In my professional life, I teach middle school, and I've been fortunate enough to attend the CSD for the past two weeks.  Though there have been moments of wonder, insight, and hints of what could be possible with a world community truly interested in working together, I had yet to be deeply inspired before today, and the two people most responsible are thirteen and eight years old respectively.   Today's discussion session was basically the first in which the “major groups” (NGO's, indigenous people, youth and children, etc, groups whose voices are generally marginalized) were finally given a voice (read:  microphone), and many of of other groups speeches made me smile, speaking in a language of decisiveness, action, and imperative which have been all too lacking thus far.

Makala, a thirteen year old who's one year in school ahead of my own students, spoke clearly into the microphone, with an oratory ability and vocal presence that far surpassed her age.  “How many of you drink coffee?  If you do, stand up....how many of you drink water?  How many of you eat food?”  I wish you who are reading this could have been there (do watch the webcast), because all of a sudden, for the first time, not just the audience in attendance, but DELEGATES began to stand up, both bemused, and curious to know where this was going.... 

In a speech that addressed the complexities of environmental change, and the simplicity of the concept of environmental justice, Makala made a speech that was punctuated only by the rapt attention of every person in the room, and the occasional refrain of her eight year old companion “fossil fuels and nuclear energy are not sustainable.”  Speaking for a generation that will be here long after many of the rest of us will have past on, she spoke of “looking at the future, at the state of the planet for the future, and being horrified”.  This, to a room full of educated, powerful, probably skeptical people in business suits and advanced middle age.  The speech talked of the extreme impacts of environmental devastation, the ultimate cost of irresponsible pollution and environmental practices, and the moral imperative to produce, from CSD, tangible results, that would really do something to make a better future”  She ended with a plea to everyone present, on behalf of her generation:  “Don't turn your backs on us”.  IT was the only speech i've seen in my 9 days here that received standing ovations, and the loudest, longest applause of any to have come out of the negotiating sessions.  From people who have travelled the world, and strive always to be diplomatic and rational, i saw the biggest emotional response from the crowd I have seen since entering the UN building:  people who thought of their children, of the part they themselves had played in harming out ecological world, and of what we're doing to make a more sustainable future.  The child earned the demonstrated respect of more people in that room than any of the far older, more educated, and more distinguished speakers who proceeded her.  Certainly she caught the attention of the Chairman, because he completely thereafter strayed from his duty as moderator, using instead his position to act as something of a pundit, going completely out of line, defending oil, and using his chair as a pulpit from which to push his own personal agenda, which will be the subject of my next blog. 

Inspired at last, and hopeful for the future,
                        Jess Grainger

Editor's Note: the webcast of Makala's statement can be found at the 1:47 mark of the 3 pm session, found here: http://www.un.org/webcast/csd15/csd15-j.htm