This document presents the idea of "YOUTHS ROAR GRASSROOT INTERVENTION CONNECTION" to address climate change through youth involvement. It was proposed by Ocen Godwin, a student at Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda. The idea calls for worldwide youth below 30 to freely connect and address environmental issues through community forums, schools, workplaces. Key strategies include tree planting, debates on conservation, and radio programs to raise awareness of sustainable development. The proposed 2-year plan includes university conferences, distributing tree seedlings in schools, debates, and printing materials to educate the public. The conclusion states that tackling climate change through this youth-led approach is possible and will have
1. FACING THE FUTURE IDEA PRESENTED TO
CHALLENGE: FUTURE
BY
OCEN GODWIN
STUDENT MBARARA UNIVERSITY AND TECHNOLOGY
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
CONTACT: +256779573471
EMAIL:oponggodwin@gmail.com
Facebook: Ocen Godwin
2. Table of Contents
I. ABSTRACT 3
II. RATIONALE 4
III. VISION: 4
IV. MISSION: 4
V. HOW YOUTHS ROAR GRASSROOT INTERVENTION CONNECTION CAN OVER
COME CLIMATE CHANGE; 4
VI. STRATEGY 6
VII. PROPOSED PLAN FOR NEXT TWO YEARS (2012-2013) 6
VIII. CONCLUSION: 7
3. ABSTRACT
YOUTHS ROAR GRASSROOT INTERVENTION CONNECTION
As young people, we are the most at stake, so we should be stepping up to our roles as the major
stakeholders and standup for the kind of future we want.
“I am convinced that climate change, and what we do about it, will define us, our era, and
ultimately the global legacy we leave for future generations. We hold the future in our hands.
Together, we must ensure that our grandchildren will not have to ask why we failed to do the
right thing, and let them suffer the consequences.” And this idea referred to as YOUTHS ROAR
GRASSROOT INTERVENTION CONNECTION is an innovative approach to be employed by
WORLD YOUTH BELOW 30 to freely connect with the world to harmonize all that has been
against our environment through grass root forum in villages, institutions and at even work place.
“Climate change presents the most serious threat to development and could potentially reverse
many of the gains that have been made.”
4. Rationale
The issue of climate change is not new, but its take-up as a key development concern and its
integration into pro-poor planning is a fairly recent departure. Even more recent is the integration
of Youth sensitive perspective in climate change responses. For this reason, there is little existing
considering the linkages between climate change and youth yet in Uganda alone youths are the
major contributor of deforestation and all the ills.
As YOUTHS ROAR GRASSROOT INTERVENTION CONNECTION, we have a distinctly
unique stake in the fight against climate change. Our decisions and actions over the next few
years will shape the world we live in for the rest of our lives, not to mention that of our children.
It is a monumental challenge, but one that we cannot afford to shy away from. Young people
around the world, just like yourself, are standing up to politicians and polluters and taking their
future into their own hands. In our communities, our schools, our countries and abroad we have
the tools to take action and stop the climate crisis – and we are using them. Youth will be the
leaders of tomorrow and we are already leading today.
VISION: BEING THE VOICE FOR FUTURE
MISSION: UNLOCKING OUR POTENTIAL TO SECURING THE FUTURE
HOW YOUTHS ROAR GRASSROOT INTERVENTION CONNECTION CAN
OVER COME CLIMATE CHANGE;
Reflect and getting inspired in the community you as a youth lives in. We contribute differently
towards devastating our natural green resource. For example in Uganda deforestation is our
number one major cause of environment degradation - Al Gore, Former U.S. Vice-President, and
winner of the Nobel Peace Prize said “There is no doubt that young people today are more
aware of environmental problems than my generation ever was. As this new generation comes of
age, it faces the enormous challenge of solving global warming. … In order to fix this crisis,
everyone needs to be involved. I have faith that young people have both the ability and the
enthusiasm to put a stop to global warming.”
This idea is calling for the intervention and input of all worldwide for their actions to save the
nature.
5. Tree planting is our strategy number ONE: In Uganda we have abundant land which can be
used to absorb excess carbon dioxide produced in developed nations. Every Youth worldwide
will be expected to contribute and plant for 1000 trees in Africa where there are free space and
Youths within will volunteer in planting. Youth and children, as the next generations, have the
right to a clean future – they do not wish to inherit a toxic, radioactive, dirty and carbon-driven
world.
“Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever
have ” Margaret Mead,Anthropolgist.
This is the time of action under YOUTHS ROAR GRASSROOT INTERVENTION
CONNECTION and we beg lets get on board together the future is now.
Impacting our Community; Climate Change is an issue of intergenerational justice. If we know
how our actions affect our planet, it would be criminal to keep acting like we are now, knowing
that it jeopardizes future generations. In Uganda a district called Bududa suffered mudslide
killings over 120 people and impact planted by human activity of deforestation.
Our idea is towards „greenhouse gases‟ as the main contributor to climate change. This is
because the earth‟s atmosphere acts much like a giant greenhouse. The gases allow solar
radiation (heat)to pass through the atmosphere but, after it is absorbed and re-radiated by the
earth, the gases prevent this heat from escaping back into space. Under natural circumstances this
is what keeps the earth warm enough to support life. But current conditions are far from natural.
Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, when humans began burning fossil fuels on an
unprecedented scale, greenhouse gases have steadily been piling up in the atmosphere. Many of
these gases last far longer than a century. As a result, current carbon dioxide (CO2)
concentrations are now 35.4% higher than pre-industrial levels and growing rapidly. They are
now far above any level in the past 650,000 years. Likewise, methane
(CH4) concentrations have more than doubled to far above anything seen in the past 650,000
years. Global emissions of all greenhouse gases have increased by 70% between 1970 and2004.
The consequence of all this is that more and more heat is being trapped in our atmosphere,
leading to an „enhanced greenhouse effect.
Therefore if we impact our community to take positive attempt towards the noble course our
future will be bright.
6. Strategy
As we have learned, climate change is largely caused by our emission of greenhouse gases.
Fortunately, this leads to a very simple solution: reduce them!! This approach is known as
climate change mitigation because, while we are not completely eliminating the problem (some
change will still occur), we are making it less severe and more manageable and through
YOUTHS ROAR GRASS ROOT CONNECTION every youth becomes an ambassador for
environment.
As youth in action we shall be advocating for every radio stations across the globe with the
support of international community through CHALLENGE: FUTURE to have a radio spot
mentioning “ENVIRONMENT IS OUR CONCERN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IS
THE ANSWER WORLDWIDE
PROPOSED PLAN FOR NEXT TWO YEARS (2012-2013)
Hierarchy of Objective Objective of Verifiable Indicator
Means of verifiable Data
Sources
Carry out inter-University Targeting 22 Universities in Number of participants at
National Sustainable Uganda the conference.
development conference
Advocating and offering of Targeting 250 Schools all far Number of seedlings
Tree seedlings in from city (4,200,000 distributed and planted in
collaboration with partners seedlings) Schools
to Primary and Secondary
Schools
Debating Competition on 2 Inter-University Competition Number of Universities and
Natural Conservation and awards.
Sustainable development
Radio Talk shows and 30 Talk shows expected to held Number of talk shows
Radio Spots (disseminating
information about
sustainable development)
Printing and Distributing 12000 copies needed Number of copies
IEC materials to the public
EVERY INSTITUTION IN UGANDA AND ACROSS THE WORLD SHALL HAVE Youth
ADVOCACY FORUM TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
7. CONCLUSION: Tackling climate change now is entirely possible
and will cost us only 1% of global GDP.
Strong action will not have a significant effect on economic growth and, in some cases, will
actually make money.
Support the ideas of YOUTHS ROAR GRASSROOT INTERVENTION CONNECTION