This document provides information and resources for youth to get involved in influencing the Rio+20 conference on sustainable development. It outlines the history of major UN sustainability conferences, including Rio+20. It encourages youth to raise awareness locally, support youth delegates, and provides tips on lobbying decision makers, organizing events, and making effective presentations to inspire action for sustainable development.
DESA News is an insider’s look at the United Nations in the area of economic and social development policy. The newsletter is produced by the Communications and Information Management Service of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs in collaboration with DESA Divisions. DESA News is issued every month.
Rio+20 — the short name for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012 - is a historic opportunity to define pathways to a safer, more equitable, cleaner, greener and more prosperous world for all. Twenty years after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, where countries adopted Agenda 21 — a blueprint to rethink economic growth, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection — the UN is again bringing together governments, international institutions and major groups1 to agree on a range of smart measures that can reduce poverty while promoting decent jobs, clean energy and a more sustainable and fair use of resources. Rio+20 is a chance to move away from business-as-usual and to act to end poverty, address environmental destruction and build a bridge to the future.
In our efforts to raise awareness around the themes of sustainable development, we devote this special issue to Jobs/Employment, one of the seven critical issues of Rio+20.
These are the slides to the second webinar by the MGCY capacity building team: Introducing Rio+20, with a history of what the Summit is about in a basic and friendly manner.
Global dialogue on development: UNFF Forest Film Festival wins European Film Award, General Assembly highlights MDGs and the development agenda beyond 2015
Trends and analysis: Confronting family poverty and social exclusion, Reviewing responses to global job crisis, Principles and recommendations on Vital Statistics System
Capacity development: Platform for exchange of census data experience, Institutionalizing water accounts and statistics, Analyzing mortality, housing and the situation of the elderly in Ethiopia
The newsletter highlights excerpts of world leaders' remarks during the General Debate of the General Assembly's 66th session, which focused on Rio+20 and sustainable development.
Among related events and issues, the newsletter also reports on a 26 October 2011, "Means of Implementation for Sustainable Development" panel discussion event, which was part of the Special Events of the Second Committee of the General Assembly's 66th session. It also announces a special consultation between Conference Secretary-General Sha Zukang and key organizing partners from the nine major groups for Rio+20, on 3 November 2011.
View full issue at http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=40
DESA News is an insider’s look at the United Nations in the area of economic and social development policy. The newsletter is produced by the Communications and Information Management Service of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs in collaboration with DESA Divisions. DESA News is issued every month.
Rio+20 — the short name for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012 - is a historic opportunity to define pathways to a safer, more equitable, cleaner, greener and more prosperous world for all. Twenty years after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, where countries adopted Agenda 21 — a blueprint to rethink economic growth, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection — the UN is again bringing together governments, international institutions and major groups1 to agree on a range of smart measures that can reduce poverty while promoting decent jobs, clean energy and a more sustainable and fair use of resources. Rio+20 is a chance to move away from business-as-usual and to act to end poverty, address environmental destruction and build a bridge to the future.
In our efforts to raise awareness around the themes of sustainable development, we devote this special issue to Jobs/Employment, one of the seven critical issues of Rio+20.
These are the slides to the second webinar by the MGCY capacity building team: Introducing Rio+20, with a history of what the Summit is about in a basic and friendly manner.
Global dialogue on development: UNFF Forest Film Festival wins European Film Award, General Assembly highlights MDGs and the development agenda beyond 2015
Trends and analysis: Confronting family poverty and social exclusion, Reviewing responses to global job crisis, Principles and recommendations on Vital Statistics System
Capacity development: Platform for exchange of census data experience, Institutionalizing water accounts and statistics, Analyzing mortality, housing and the situation of the elderly in Ethiopia
The newsletter highlights excerpts of world leaders' remarks during the General Debate of the General Assembly's 66th session, which focused on Rio+20 and sustainable development.
Among related events and issues, the newsletter also reports on a 26 October 2011, "Means of Implementation for Sustainable Development" panel discussion event, which was part of the Special Events of the Second Committee of the General Assembly's 66th session. It also announces a special consultation between Conference Secretary-General Sha Zukang and key organizing partners from the nine major groups for Rio+20, on 3 November 2011.
View full issue at http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?menu=40
A New Global Partnership: Eradicate Poverty and Transform Economies through S...Andy Dabydeen
The High Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda today released “A New Global Partnership: Eradicate Poverty and Transform Economies through Sustainable Development,” a report which sets out a universal agenda to eradicate extreme poverty from the face of the earth by 2030, and deliver on the promise of sustainable development. The report calls upon the world to rally around a new Global Partnership that offers hope and a role to every person in the world.
The Panel was established by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and co-chaired by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron.
http://www.post2015hlp.org/the-report/
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, embraced by completely United Nations Member States in 2015, gives a common diagram to harmony and thriving for individuals and the planet, presently and into what's to come. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an earnest call for activity by all nations - developed and developing - in a worldwide partnership. They perceive that consummation destitution and different hardships must go inseparably with systems that improve well-being and education, diminish inequality, and spike economic development – all while handling climate change and attempting to save our seas and woodlands.
Sustainable Development Goals and the Climate Change Agreement Mabel Tola-Winjobi
Felix Dodds is a Senior Fellow at the Global Research Institute and a Senior Affiliate of the Water Institute at the University of North Carolina and an Associate Fellow at the Tellus Institute.
Sustainable development:- Need and ImportanceManvik Joshi
Sustainable Development is in need of the present scenario. We humans develop in such a way that our progress is not affected and at the same time needs of future generations are not affected. This ppt is only for educational purposes.
Remarks by Mr. Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Secretary-General of The 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development
Rio+20: Making it Happen
Newsletter of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
Special Issue on Major Groups
30 September 2011, Volume 2, Issue 18
UN Common Agenda Report: The Future of the UN and World: Breakdown or Breakth...Energy for One World
Report delivered onto the 76th UNGA, and with 12-top priorities in order to steer and re-organize the UN and boost multilateral collaboration. Time to Think Big. Breakdown or Breakthrough. And with a call for a Summit on our shared Future.
Reflections on the Race to Rio - April NewsletterNRDC Race to Rio
Our monthly newsletter that brings you the latest on the development of the Rio+20 Earth Summit in June in Brazil. Topics range from political will, green economy, and to innovative approaches to sustainable development. Hot titles include "Turning Rio+20 into Kony 2012: sustainable development for the facebook generation" "From "Earth Hour" to "Earth Summit": can we do more than just celebrate this spring?"The greatest challenge of our species" and more!
A New Global Partnership: Eradicate Poverty and Transform Economies through S...Andy Dabydeen
The High Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda today released “A New Global Partnership: Eradicate Poverty and Transform Economies through Sustainable Development,” a report which sets out a universal agenda to eradicate extreme poverty from the face of the earth by 2030, and deliver on the promise of sustainable development. The report calls upon the world to rally around a new Global Partnership that offers hope and a role to every person in the world.
The Panel was established by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and co-chaired by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron.
http://www.post2015hlp.org/the-report/
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, embraced by completely United Nations Member States in 2015, gives a common diagram to harmony and thriving for individuals and the planet, presently and into what's to come. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an earnest call for activity by all nations - developed and developing - in a worldwide partnership. They perceive that consummation destitution and different hardships must go inseparably with systems that improve well-being and education, diminish inequality, and spike economic development – all while handling climate change and attempting to save our seas and woodlands.
Sustainable Development Goals and the Climate Change Agreement Mabel Tola-Winjobi
Felix Dodds is a Senior Fellow at the Global Research Institute and a Senior Affiliate of the Water Institute at the University of North Carolina and an Associate Fellow at the Tellus Institute.
Sustainable development:- Need and ImportanceManvik Joshi
Sustainable Development is in need of the present scenario. We humans develop in such a way that our progress is not affected and at the same time needs of future generations are not affected. This ppt is only for educational purposes.
Remarks by Mr. Sha Zukang, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Secretary-General of The 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development
Rio+20: Making it Happen
Newsletter of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
Special Issue on Major Groups
30 September 2011, Volume 2, Issue 18
UN Common Agenda Report: The Future of the UN and World: Breakdown or Breakth...Energy for One World
Report delivered onto the 76th UNGA, and with 12-top priorities in order to steer and re-organize the UN and boost multilateral collaboration. Time to Think Big. Breakdown or Breakthrough. And with a call for a Summit on our shared Future.
Reflections on the Race to Rio - April NewsletterNRDC Race to Rio
Our monthly newsletter that brings you the latest on the development of the Rio+20 Earth Summit in June in Brazil. Topics range from political will, green economy, and to innovative approaches to sustainable development. Hot titles include "Turning Rio+20 into Kony 2012: sustainable development for the facebook generation" "From "Earth Hour" to "Earth Summit": can we do more than just celebrate this spring?"The greatest challenge of our species" and more!
The Report of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Develo...Dr Lendy Spires
Post-2015 “Our vision and our responsibility are to end extreme poverty in all its forms in the context of sustainable development and to have in place the building blocks of sustained prosperity for all.” i ThePanelcametogetherwithasenseofoptimismandadeeprespectfortheMillennium Development Goals (MDGs). The 13 years since the millennium have seen the fastest reduction in poverty in human history: there are half a billion fewer people living below an international poverty line of $1.25 a day. Child death rates have fallen by more than 30%, with about three million children’s lives saved each year compared to 2000. Deaths from malaria have fallen by one quarter. This unprecedented progress has been driven by a combination of economic growth, better policies, and the global commitment to the MDGs, which set out an inspirational rallying cry for the whole world. Given this remarkable success, it would be a mistake to simply tear up the MDGs and start from scratch.
A NEW GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP: ERADICATE POVERTY AND TRANSFORM ECONOMIES THROUGH S...Dr Lendy Spires
Our vision and our responsibility are to end extreme poverty in all its forms in the context of sustainable development and to have in place the building blocks of sustained prosperity for all.” 1 The Panel came together with a sense of optimism and a deep respect for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The 13 years since the millennium have seen the fastest reduction in poverty in human history: there are half a billion fewer people living below an international poverty line of $1.25 a day.
Child death rates have fallen by more than 30%, with about three million children’s lives saved each year compared to 2000. Deaths from malaria have fallen by one quarter. This unprecedented progress has been driven by a combination of economic growth, better policies, and the global commitment to the MDGs, which set out an inspirational rallying cry for the whole world. Given this remarkable success, it would be a mistake to simply tear up the MDGs and start from scratch. As world leaders agreed at Rio in 2012, new goals and targets need to be grounded in respect for universal human rights, and finish the job that the MDGs started.
Central to this is eradicating extreme poverty from the face of the earth by 2030. This is something that leaders have promised time and again throughout history. Today, it can actually be done. So a new development agenda should carry forward the spirit of the Millennium Declaration and the best of the MDGs, with a practical focus on things like poverty, hunger, water, sanitation, education and healthcare. But to fulfil our vision of promoting sustainable development, we must go beyond the MDGs. They did not focus enough on reaching the very poorest and most excluded people. They were silent on the devastating effects of conflict and violence on development.
The importance to development of good governance and institutions that guarantee the rule of law, free speech and open and accountable government was not included, nor the need for inclusive growth to provide jobs. Most seriously, the MDGs fell short by not integrating the economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainable development as envisaged in the Millennium Declaration, and by not addressing the need to promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production. The result was that environment and development were never properly brought together. People were working hard – but often separately – on interlinked problems. So the Panel asked some simple questions: starting with the current MDGs, what to keep, what to amend, and what to add. In trying to answer these questions, we listened to the views of women and men, young people, parliamentarians, civil society organisations, indigenous people and local communities, migrants, experts, business, trade unions and governments.
Australia at Rio+20 Seminar Facilitator, Rosemary Sainty
Former Head, Secretariat UN Global Compact Network Australia and
Adviser, Corporate Engagement, Transparency Australia
Side event: Challenge of communicating Rio+20: Engaging the Global Public in ...NRDC Race to Rio
How can we make sure Rio+20 reach the hearts and minds of billions in less than 90 days until Rio?
Rio+20 may be one of the largest and most important UN gatherings ever with expected participation of more than 110 heads of state and the involvement of thousands of top leaders from government, business, and civil society. Yet, while there have been some innovative outreach initiatives, Rio+20 has so far attracted limited media attention and is little known by the public.
Join the dialogue with a panel of leading practitioners and experts who will explore the challenges and opportunities of communicating about Rio+20 in a world much different than that at the first Earth Summit a generation ago. The panel will provide suggestions as how to enhance the effectiveness of current efforts and to encourage much broader engagement and cooperation among all stakeholders in raising public awareness of Rio+20 over the next three months. We would also like to hear from your ideas and projects.
Opening Remarks:
Elizabeth Thompson, Rio+20 Executive Coordinator
Speakers:
Dr. David E. Guggenheim, the “Ocean Doctor”
Marie-Pierre Daigle, National Director of We Canada
Elisabeth Rosenthal, Environmental Correspondent, New York Times
Charlotte Scadden, United Nations Department of Public Information
Colin Sutton, Social Media Business leader, OMD
Moderator:
Jacob Scherr, NRDC
Post-2015 Outcome Document Press ReleaseEOTO World
EOTO World commends the progress on the road map to a post-2015 agenda and calls for areas of strength in creating a culture of peace to eradicate poverty.
EOTO World Officially Supports Friend Our World EOTO World
Friend Our World press release that includes the mention of EOTO World. Children around the globe are invited to experience the peace focused online festival. Teacher Ambassadors are invited to introduce Friend Our World in classes. Get involved!
EOTO World honored as a Top-Ranked Nonprofit 2013EOTO World
EOTO World was among one of the firsts groups of nonprofits to receive the 2013 Top-Rated Awards from Great Nonprofits, thanks to reviews from the international community.
This report provides a synopsis of the global Internet forum on International Leadership for the MDGs and Leveraging Technology for Human Rights and Peace
Dr. Raphael Oko from Nigeria, presented at our Global Internet Forum on Leveraging Technology for Human Rights and Peace and International Leadership for the MDGs. With permission, we share his presentation here to inspire!
Part IV: Our Future is Worth It: How YOUth can take ACTION for Sustainable De...EOTO World
The final installment of the Rio+20 toolkit series that focuses on the concept of the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development and how to use the Arts to spread the word!
Part I: Our Future is Worth It: How YOUth can take ACTION for Sustainable Dev...EOTO World
Part I of a Rio+20 Toolkit Series designed for youth to learn about sustainable development and to become aware of Rio+20. This toolkit is made in collaboration with Earth Charter International and the UN CSD Major Group for Children and Youth.
Sustainable Development Webinar Series: Governance for SDEOTO World
This webinar introduces the concept of the Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development (IFSD) and explores some of the challenges to its application and definition.
zkStudyClub - Reef: Fast Succinct Non-Interactive Zero-Knowledge Regex ProofsAlex Pruden
This paper presents Reef, a system for generating publicly verifiable succinct non-interactive zero-knowledge proofs that a committed document matches or does not match a regular expression. We describe applications such as proving the strength of passwords, the provenance of email despite redactions, the validity of oblivious DNS queries, and the existence of mutations in DNA. Reef supports the Perl Compatible Regular Expression syntax, including wildcards, alternation, ranges, capture groups, Kleene star, negations, and lookarounds. Reef introduces a new type of automata, Skipping Alternating Finite Automata (SAFA), that skips irrelevant parts of a document when producing proofs without undermining soundness, and instantiates SAFA with a lookup argument. Our experimental evaluation confirms that Reef can generate proofs for documents with 32M characters; the proofs are small and cheap to verify (under a second).
Paper: https://eprint.iacr.org/2023/1886
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 4DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 4. In this session, we will cover Test Manager overview along with SAP heatmap.
The UiPath Test Manager overview with SAP heatmap webinar offers a concise yet comprehensive exploration of the role of a Test Manager within SAP environments, coupled with the utilization of heatmaps for effective testing strategies.
Participants will gain insights into the responsibilities, challenges, and best practices associated with test management in SAP projects. Additionally, the webinar delves into the significance of heatmaps as a visual aid for identifying testing priorities, areas of risk, and resource allocation within SAP landscapes. Through this session, attendees can expect to enhance their understanding of test management principles while learning practical approaches to optimize testing processes in SAP environments using heatmap visualization techniques
What will you get from this session?
1. Insights into SAP testing best practices
2. Heatmap utilization for testing
3. Optimization of testing processes
4. Demo
Topics covered:
Execution from the test manager
Orchestrator execution result
Defect reporting
SAP heatmap example with demo
Speaker:
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
Welcome to the first live UiPath Community Day Dubai! Join us for this unique occasion to meet our local and global UiPath Community and leaders. You will get a full view of the MEA region's automation landscape and the AI Powered automation technology capabilities of UiPath. Also, hosted by our local partners Marc Ellis, you will enjoy a half-day packed with industry insights and automation peers networking.
📕 Curious on our agenda? Wait no more!
10:00 Welcome note - UiPath Community in Dubai
Lovely Sinha, UiPath Community Chapter Leader, UiPath MVPx3, Hyper-automation Consultant, First Abu Dhabi Bank
10:20 A UiPath cross-region MEA overview
Ashraf El Zarka, VP and Managing Director MEA, UiPath
10:35: Customer Success Journey
Deepthi Deepak, Head of Intelligent Automation CoE, First Abu Dhabi Bank
11:15 The UiPath approach to GenAI with our three principles: improve accuracy, supercharge productivity, and automate more
Boris Krumrey, Global VP, Automation Innovation, UiPath
12:15 To discover how Marc Ellis leverages tech-driven solutions in recruitment and managed services.
Brendan Lingam, Director of Sales and Business Development, Marc Ellis
In his public lecture, Christian Timmerer provides insights into the fascinating history of video streaming, starting from its humble beginnings before YouTube to the groundbreaking technologies that now dominate platforms like Netflix and ORF ON. Timmerer also presents provocative contributions of his own that have significantly influenced the industry. He concludes by looking at future challenges and invites the audience to join in a discussion.
Epistemic Interaction - tuning interfaces to provide information for AI supportAlan Dix
Paper presented at SYNERGY workshop at AVI 2024, Genoa, Italy. 3rd June 2024
https://alandix.com/academic/papers/synergy2024-epistemic/
As machine learning integrates deeper into human-computer interactions, the concept of epistemic interaction emerges, aiming to refine these interactions to enhance system adaptability. This approach encourages minor, intentional adjustments in user behaviour to enrich the data available for system learning. This paper introduces epistemic interaction within the context of human-system communication, illustrating how deliberate interaction design can improve system understanding and adaptation. Through concrete examples, we demonstrate the potential of epistemic interaction to significantly advance human-computer interaction by leveraging intuitive human communication strategies to inform system design and functionality, offering a novel pathway for enriching user-system engagements.
Observability Concepts EVERY Developer Should Know -- DeveloperWeek Europe.pdfPaige Cruz
Monitoring and observability aren’t traditionally found in software curriculums and many of us cobble this knowledge together from whatever vendor or ecosystem we were first introduced to and whatever is a part of your current company’s observability stack.
While the dev and ops silo continues to crumble….many organizations still relegate monitoring & observability as the purview of ops, infra and SRE teams. This is a mistake - achieving a highly observable system requires collaboration up and down the stack.
I, a former op, would like to extend an invitation to all application developers to join the observability party will share these foundational concepts to build on:
Generative AI Deep Dive: Advancing from Proof of Concept to ProductionAggregage
Join Maher Hanafi, VP of Engineering at Betterworks, in this new session where he'll share a practical framework to transform Gen AI prototypes into impactful products! He'll delve into the complexities of data collection and management, model selection and optimization, and ensuring security, scalability, and responsible use.
SAP Sapphire 2024 - ASUG301 building better apps with SAP Fiori.pdfPeter Spielvogel
Building better applications for business users with SAP Fiori.
• What is SAP Fiori and why it matters to you
• How a better user experience drives measurable business benefits
• How to get started with SAP Fiori today
• How SAP Fiori elements accelerates application development
• How SAP Build Code includes SAP Fiori tools and other generative artificial intelligence capabilities
• How SAP Fiori paves the way for using AI in SAP apps
PHP Frameworks: I want to break free (IPC Berlin 2024)Ralf Eggert
In this presentation, we examine the challenges and limitations of relying too heavily on PHP frameworks in web development. We discuss the history of PHP and its frameworks to understand how this dependence has evolved. The focus will be on providing concrete tips and strategies to reduce reliance on these frameworks, based on real-world examples and practical considerations. The goal is to equip developers with the skills and knowledge to create more flexible and future-proof web applications. We'll explore the importance of maintaining autonomy in a rapidly changing tech landscape and how to make informed decisions in PHP development.
This talk is aimed at encouraging a more independent approach to using PHP frameworks, moving towards a more flexible and future-proof approach to PHP development.
Smart TV Buyer Insights Survey 2024 by 91mobiles.pdf91mobiles
91mobiles recently conducted a Smart TV Buyer Insights Survey in which we asked over 3,000 respondents about the TV they own, aspects they look at on a new TV, and their TV buying preferences.
The Art of the Pitch: WordPress Relationships and SalesLaura Byrne
Clients don’t know what they don’t know. What web solutions are right for them? How does WordPress come into the picture? How do you make sure you understand scope and timeline? What do you do if sometime changes?
All these questions and more will be explored as we talk about matching clients’ needs with what your agency offers without pulling teeth or pulling your hair out. Practical tips, and strategies for successful relationship building that leads to closing the deal.
Pushing the limits of ePRTC: 100ns holdover for 100 daysAdtran
At WSTS 2024, Alon Stern explored the topic of parametric holdover and explained how recent research findings can be implemented in real-world PNT networks to achieve 100 nanoseconds of accuracy for up to 100 days.
Pushing the limits of ePRTC: 100ns holdover for 100 days
Part II: Our Future is Worth It: How YOUth can take ACTION for Sustainable Development
1. A Rio+20
Toolkit Series :
Part II
Our Future is Worth It:
How YOUth can take ACTION for
Sustainable Development
In partnership with:
2. Design Your Future
IN THIS ISSUE
The Story of
Rio+20
pp. 1-5
act local,
How you can
have An Impact
on Rio+20
think global!
pp. 6-7
Introduction to
“ As the young leaders of tomorrow, you have the passion and energy
Lobbying and commitment to make a difference. What I'd like to really urge you
pp. 8-9 do is to have a global vision. Go beyond your country; go beyond your
national boundaries."
How to Organize
"You have to work and think about how we can make this world a better
an Event place for all. This is what I'd really like to ask our young leaders. We will
p. 10 try as leaders of today to minimise the problems which we will hand
over to you. But it is to you. You have to take ownership and leadership
Tips for Effective of tomorrow. For that to be possible, you have to strengthen your
Presentations capacity and widen your vision as a global citizen."
p. 11 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon to the Young Atlanticist Summit
Lisbon, Portugal, 20 November 2010
Online Resources
pp. 12-13
Contacts
p. 14 In part one of our toolkit series we mentioned that something big is
happening in June: the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development.
What is significant in the lead up to Rio+20?
The answer is YOU.
YOU can share your voice with millions of youth around the world.
YOU can appeal to your leaders to make change.
YOU can take local actions.
Small actions for sustainable development in the lead up to Rio+20, multiplied
by millions of youth world-wide, can make a huge impact to design our future!
1
3. The first Earth Summit
A timeline of 1992
The Earth Summit was the first meeting of its kind: more than 17,000 people,
events leading
including 240 delegates and civil society organizations, gathered to discuss the
up to Rio+20: creation of a sustainable future.
1972: UN
Conference on the
Human Environment
1992: UN
Conference on
Environment and
Development (Rio
Earth Summit)
1994: Global
Conference on the
Sustainable
Development of Small
Island States
2002: UN
International
Conference on
Financing for
Development
2002: World Summit
on Sustainable
Development
(Rio+10)
2005: UN
Conference on Small Earth Summit 1992 also established the UN Commission on Sustainable
Islands Development (CSD). The CSD monitors international treaties on the environment,
2012: UN Conference provides policy direction, and coordinates action within the United Nations
on Sustainable system to achieve the goals of Agenda 21.
Development
(Rio+20)
The CSD meets each year for negotiations and the Major Group of Children and
Youth have participated in all of these meetings. To find out more about the con-
tributions made by Children and Youth to these sessions check out their
Learn more about history: http://uncsdchildrenyouth.org/what-weve-done/
these milestones for
sustainable
development in the
next few pages.
2
4. The Earth Summit in 1992 was the catalyst for a lot of changes, including a greater use of the term “Sustainable
Development” in politics, as well as a greater feeling of urgency that humans should act to protect the planet.
2002: Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10)
10 years after Earth Summit 1992, came the Rio+10 Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa,
which produced a follow-up document to Agenda 21, called the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation (JPOI). This document focuses on operational steps to ensure:
Poverty Eradication
Changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production
Protecting the natural resource base
Fun Fact: The 2002 conference is called Rio+10 because it happened 10 years after the original Earth Summit,
whereas the 2012 conference is called Rio+20 because it is happening 20 years after the original Earth Summit.
2012: UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)
From 20-22 June 2012 the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) will take place in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil. The Conference will be focused on:
Objectives
The Green Economy in the context of Poverty Eradication and Sustainable Development
Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development (Governance)
The process: Several important steps have led the way to this important conference. Check out the diagram below!
3
5. 1992-2012: A snapshot of world challenges
Since the 1992 Earth A complicated picture of good things….
Summit a lot of things and some bad things….
have happened.
Sustainable In 20 years:
Development has The population has gone up by 26%:
become more (1.4 billion people!)
prominent on the
GDP has gone up by 75%, but this economic
political agenda and growth does not reflect the huge, and growing,
more people have inequalities, between “the global North” and the
started talking about “global South”, OR the massive cost to the
it. Issues such as planet in terms of resource overexploitation and
climate change, ecosystem degradation.
global warming and Over 3500 million people live in urban areas, but the
growing social number of slum dwellers has gone up to 827 million
inequality have
Food production has gone up by 45% but the number
created a sense of of people who suffer from hunger in the world is
global urgency. about 925 million (almost 1/7 of the world’s popula-
tion)
Despite this urgency,
the political will to The ozone layer hole has been restored but the tem-
perature of the earth has gone up by o.4 degrees
follow up on agreed
Celsius, while the oceans record an increase in
actions has been
temperature to 0.5 degrees Celsius above the average, and an increase in sea-
limited. 20 years after
levels of about 2.5 mm per year.
the Rio Earth Summit
Carbon parts per million in the atmosphere have gone from 357 ppmv to 389
progress has been
ppmv; the use of fossil fuels has increased due to growing demand, especially
made, but there still
from developing countries such as India and China
remains a lot to be
achieved. Addressing We have lost 300 million hectares of forest since 1990 (that’s about the size of
Argentina), or about 16 million hectares of forest (contributing to about 12-15% of
these issues is of
global warming).
global importance.
4
6. The Rio+20 Outcome document
You have probably noticed that after every major UN conference, outcome
documents or plans are released. These are plans of action aimed at guiding
the national policies of member states to achieve sustainable development.
These recommendations affect non profits, non governmental organizations
and individuals like you, also known as civil society.
An outcome document is also expected to come out of the Rio+20
conference. This document is known as the Zero Draft. The Zero Draft is
expected to build upon the impact of previous agreements like Agenda 21 and
the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (Rio+10).
And now the Zero Draft
The Zero Draft gathered proposals from governments, international and
regional organisations, as well as stakeholders that include youth voices via
the UN CSD Major Group of Children and Youth.
To see what proposals were submitted on behalf of Children and Youth, go to:
http://bit.ly/mgcyzerodraft
If you are interested in finding out what your country submitted to the Zero
Draft, use this handy tool from the official conference website:
http://bit.ly/zerodraftsubmissions
The Concerns with the Zero Draft
The Zero Draft proposals have been criticised for not being ambitious enough.
The document as it stands does not put enough pressure on governments to
ensure past agreements are adhered to. The Zero Draft also fails to incorpo-
rate enough measures to protect developing nations and island states at the
same rate of lessening consumption practices of developed ones.
Read the official Zero Draft and compare it to the one submitted on behalf of
children and youth. What goals are missing?
Once you have identified areas of the Zero Draft that need strengthening,
you can then raise awareness and take action!
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7. How you can have an impact on Rio+20
Most children and youth will not be physically present during the Rio+20
conference.
Here is how you can still participate in the process.
From YOUR AREA
Raise awareness!
Keep up to date with news about Rio+20 and share this information
within your community.
Organize a gathering where people can discuss the issues and create a
community action plan.
Create a viral video or design Rio+20 art.
Coordinate a peaceful demonstration.
Make sure to stay safe and follow the appropriate laws in your country.
The outcomes of Rio+20 must be implemented with all members of civil soci-
ety, including people from communities just like yours. The examples above
are local actions that can help you make Rio+20 relevant for your community
and draw the attention of decision makers.
You can also support youth activists attending Rio+20
Help youth inside and outside of the conference with planning and
co-ordination. Youth delegates will need your help and ideas to ensure
“Participation comes in
children and youth have a greater impact in the decision making process.
many forms, and you
can take on different Search for youth-led conversations within online platforms such as
roles when engaging websites, mailing lists and social media to engage with other youth activists.
into the process. Commit to putting governments under pressure to reach positive outcomes
Everyone’s during Rio+20.
participation is Follow up with your government to make sure they stick to commitments
valuable because we all after Rio+20.
contribute in different
ways based on our Be prepared, gather friends with whom you can work and take actions, and
interests and capacity.” above all, BE BRAVE!
Gather friends and family with you to work together and take action.
(Rio+Twenties
You can do it!
Participation Guide)
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8. If you are attending the Rio+20 Conference:
Young people that are attending the conference are accredited by either a
Non Governmental Organization (NGO), as part of the press, or as an
official Youth Delegate representing their country.
There are many ways children and youth can influence the process while
attending the conference. Youth can lobby delegates to strengthen the
policy measures and make the negotiation process more accountable to
children and youth.
Here are some tactics that youth have be able to use in past negotiations :
Tracking the negotiations
Corridor lobbying
Participating in workshops
Holding side events
Oral interventions
If you are in Brazil but not at the conference
Come to the MGCY Youth Blast (Conference of Youth)!
Over 2000 young people are expected to attend the Youth Blast
scheduled for 7-12 June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro.
The three aims of the Youth Blast are:
Build capacity amongst young people to effectively participate in
the formal and informal processes of Rio+20
Strategise for MGCY engagement in the official process of Rio+20
Plan for a post-Rio+20 agenda that incorporates the
implementation of the outcomes of Rio+20
For more information about the Youth Blast go to:
http://uncsdchildrenyouth.org/rio20/youth-blast/
Whether at home or at the conference, you can
lobby decision-makers for sustainable development
practices that will make the outcomes of Rio+20
work in reality.
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9. How do I influence Decision-Makers? An Introduction to Lobbying
Advocacy Vs Lobbying
“Advocacy” involves influencing attitudes or opinions on a specific issue or cause.
“Lobbying” is slightly different- it usually involves asking for a specific ACTION to be taken, often by a government.
To do this, you will need to influence decision makers - the people/person with responsibility for the thing you
want to change.
Decision makers usually work at one of these 4 levels:
STEP 1: CHOOSING AN ISSUE
Ask yourself: “Why do I care about this issue??”
Write or draw a few notes about the issue and why it matters to you, your group and
young people. If this problem were solved, who would it help? Why ?
Decision makers often focus on the “Big Picture”...Issues that affect everyone
Health, Education, the Economy (Money), Peace and Security are likely to be priorities.
STEP 2: FIND OUT WHO THE DECISION MAKERS ARE!
Find out who is in charge of decisions on this specific issue if you can.
Use the internet, the local directory or by locating offices of decision makers and asking in
person or writing a letter.
When thinking about WHO to contact, try to think back to the levels of decision makers
(above) and who has the biggest influence.
STEP 3: DECIDE HOW YOU WILL CONTACT THEM
Write a letter or email (1 page is enough). Send a petition (ask them to change something,
and get other people to sign their name too).
Arrange to meet with them to discuss the issue (if possible with other people who support
your idea)
Call them - if you can get their office telephone number, get a lot of people (your friends, your
entire class/school/youth group) to call in and speak with the decision maker at a specific
time, or leave a message to share their opinions on the issue.
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10. Meeting Decision Makers
Top tips for lobbying face-to-face
Work together with others who care about the issue. Form a
group and share ideas.
Contact other organisations/people who are working on the is-
sue in your area.
Keep your messages short and simple: make a few key points to
give them ideas on how to solve the issue. Try not to criticise what
they have already done, but suggest ways to improve through
specific actions.
Make it personal: policy makers are more likely to remember letters and visits
that include personal experiences. Briefly describe a personal experience that
shows why YOU care about the issue. How does sustainable development
affect young people in the community/country?
Be creative! You can use art, music or photography to get your message across.
Consider making a giant piece of art with a message on it or send a video
message (keep it short).
Be specific: What do you want them to do? If you want a vote, information,
answers to a question, or a signature on a petition, make it clear and ask if they
will agree to do it.
Always give them your contact details so they can let you know when/if they
have done what you have asked.
If you are lucky enough to meet with a decision maker, remember lobbying is like a conversation...
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11. Raise Awareness: How to Organize an Event
Sustainable development can sound like a boring term to young people. One of the
ways you can encourage others to discuss and practice sustainability is by making
the terms and issues youth-friendly.
Events can be anything from fun activities within local communities, to a more
high profile event with television personalities and media presence.
Games, art (painting murals, drawing an activism tree, music shows) or simple
discussion groups are a good way to bring people together under a theme.
You can raise awareness by hosting events and giving presentations! Break down the
ideas, present the facts and inspire people to join you.
Some things to consider:
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12. Tips for Making Effective Presentations
Inspire! Give presentations that do more than simply provide information– do not only present facts about
sustainable development. You want them to feel concerned and connected as well as encouraged to voice
what they really want.
Outline! Provide the outline of your presentation so it becomes easy for the audience to follow. Stick to 2-3
main points to help focus your audience.
Consistency! Identify a theme and make it consistent throughout the presentation. Be clear on what you want
to achieve. Introduce the audience to your reasons for giving this presentation and what you expect from
them.
Keep it simple and make it a show! Try to use visual aids such a slides or props wherever possible, but don’t
overdo it. Use simple language – you don’t want to confuse your audience.
Enthusiasm! Be passionate and amaze the audience. It is important that you believe what you are saying to
convince them. Have confidence and show that you have no statements, especially if you want to reach an
agreement. Make your presentation like a show with conviction!
Facts and figures! Shocking statistics often make people reflect, but should be used responsibly. For example,
compare the amount of food wasted in rich countries (220 million metric tonnes) to the same total amount of
food produced in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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13. Additional Online Resources
LEARN MORE ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY AND RIO+20!
I. Websites
Official Rio +20 Website
http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.html
Planetpals (free games, activities and more!)
http://www.planetpals.com/
Young Scot (Scottish Youth Information for 11-26 year olds): Sustainability
http://www.youngscot.org/info/670-sustainability
EchoEarth.Info Environment Portal and Search Engine
http://www.ecoearth.info/links/Sustainability/Information/For_Kids/welcome.asp
Waste Free Lunches (tools to create change!)
http://www.wastefreelunches.org/Resources.html - For schools K-12
http://www.informinc.org/getatlunch.php - For colleges and universities
II. Organizations
Youth Entrepreneurship and Sustainability (YES)
http://www.yesweb.org/
WiserEarth
http://wiserearth.org/
Green Assembly
http://www.greenassembly.net/
III. Other helpful toolkits and media
Human Impacts Institute MobilizeUS! toolkit for Rio+20
http://www.humanimpactsinstitute.org/Resources%20Rio+20/HII%20Toolkit%20Items/MobilizeUS!
FAQ.pdf
Youth Roc Toolkit for Youth on how to build a Sustainability Youth Council
http://youth.reroc.com.au/content/sustainability-toolkit
UNICEF Youth Community Mapping Toolkit for those who want to spark conversation in their community
around sustainable development.
http://futurewewant.wordpress.com/toolkit-eng/mapping-toolkit/
TakingITGlobal Sustainability Youth Leadership Toolkit
http://www.tigweb.org/resources/toolkits/view.html?ToolkitID=2757
YOUTH PARTICIPATION
Rio+twenties Participation Guide: For more information on how children and youth can participate and
influence global decision-makers http://rioplustwenties.org/?page_id=970
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14. LOBBYING
Millennium Development Goals Youth Action Guide (World Health Organisation –WHO)
This action guide was created by young people, to give anyone who wants to make the world a better place
everything they need to start a campaign, or link up with movements already happening in their country. It
includes information on how to plan and carry out an activity or campaign to tell others about the Millennium
Development Goals: http://www.who.int/pmnch/topics/mdgs/youthactionguide/en/index.html
PLAN International: Capacity Development for Youth Groups – Advocacy Training Guide
An introduction to advocacy for people who work with children, in 8 simple chapters, developed jointly by Plan and
development partners in Togo. http://plan-international.org/where-we-work/africa/publications/advocacy-capacity-
development-for-youth-groups-training-guide
[USA] Youthrights.net This is a youth lobbying guide designed to help young people become successful
advocates for policy change regarding youth rights at the local, state and national governmental levels.
http://www.youthrights.net/index.php?title=Youth_Lobbying_Guide
[UK] British Youth Council Youth Guides: These guides are most relevant to the UK and Europe. How -To Guides in-
clude : Lobbying, Campaigning, Running an Organisation. http://www.byc.org.uk/resource-centre/how-to-guides.aspx
[USA] Advocates For Youth.org:
Tips for Lobbying on sexual and reproductive health specifically.. Includes: Lobbying, Using the Media, Direct
Action, Building Coalitions... http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/tips-for-advocates-sercadv
Download the Youth Advocacy Kit: http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/storage/advfy/documents/advocacykit.pdf
[Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS) - Youth In Action Advocacy Guide [USA]
This guide offers a few tricks of the trade to help make advocating for your causes a little easier. Take this guide back to
your home and continue advocating for change at a local level.
http://www.tnoys.org/youth/WeWantChangeGuide.pdf
UK Christian Aid – How to Lobby
This is a guide to lobbying success - how to put your case forward and make good things happen!
http://www.christianaid.org.uk/ActNow/usefulstuff/how_to_lobby.aspx?Page=1
Other guides from Christian Aid:
How to organise an event, How to speak in public , How to write a press release , How to produce a leaflet
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) - Advocacy Guide
Supporting and encouraging young people to speak out, educate,and take action http://www.wagggsworld.org/en/
resources/document/view/3384
Also from WAGGGS - Campaign and advocacy tools http://www.wagggsworld.org/en/resources/
campaignandadvocacytools
PRESENTATIONS
How to stage an event: http://www.ehow.com/how_2246624_organize-community-events-raise-awareness.html
How to tell a story: NPR's Scott Simon shares his experience and wisdom to help you with your own
storytelling skills: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiX_WNdJu6w
How to overcome speech anxiety: http://www.howcast.com/videos/174024-How-To-Overcome-Speech-Anxiety://
How to give presentations like Steve Jobs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-ntLGOyHw4
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15. THANK YOU!
This completes the second section of our Rio+20 toolkit series.
In part 3 of our series, find out about a concept that relates to Rio+20 known as the green economy, how to use
media, additional activities you can take for sustainable development and more!
CONTACT US!
If you are interested in getting involved, taking action, or simply knowing more
about what we’re doing, feel free to contact any of us for more information:
MAJOR GROUP FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Website: http://uncsdchildrenyouth.org/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/UNCSDYouthCaucus
Twitter: @MGCY_UNCSD
EARTH CHARTER INTERNATIONAL
Website: http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EarthCharter
Twitter: @earthcharter
EOTO WORLD
Website: http://www.eotoworld.org/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EOTOWorld
Twitter: @EOTOWorld
Thanks and acknowledgements
Authors: Barkha Mossae (Mauritius), Sasha Pratt ( UK), Neringa Miliauskaite
(Lithuania), Elischia Fludd(USA) and Nora Mahmoud (Costa Rica/USA).
Photo Credits: Oliver Rieche, Cynthia Keza and Vietnam Jump and Kyle
Kaianaupuni Robertson.
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