The Voice of the Youth Must be Heard

This morning was definitely the climax of the WSSD for me.

We were holding a press event in Sandton Square where US youth were going to sign onto a giant US Youth Plan of Action in the absence of leadership from the US leadership for binding commitments to a renewable energy future. A number of us stayed up until 3am last night to finish this giant, 80-square-foot document that was going to be endorsed by Mr. Jan Pronk (UN Secretary General's Special Envoy).

At 9am, we began setting up for the 10:30am event. We had gotten the proper security clearance from Sandton Square securities as well as BMW, which was sponsoring a big exhibition in the Square. As we were about to do a run-through of the event, about 30 blue-uniformed armed policemen showed up. The next thing I knew, they were shouting commands of "Faata!" (which I later found out meant "take her!") and began arresting us (most of whom are wearing the GP Clean Energy Now orange t-shirts). Kristin tried to explain that we had obtained authorization to hold the event there, but the police chief would not let her call the Sandton security people to confirm.

While one by one, those in the group with orange t-shirts on were being taken off of the premises, Tricia and I were the only ones left at the now deserted site. We had been overlooked because we were dressed in formal wear as speakers of the event.

I felt so indignant that the police could just show up and take people away by force when we had the legitimate and proper authorization to be there on those steps to let our voice be heard. We only wanted to hold a peaceful and positive event to highlight US youth's commitment to a sustainable future.

As Tricia and I stood in the Square feeling upset and helpless, journalists came up to ask us for an explanation for what had just occurred. That's when I knew that I couldn't just stand there feeling helpless, I needed to let people that the youth's voice was being censored. I ran in the direction of where my group had been taken and found that they were being surrounded by armed police in the parking lot. The group agreed that we would still hold the press event, right in the parking lot, in the midst of armed guards and tons of reporters and cameramen by this point.

I then ran back to the Square to find that Mr. Pronk (the UN secretary general Kofi Annan's special envoy to WSSD) had already arrived. I immediately told him what had happened, and when I told him where the youth were, he said, "Take me to them."

He joined the group just as they were about to start the event in the parking lot. The scene was spectacular: Tricia MC-ing the event (where Noah, I, and then Pronk spoke), Kristin talking to the UN security people to clear up the situation..... And all the while, photographers and cameramen were capturing it all. In the end, my indignation had turned into empowerment as the US youth were able to exercise their freedom of expression and to express their commitment to promoting sustainable living in their local communities and on their campuses.

To me, this day has been both physically and emotionally draining; but I believe that the voice of the youth has finally been heard--amidst the watchful eyes of fully armed policemen.

As the US delegation has failed us once again to make binding commitments, targets, and timetables for the uptake of renewable energy, I call on all the youth in the US to join the movement to promote SD in our own local communities. As this WSSD has shown me, it's up to us the youth to make sustainable living a reality!

Maggie

Posted by maggie at September 03, 2002 04:01 PM