As I lay in my sleeping bag, listening to the rain pound on my tent, I thought about what I had gone through in less than a month and felt I could write a whole lifetime story.
Just a few weeks ago, I was sitting in my living room reading e-mails when I received an unusual phone call. I was asked if I could go to Durban in South Africa. My mission: to join other young people from all over the world a “Green Reporter” at COP 17.
COP 17 is the 17th UN Conference of the Parties on climate change. It is an annual meeting, bringing together world leaders to discuss proposals for a solution to climate problems. Previous conferences have resulted in agreements like the now “famous” or “infamous “ Kyoto Protocol, which seeks to help countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. The meeting kicked off on November 28 and ends on December 9.
Many may ask what I could possibly contribute to this international conference. I am here, together with seven other green reporters, to report on COP 17 from our perspective. Our aim is to ask questions and report on issues we feel the mainstream media has left out for years. It is my feeling that the voices of the youth and some non-governmental organizations are often not given the prominence they deserve.
When I arrived at the Durban airport on November 23, I met another “Green Reporter,” Cristiane Mazzetti from Brazil. We shared experiences about the long flights to our destination. Being the environmentalists we are, we quickly found common ground, regretting the pollution produced by our airplane flights, as well as by other delegates flying in for the conference.
When I reached the camp site, I met the rest of the “Green Reporters” team, Andy Sieber from Germany and Carolina Aguayo from Mexico, Nobuhle Luthuli from South Africa, Vivek Rampersadh from South Africa , another South African Nasreen Vermeulen, and Tresor Bang from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
We are sheltered at this campsite together with 50 other people who include Greenpeace staff members and volunteers also from around the globe. Countries represented, other than the host South Africa, include Denmark, Spain, Finland, Germany, Canada and Australia.
Although English is our shared language, it is interesting to hear other languages being spoken around the camp. For me, this has been a great opportunity to use my French and Spanish language skills. Despite our different languages and nationalities, we share many experiences in our temporary “new” home. One day we all woke up to find that our tents were flooded with rain. Colonies of ants also invade by our tents. Yet these adventures have brought us even closer.
On Sunday, November 27, I was among the young people who attended a youth conference on climate change. It is called COY and it is a chance for youth from all over the world to network and attend trainings or workshops before COP. We were addressed by Kumi Naidoo, the executive director of Greenpeace International. His address helped me realize that young people like me not only can make a difference, but we have already made a difference. He inspired many of us on the need to take up the challenge and defend our future now.
My first week at COP17, I attended many different meetings and side events. Seeing people from all over the globe united in trying to find a solution to climate change gives me hope. I am now crossing my fingers to see if COP17 will deliver by paving the way for a future powered by renewable energy.