What do you get when you mix a group of young people, pirogies, policy planning, and climate calisthenics? The answer: SustainUS’ Agents of Change COP14 training weekend in Washington, DC! That’s right, SustainUS, the same rockin’ American Youth Organization for Sustainable Development which made such a splash in Bali in 2007 is at it again, gathering together the forces for the next round of UN climate negotiations in Poznan, Poland in December 2008.  

This past weekend (September 26-28), seventeen of our Poznan delegates met at Co-op America’s offices to get down to business discussing policy stances, breaking up organizing tasks, brainstorming fundraising opportunities and direct actions, and of course, polkaing for the planet. This weekend was an opportunity for the delegates to meet each other face to face and to get focused on what’s required in the next seven weeks before COP14. All parties involved determined the weekend was a great success.

So I tried to blog before, but the website was being silly and I wasn't fully awake (it was 7:30 am)!

 It is the second day of the high level segment.  A lot more people are here, and there is a stronger sense of of urgency.  

Funny story time: so  I was sitting with two fellow SustainUS delegates, Melissa and Becka, when we noticed there was a large group of people. We thought, hey there's a lot of people, so maybe there food over there. A little bit of time passed, no big deal.  Then, in a 2 second swoop, the group of people targeted a small  man.  We just figured it was a  CSD delegate, again no big deal. But slowly as he almost ran away from the reporters, Becka said, "hey, maybe thats Ban ki-moon..." then a few moments later, " It IS Ban!"  So we thought that the Secretary-General was food. and now I can say I have been within 20ish feet of him! 

So yesterday, Wednesday was the beginning of the high-level segment of the CSD.  The Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon gave  a speech in the General Assembly, and in general things are a lot busier. More people, more urgency in the air. 

Anyways, funny story. Yesterday afternoon while waiting around to discuss youth lobbying, there were a lot of people in the general area. There were security guards, and the conference room 6 sign said "closed meeting". We thought, hey whatever, there's lot of people but there's food over there and they are mooches. Then, as someone left the room, there was a mad dash to a small person.  The 'mass' is  trying to interview this person. It took us quite some time to realize that it was actually Ban Ki-Moon!  

So I am proud to say I was within 20ish feet of him!