One thousand Kids for Forests march in the Hague today.
The children, representing 19 countries, carried colourful
banners of their artwork, sang songs and chanted "save the forests,
save our future" as they marched to present their demands to
delegates of the Ancient Forest Summit today.
Most of the children arrived yesterday in the Hague and spent
the day preparing for the demonstration, making banners, preparing
speeches, and painting faces. When the thousand kids arrived in ten
buses in the harbour this morning where a Greenpeace ship is
docked, it was a sight for even the most well traveled sailors.
A symbolic Noah's Ark filled with colourful animals made by the
children accompanied the demonstration. A percussion group kept the
beat as the children sang songs from the ancient forest and danced
through the city.
The children made their way through the Hague escorted by police
on horses and motorbikes. Many people came out of their homes and
shops to watch the kids pass and cheer them on.
Although the children were not allowed on the conference
grounds, many ministers and delegates came out to greet the
them.
They delivered more than 240,000 signatures to the Summit's
president, Geke Faber, from children all over the world pleading
for the protection of ancient forests.
Children from the Netherlands, Chile, Belgium, Cameroon,
Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg,
Russia, Switzerland, Slovakia, Spain and the UK read their demands
in their native tongues to Faber, and the environment ministers
from France, Germany, Spain, Columbia, Ethiopia, New Zealand, the
UK and the US, among others.
Caroline Ah-Yon, 17, from Richmond, Canada said, "It's a shame
that only money counts for many of our ministers. What will happen
to all the people, to all the animals? Inside the conference centre
the adults are deciding about our future and we are not even
allowed on the premises."
Over the past few months the Kids for Forests have shown their
communities how to change words into action. Many converted their
classrooms and schools into ancient forest friendly facilities,
banning wood and paper products stemming from ancient forest
destruction.
They also created an international art gallery and addressed
environment ministers in their countries.
Camila Velazquez Yepi, 14, from Osorno, Chile said, "We don't
want the ministers to just talk, we've heard all their promises
back home. Now we are here to see that they keep their promises so
that there will be forests in our future."
The signatures presented to Faber included those from more than
230 people around the world who are publicly known and highly
respected. These "Ancient Forest Guardians" include Sam Neill,
Prince Sadruddin Aga Kahn, Juliet Binoche and author Margaret
Atwood.
The Ministerial segment of the Summit begins today and will
continue tomorrow. Some countries have already committed to protect
the world's last remaining ancient forests, but there is still a
lack of decisive, concrete actions by the majority of
countries.