Earth Summit 2002 - Greenpeace

Twenty-five youth group members from all over Germany marched to the embassies of the US, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Malaysia and Finland.

The three "heads of government" (USA, Canada, Australia) were leading the march in front of a banner saying "Johannesburg World Summit: US, Canada and Australia, your selfishness is costing us our future - Greenpeace youth". US president Bush was walking on stilts, playing with planet earth on a string, jumping up and down . All three of them had their pockets full of money - symbolising that only profit counts.

At all embassies we were able to meet either the ambassador himself or the head of the relevant department. This was a success in itself, especially at the US embassy which at first said that they were not willing to meet anyone or accept any kind of petition - not even as a delivery only. Behind the three, a crowd of "sleepy world leaders" followed - young people, wearing half suit, half pyjama, a pillow under their arms showing that the governments of the world have been asleep over the last ten years. They were accompanied by two penguins (homeless because of climate change), an orangutan and a wolf (homeless because of ancient forest destruction).

The main focus were the US, Canada and Australia - they received the youth petition and a skateboard each. On the skateboard was written: "Do the one-eighty fakie finger flip and get active for the protection of the environment". For all non-skateboarders, the "one-eighty" is a 180 degree turn on a skateboard.

All embassy members promised to forward petition and "presents" to their heads of government. At the embassies of Finland and Malaysia the focus was on ancient forests, South Africa was visited with a positive, encouraging message. They youth publicly acknowledged South Africa's engagement for a successful summit and encouraged them to make the World Summit on Sustainable Development the "World Summit for future generations". To make this message heard the embassies received a drum with this message written on it.