Youths bear responsibility of environment care
Youths bear responsibility of environment care
JAKARTA (JP): Young people around the world must be committed to preserving the environment today and be involved in decision- making processes if we are to achieve a cleaner, more environmentally-sound world, United Nations Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali says.
Speaking in front of some 1,000 students at Saturday's opening of the National Youth Forum on Environment, Boutros-Ghali called on young people to play a major role in order to achieve sustainable development.
"You, and young people across the world, will suffer if current trends continue. You will bear the brunt of the current generation's failure to act," he said during the ceremony, which was held at the Wiladatika Recreational Park in Cibubur.
He said that unless trends are reversed, the world's youths will inherit a damaged earth and their chances for good education, health and productive employment will dwindle.
"You, and young people everywhere, are an untapped resource in the struggle to save the global environment. That is why this Youth Forum on the Environment brings hope to all who care about the environment."
The students, aged between 15 and 19 years old, came from various senior high schools across Java and Bali.
From the total number of 1,000, 250 are "core group" members, meaning that they were carefully selected based on their active involvement in various environmental programs in their neighborhoods. The remaining 750 were guests selected at random from various senior high schools in Jakarta.
The National Youth Forum on Environment is a joint initiative between the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and PT SC Johnson & Son (Indonesia) Ltd.
Wisconsin-based SC Johnson & Son, Inc. was the sole sponsor for the 1993 and 1994 Global Youth Forum which brought together young people from all over the world concerned with environmental issues.
"Core group" members participated in the forum's first meeting, which began on Friday and lasted for three days.
Wearing uniform T-shirts and matching tote bags with the inscriptions "Kita Peduli Indonesia" (We care for Indonesia), they gave an enthusiastic reception to Boutros-Ghali, who was accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro.
Boutros-Ghali, who yelled in Bahasa Indonesia, "Kita peduli Indonesia" three times before his speech and twice afterwards, said world leaders at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 had already recognized the need to involve the younger generation in the efforts aimed at sustainable development.
"They declared that...the involvement of youth in environment and development decision-making and in the implementation of programs is critical to the long-term success of Agenda 21," Boutros-Ghali said.
Young people make up nearly 30 percent of the current world's population.
"This forum sends a message to young people everywhere. You must become involved. Your voice must be heard. You can publicize problems and help develop and carry out the strategies. With your participation we can put our world back on a sustainable path," he said followed by loud applause from the students.
Ten students read in turns a "commitment towards the environment", which voiced their understanding, concern and intention to act towards the sustainable utilization of natural resources, biodiversity, the atmosphere, water and energy.
Many of them are also committed to reducing, reusing and recycling waste, supporting a sustainable lifestyle and promoting cooperation, education and action.(pwn)