at the Institute of Education in London; Meeting with negotiators from the Department of Energy and Climate Change; UN Climate Change Conference.
National Union of Students
- Merger of Inter-Varsity Association and the International Students Bureau in 1922.
- Founding Members: University of Birmingham; London School of Economics and Political Science; Imperial College London; King's College London; the University of Bristol.
- Founder President: Ivison Macadam.
- 600 students' unions, more than 95% of all higher and further education unions in the UK, representing more than 7 million students, largest student organisation in the world, training over 3,000 students' union officers each year.
- Vision: Equality, Democracy, Collectivism.
- Member of the European Students' Union and Stop Climate Chaos.
- Subsidiary organisations: NUS Holdings Limited and NUS International Centre Limited.
- NUS Services Limited: Owned by over 220 Students' Unions and the NUS.
- Net benefits to students' unions: £5.3 million in 2008.
- Student Discounts: Amazon UK, Lloyds TSB, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Play.com, Matalan, CD Wow, Superdrug, Staples.
- The Black Students' Campaign: Autonomous part where black students elect the national officer and committee and pass policy at the summer conference. For African, Asian or Caribbean descents. Martin Luther King Day.
- NUS LGBT: Autonomous part, democratic organisation and students who define themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people decide policy at annual conference.
- Unite against Fascism: Broad national campaign that brings together cross-party Members of Parliament and Members of the European Parliament, trade unions, the anti-racist and anti-fascist movement, the black and faith communities, lesbian and gay communities, disabled people, students and others, against the British National Party.
- Benefits in becoming a teacher: Excellent starting graduate salary; Realising the potential of students and gaining immense job satisfaction; Feeling of making a difference by being involved from day one; Continuing education in both academic and leadership fields; Structured and clearly laid out career progression plan; Job security even in economic uncertain times.
- Student Mental Health: How you are feeling on the inside, describing mental wellbeing, emotional capabilities and thought processes; Think Positive campaign.
- Core: Ethical & Environmental Committee.
- 2009: Partnership with Royal Bank of Scotland; WWF's Earth Hour; World AIDS Day; Joint event with Coca-Cola to educate and inform key commercial contacts about the importance of ethics to the student market and the benefits of constructive engagement.
- 2010: Partnership with People & Planet; Youth climate change manifesto; Go Green Week "Love Your Climate".
- Student Switch Off: In association with the World Wildlife Fund recruiting students to become Eco Power Rangers.
- Carbon Ambassadors in the Community (2009-2010): Teamed up with the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.
- The Carbon Academy (2007-2008): Climate change project funded by the Carbon Trust.
People & Planet
- Founded in 1969 as Third World First by a group of students, supported by NGOs including Oxfam.
- Commitment to democracy as part of our vision for a just world.
- Largest student network in Britain campaigning to end world poverty, defend human rights and protect the environment.
- Groups at 70 UK universities, 74 sixth forms and further education colleges, Schools and many other individual supporters, supported by an office staff team.
- Campaign areas: Climate Change, HIV/AIDS and Trade Justice.
- Member of Stop Climate Chaos.
- Support: Private, charitable trusts and foundations, particularly grateful to the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts, the City Bridge Trust, and the Jack Petchey Foundation.
- Donors: ActionAid; Artists Project Earth; Cafedirect; City Bridge; City Parochial; Co-operative Bank; Department of Children, Schools and Families; Department for International Development; Divine; Eurpoean Climate Foundation; Esmée Fairbairn; European Commission; Fairtrade Foundation; Greenpeace Environmental Trust; Network for Social Change; National Support Services; Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust; Oxfam; Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts; The Scotshill Trust; V Inspired; Waterloo Foundation; Isvara.
- Corporate partners: Café Direct; the Co-operative Bank; the Day Chocolate Company.
UK Youth Parliament
- "Enables young people to use their energy and passion to change the world for the better."
- Registered charity and company limited by guarantee.
- Beyond 600 members aged between 11 and 18, democratically elected by young people to meet with MPs and local councillors, organise events, run campaigns, make speeches, hold debates and ensure the views of young people are listened to by decision makers.
- "Climate Revolution" event at the British Museum: Supported by Oxfam, Plan UK, UK Youth Climate Coalition and UNICEF; Sponsored by BT, MWH, Plan UK and the British Museum.
- Funding: British Government's Department for Children, Schools and Families; Ministry of Justice Innovations Fund; the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; the Department of Transport; the Metropolitan Police Authority; the Children's Workforce Development Council.
You, Me & The Climate
- Launched in October 2007 by event of 52 young people (16-19) representing 27 different charities based in a different county of England.
- Youth led project to enable young people to take action on CO2.
- National Trust: Formed in 1895, one of the largest landowners, the largest membership organisation, and one of the largest charities by both income and assets in the United Kingdom.
350.org
- Bill McKibben, Co-founder and Director: U.S. author of "The End of Nature", first book for a common audience about global warming (1989); Active in the Methodist Church; Undergraduate at Harvard University, president of the Harvard Crimson newspaper; Fellow at the Post Carbon Institute.
- International campaign dedicated to building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis, "the solutions that science and justice demand".
- Goal: Cutting atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions to 80% by 2050.
- Allied with 300 organisations around the world.
- The 350 Movement (October 24, 2009): 5245 actions in 181 countries.
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (2009)
Powershift Conference
About
- Focus on global warming and climate change policy.
- 1Sky Platform: Announced by President Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative in 2007.
- 1Sky: Coalition of environmental groups, scientists, economists, businesses, religious groups, health organizations, social justice and military leaders, elected officials, celebrities, and citizens to pressure the United States Congress to support the 1Sky Platform. Partners include Step It Up 2007 (and its global successor 350.org), the Clinton Global Initiative, Greenpeace, Oxfam, and the Energy Action Coalition.
- 2007, U.S.: Organised by the Energy Action Coalition in Washington D.C.; Largest activist youth event on climate change in history (6,000 students and young people in attendance); Rally of 3,000 people on the steps of the Capitol building and a Lobby Day at the University of Maryland, College Park; Speakers included Al Gore.
- 2009, U.S.: Over 12,000 student and youth climate activists, representing all 50 U.S. states, all Canadian provinces, and 13 other nations including Brazil, Austria, the United Kingdom; Speakers included Van Jones, Bill McKibben, Ralph Nader, and Nancy Pelosi.
- 2009, Australia: Organised by the Australian Youth Climate Coalition in partnership with the University of Western Sydney, GetUp and Greenpeace; The event concluded with a Flash mob outside the Sydney Opera House.
- 2009, UK: At the Institute of Education in London.
350.org
Indian Youth Climate Network
About
- Founded in March 2008 and registered in July 2009.
- Network uniting Indian youth and youth oriented organisations concerned about climate change & environment issues.
- Members in 16 states and partner networks organisations, 200 coordinators and volunteers with outreach to thousands of youth in colleges, schools, corporations and institutions.
- Membership: Type A, Rs.100/year; Type B, Rs.500/year (Students and Professionals); Type C, Rs.1000/year (Professionals).
- UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (2009): 20 member delegation from 13 Indian states.
- Brightest Young Climate Leaders 2010: Exclusive national platform to select, felicitate and recognize the TOP 50 brightest young minds in India involved with climate change ideas, initiatives or activities; Annual event organised by Arctic Holdings in partnership with Hindustan Times, the Climate Project India, Foundation for Youth Social Entrepreneurship, ToptoTop, Barefoot Power.
South Asian Youth Summit on Climate Change
- Age: 16-29.
- Nations: Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
- Organizers: Nepalese Youth for Climate Action; Clean Energy Nepal; Indian Youth Climate Network; Sri Lanka Youth Climate Action Network; 350.org; Pakistan Youth Climate Network; Bangladesh Youth Climate Network.
- Supporters: Oxfam; British Council; United Mission to Nepal; International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development; Climate Action Network; Asia-Pacific Mountain Network; South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics & Environment; USC Canada.
Canadian Youth Climate Coalition
About
- Foundeed on September 2006, 48 youth organisations.
- "United front of youth from across Canada tackling the biggest challenge of our generation, the emerging climate crisis".
- Coalition Members: Byte; Canadian Auto Workers Youth Network; Emerging Leaders Committee; Canadian Federation of Students; Canadian Labour Congress; Check Your Head; Environnement Jeunesse; Manitoba Environmental Youth Network; Indigenous Environmental Network; Peel Environmental Youth Alliance; Sierra Youth Coalition; TakingITGlobal.