By Isabel Ovalle
DOHA: Young activists from all over the world have come to Doha to “fight for their future”. From countries such as Nepal, Mexico, Taiwan, Colombia, Nigeria, and the United States, these youngsters also participated in the Conference of the Youth that took place before COP18.
Displaying a world-map with dozens of red dots to mark locations which have suffered the impact of natural disasters caused by global warming, they addressed media and by passers to share their position on climate change.
In the halls of the Qatar National Convention Center, Julian Velez, a Mexican college student said that “we are here to urge the countries of the world to connect the dots. There has been lack of ambition, justice, and equity from the countries that have done the most to bring us to this moment”.
Tzu-Yuan Mao, an 18 year old from Taiwan, talked about how flooding in her country in 2010 shut down her school, costing her country’s billions, and destroying her single-father’s fishing business.
From New Jersey (US), Amanda Nesheiwat, 23, spoke about how her community is still struggling to recover from Hurricane Sandy.
On the other hand, young activists of ‘Connected Voices’, a project launched by the New Zealand Youth, displayed flags and banners in the hall that leads to the plenary hall to draw attention to the under-representation of youth at COP18.
This organization informed that approximately 50 countries have direct youth representation in Doha, leaving over 140 without a youth advocate present.
Arab Youth has also organized a march on December 1 through Corniche to draw attention to climate change.
The Peninsula
