EarthFocus Magazine

Global Youth Conference on Forests, Water, Health and Peace: 12 interviews

Following the Global Youth Conference on Forests, Water, Health and Peace, you will find below a series of interviews all directly related to the event in addition to the complete webcast of the event. Click on each image to play the corresponding videos:

Earth Focus recapitulative video of 2010 events

Presentation of Earth Focus foundation in video featuring Mrs Nicola Spafford Furey during the 2048 project meeting in December 2010 in Geneva as well as young students at the GIN (Global Issues Network) conference and at the Global Youth Conference explaining their actions to change the world:

Global Youth Conference 2010: video summary

This video highlights the main points discussed at the last Global Youth Conference 2010 organized by the Earth Focus Foundation in Geneva:

Project 2048 and the International Convention on Human Rights: video interviews

Following the one day conference (see the full video content with all the debates here), a couple of interviews of experts in the domain were recorded on December 10, 2010.

Video Interview of Mrs Nicola Furey, vice-president and secretary general of the EarthFocus Foundation:

 

Interview of four young students from the Kenyan Aga Khan Academy:

Links to other interviews:

• Video Interview of Alfred de Zayas.
• Video Interview of Bruna Molina.
• Video Interview of Mishana Hosseinioun.
• Video Interview of Johannes Van Aggelen.
• Interview of an active participant.
• Video interview of Hubert Schneebeli.
• Brief recap video about the general ambiance of the conference.

On demand video webcast: Project 2048 and the International Convention on Human Rights

In 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a deeply inspiring document that has been translated into over 300 languages and dialects. But because its provisions are not enforceable, its promise has not been fulfilled. Human rights violations continue in every corner of the globe, the cause of countless individual tragedies as well as large-scale disasters like war, poverty and environmental ruin.

EarthFocus organized this conference in Geneva on the 10th of December 2010. You can watch the video of the full conference by clicking on the image below:

Global Youth Conference on Climate Change and Sustainable Development

The Earth Focus foundation, continuing the work with young people started within the renowned Bellerive Foundation, organized the World Youth Conference (8-11 November 2010), in Geneva.

The conference welcomes young people from all over the world to contribute to the subject of Climate Change and Sustainable Development.

Video webcast of the conference

The conference consisted of plenary sessions with experts regarding the effects of climate change, such as:

• Mrs Nicola Furey, Vice President, Earth Focus foundation
• Dr Quentin Deville, Member of the Board, Earth Focus foundation
• David Hiler, Minister of Finance, Canton of Geneva
• HRH Prince Frederick von Saxe-Lauenburg^[1], Grand Cross Saxe-Lauenburg (GCSL), Fellow of the International Institute of Peace Study of London (FIIPS), Children of the World
• Antony Hequet, Münd
• Prof. Martin Beniston, Chair for Climate Research, University of Geneva
• Dr Curtis Doebbler, Visiting Professor at Geneva School of Diplomacy & International Relations
• Philippe de Rougemont, Noé 21
• Dr Maria Mendiluce, WBCSD
• Elliott Verreault, ItsOneHumanity
• Adam Koniuszewski, Green Cross
• Dr Rudolph Rechtsteiner and Hans-Jörg Haas, Greenpeace
• Martin Atkin, WWF
• Rosie Waygood, Children of the Earth
• Marie-Noëlle Keijzer ^[2], WeForest
• Heiner Benking, Council on Global Issues
• Carlos Giger, GoCycle
• Henry Derwent, International Emissions Trading Association

Stands from many of those organizations were present on site, to expose and promote their activities, give information and testimonies of their actions, and initiate discussion with the conference attendees.

Monday, November 8th

The conference started with encouraging words from the Earth focus foundation and a message from the Geneva Authorities. The audience had the privilege to attend very interesting presentations completed by questions and answers with the panel. You can view the webcast of the whole conference by clicking here.

Tuesday, November 9th

The themes of the day were "Education, Youth and Civil Society" and "Nuclear, Clean and Renewable Energies". After a presentation by Antony Hequet, Jon-Hans Coetzer, General Manager and Academic Coordinator of the Geneva School of Diplomacy & International Relations, introduced several presentations from students of the Koc School, Turkey, on the topic of education, youth and civil society.

The plenary sessions were complemented by workshops on various topics, such as:

• Ethics in Modern Society by Brianan Kiernan and Antony Hequet
• Climate Change and the Global Commons by Heiner Benking
• Ecology, Economy and Social Flow by Sarah Dreyfus
• A New Approach to our Environmental Dilemna by Rosie Waygood
• Connecting to our higher values and the power of thought by Karoline Buys
• Latin America: Strategies Inherent to Natural Resources and Sustainable Tourism as a Development Alternative (Venezuela) by Corina Cortes

Wednesday, November 10th

In the field of climate change and biodiversity, students from the Collège André Chavanne, Collège du Léman, Collège Rousseau and the Koc School have presented their work which led to intense debate and discussions.

The workshops covered different topics such as:

• Protecting Human Rights in a Future Climate Regime by Curtis Doebbler and Margreet Wewerinke
• The Hazards of Climate Change on Socio-economic Development by Dorina Drowniak, Bedir Özuslu, Cem Albayrak, Melih Yavci, Selin Arisal and Vidal Arditi
• Zermatt Unplugged by Brianan Kiernan
• Visualising the inner Yes to Creating a Sustainable World by Rebecca Inauen
• Creating from a space of alignment by Philipp Knechtle
• Oriental Coaching, a powerful tool to achieve a sustainable human development by Jordi Tebé

Thursday, November 11th

During the morning, Noé 21 and ItsOneHumanity presented films and Philippe de Rougemont animated a workshop and debate. Following the proposition of Prince Frederick von Saxe-Lauenburg, a 1 minute silence commemoration in memory of the First World War armistice was made at 11am, the 11th of November. A message from Jean-Paul Moka (viewable below), from Congo, was shown to the participants which had the opportunity to comment and respond to. The conference ended up with voting on a clear message to negotiators at COP 16 in Cancun and a walk to Place des Nations to deliver the message to United Nations, World Meteorological Organization, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and World Trade Organization.

Message from Jean-Paul Moka:

Here is a 10 minutes movie clip summarizing some of the events of the conference:

---

^ Prince Frederick von Saxe-Lauenburg, with and for Children of the World, is organizing a Teddy Bears' picnic in Geneva, in Summer 2011. Please contact the foundation if you are wanting to collaborate, donate funds, time or anything from office space, phone line, fax machine or computer; any help is very warmly welcome!

^ For a limited time only, you can purchase an ecologic ICE-WATCH that will allow WeForest to plant 100 trees! More information on their website.

2048: Humanity's Agreement to Live Together

In 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a deeply inspiring document that has been translated into over 300 languages and dialects. But because its provisions are not enforceable, its promise has not been fulfilled. Human rights violations continue in every corner of the globe, the cause of countless individual tragedies as well as large-scale disasters like war, poverty and environmental ruin.

 

It’s time to take the next step. 2048 sets out a visionary, audacious, but, Kirk Boyd insists, achievable goal: drafting an enforceable international agreement that will allow the people of the world to create a social order based upon human rights and the rule of law. Boyd and the 2048 Project aim to have this agreement, the International Convention on Human Rights, in place by the 100th anniversary of the Universal Declaration.

 

Written documents have always played a key role in advancing human rights: the Code of Hammurabi, the Magna Carta, the Declaration of Independence. The express purpose of the International Convention is to safeguard what Boyd calls the Five Freedoms, adding freedom for the environment to Franklin Roosevelt’s famous Four Freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

 

Boyd anticipates objections to the notion of a universal and enforceable written agreement -- that it would be culturally insensitive, too expensive, unacceptably limit national sovereignty -- and convincingly answers them. He describes existing transnational agreements with effective compliance mechanisms that can serve as models.

 

But Boyd wants to inspire more than argue. In 2048 he urges everyone to participate in the drafting of the agreement via the 2048 website and describes specific actions people can take to help make it a reality. “What you do with what you read” Boyd writes, “is as important as what this book says.” 

 

Kirk Boyd is a lawyer, professor, and Executive Director of the 2048 Project. He teaches international human rights, civil rights, international law, free speech, and constitutional law at the University of California. Boyd has argued at every level of court, including the United States Supreme Court.

 

 

2048: Humanity's Agreement to Live Together (Hardcover)

By J. Kirk Boyd

$22.95

ISBN-13: 9781605095394
 Published: Berrett-Koehler Publishers 

 

Projet pédagogique "Murs" / "Walls" project

Le projet pédagogique " Les Murs " a pour origine, contexte et inspiration l’exposition photographique intitulée « Murs », organisée sur le Pont de la Machine, de Novembre 2009 à Janvier 2010, à l’occasion des 20 ans de la Chute du Mur de Berlin. Une exposition organisée par l’association Imaginaid et patronnée par la Ville de Genève.

A partir et autour de cette exposition, tout un projet pédagogique a été élaboré par divers partenaires : Imaginaid, le DIP, L'Ecole Internationale de Genève, la Fondation Earth Focus.

Inspiré par l’exposition “ Murs”, le projet vise à inciter les élèves du cycle d'orientation et du post-obligatoire des écoles publiques et privées du Canton de Genève, à mener une réflexion profonde sur la thématique des murs de séparation territoriale et sur leurs enjeux divers et variés.

5 axes de travail et d'activités sont proposés aux enseignants intéressés :

- des visites guidées de l'exposition,

- un concours de légendes,

- des débats et tables rondes,

- des présentations/créations artistiques libres,

- un concours lancé par Mandat International (voir : ww.genevedecouverte.ch/fr/concours.html)

Chaque axe de travail est indépendant des autres. Ainsi le projet "les Murs" permet une participation large et adaptée au souhait de chacun. 

Vous trouverez ci-joint les documents vous permettant d'en savoir plus, à savoir une fiche technique présentant le projet dans sa globalité, un dossier pédagogique vous permettant de préparer quelque peu vos élèves à la thématique, des documents avec les détails pour chaque activité.

Présentation globale du projet:  Download Fiche_technique_Murs finale

Dossier pédagogique (aide pour préparer vos élèves) : Dossier pédagogique

Visites guidées exposition "Murs" : Download Murs_fiche_inscription_visites_FR2

Concours de légendes : Download Murs_reglement_concours_de_legendes_FR2

Colloques, débats : Download Murs_fiche_inscriptions_colloques_FR

__________________________________________________________________________________

The Walls Project has its origin, context and inspiration in the « Murs » photographic exhibition. Organised by the Imaginaid association, with the patronage of the City of Geneva, the exhibition will take place on the Pont de la Machine, Geneva from 9^th November 2009 to 31^st January 2010 and will commemorate the 20^th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

From and around this exhibition, a whole educational project has been set up by different partners : Imaginaid, DIP, International School of Geneva, Earth Focus Foundation.

Inspired by the photographic exhibition « Murs », this project seeks to inspires students aged 12 to 15 years (cycle d’orientation) and 16 to 19 years (post-obligatoire) attending Geneva public and private schools to reflect on the theme of frontiers and dividing walls and their implications.

Five work streams are proposed as possible reference points for teachers and students :

- Guided visits to the photographic exhibition

- A caption competition

- Symposiums and round tables

- Independent artistic works

- the Mandat International’s competition (see : www.genevedecouverte.ch/fr/concours.html)

Each stream is independent and flexible, allowing for wide participation.

Please find below the documents to know more about these activities : an information sheet explaining the global project, a teacher's notes to prepare your students to the topic, some documents giving details about each activity.

Global information sheet : Download Information_Sheet_Walls

Teacher's notes (help to prepare your students) : teacher's note

Guided visits : Download Murs_fiche_inscription_visites_ENG2

Caption competition : Download Murs_reglement_concours_de_legendes_ENG2

 Symposiums and round tables : Download Murs_fiche_inscriptions_colloques_ENG

The Future of Human Rights and the Environment Debate

On the 17th April students from school in Geneva and Mombasa took part in day of discussions about the future of environmental rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The event was hosted at the International Conference Centre of Geneva and organised by the Earth Focus Foundation and ICVolunteers. Guest speakers included Dr. Kirk Boyd, from Berkeley University, Dr. Bruna Molina-Faidutti, international human rights lawyer, and Vita de Waal, executive director of the Foundation for Gaia.

The key question that the debate addressed was: 'Should the convention on Human Rights include protection of the environment ?'

Students prepared and delivered their opinions on this question, including three groups from Collège Voltaire, whose speeches are presented here.

Child Soldiers : The Atrocity we Fund

Recently we had the opportunity to watch a presentation given by Jo Becker (Human Rights Watch – New York) on Child Soldiers. We were shocked by the stories and videos she showed us about children our age who had witnessed and taken part in situations we couldn’t bear to imagine. Her presentation has provoked us into trying to make a difference. We want to spread the word to those who dare to stand back and watch. We want the world to realize that the use of children as soldiers is wrong and should be stopped! (There is no question mark in this sentence).