elissasmith.ca

I said this statement this morning at the UN during a discussion about “Investing in energy and industrial development: challenges and opportunities.

“Youth advocate industrial development that ensures the safety of human health and the ecological integrity of our planet. Industrial Development often contributes to environmental problems, but industries that are aware of their social and environmental responsibility can also be part of the solution. Small-scale and youth led initiatives, financially supported through micro credit schemes, play a vital role in poverty eradication. (more…)

This week my friend, Juan Pablo Hoffmaister (no, not John Hofmeister the President of Shell Oil), is participating in the 3rd MOP of the Cartagena Protocol in Brazil. The Cartagena protocol is an international agreement on the handling, transfer, and use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). It was negotiated as a supplement to the United Nations’ Convention on Biological Diversity.

Not sure who took this photo.

Juan Pa and a few of his friends from the College of the Atlantic are running a blog entitled “Where Did My Genes Go?“.

My partner, Matthew Carroll, is doing the digital organizing for the Ban Terminator Campaign. “The Ban Terminator Campaign seeks to promote government bans on Terminator technology at the national and international levels, and supports the efforts of civil society, farmers, Indigenous peoples and social movements to campaign against it.” I’m really proud that Matthew is doing all the digital organizing for them! It’s a big job but someone has to do it.

Here is an interesting email that my friend Zoë Caron forwarded all over the place before the elections:

“FACT: in 2004 only 25% of 18-24 year old voted.

I’ve been asking a lot of people if they’re going to vote Monday – Peoplec said “No” for the following reasons – and by the end of our conversation,
most had changed their minds.

Here’s why:

1. I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO GO TO VOTE.

Check out this site – Scroll down to the bottom right to enter your postal code & it will tell you where to go!

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My brother Alan Smith and his friend, Pat, made a brilliant online project entitled “The Undecided”. The project is designed to help young Canadians choose a political party to vote for this election season. I went through the website and figured out that I’m 85% NDP. Surprise Surprise.

Canada cannot live in isolation: our trade and security depend on our ability to cooperate, negotiate and interact globally. The economic interdependence of countries worldwide is growing and economic agreements increasingly reach into every part of our lives, yet most Canadians know little about the implications and consequences. There is a common perception that the current norms and laws of the international economic system bring disproportionate benefit to developed countries. Several United Nations and World Bank reports demonstrate that the gap between rich and poor is growing between countries and within countries. Studies done for the 10th anniversary of NAFTA show that Canadians’ standard of living is falling, that investment in our social programs is being reduced, and that more and more people are working part-time, insecure jobs with few benefits.

Photo: Elissa Smith on top of a fence in Hong Kong

Taking aggressive action on progressive policies that increase global economic equity will improve global living standards ensuring a secure and prosperous global community. Making progressive economic policies will protect the international reputation Canadians have earned for being generous, peace-promoting, fair players on the international stage. One way to make progressive economic policies is to raise culturally and internationally aware citizens.

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Hundreds of young people from all around the world attended the UN Conference on Climate Change in Montreal. ENvironment JEUneusse, the Sierra Youth Coalition and the Youth Environmental Network organized the“Beyond Kyoto – International Youth Summit” on climate change, bringing 100 youth together, 75 of which were not Canadian. The young people shared their experiences relating to climate change with one another and collaboratively created the “International Youth Declaration” on climate change it is available on Beyond Kyoto website in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Chinese and German. This declaration included what we as young people are committed to do, what we are demanding that governments do and our vision for the future.

Photo: Matthew Carroll

During the UN climate negotiations the declaration provided a vehicle around which young people could rally. It was endorsed by dozens of international organizations, and at the conference at itself, was adopted by the International Municipal Leaders Summit and was mentioned in the opening and closing addresses by the head of the conference. Yough groups organized daily newsletters, demonstrations inside and outside of the UN complex, and youth meetings open to all the youth at the conference.

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My amazing friends at energyaction.net set up a blog
“It’s Getting Hot In Here” to serve as an outlet for the youth perspective in Montreal for the first Meeting of the Parties of the Kyoto Protocol.

This round of UN climate negotiations is a historic event that will shape the course of human history and we aim to compile in real time a record of the events (official and unofficial) through the words, photos, videos and recordings of the many activists, campaigners, lobbyists and advocates who are participating in the Climate Negotiations.

Father Christmas just sent me a letter that he wanted me to put on my personal website.

“Dear Children,

As many of you know, this time of year is very busy for me: reading all your letters, seeing who has been naughty and nice, and finding out what you have asked for from me for Christmas. The elves are already busy making the dolls, train sets and computer games (ahh, for simpler times!).

Though we are very busy with all these preparations, it has been a difficult year here in the North Pole. I wanted to share with you some worries I have.

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My friend Billy Parish, a fellow youth climate activist in the states, is in the latest edition of the Rolling Stones! Finally some respect!

The Youth Environmental Network, the Sierra Youth Coalition and Energy Action Network are my favourite organizations ever! I have so much respect for them and I have learnt all I know from them- they rock my world!

This youth movement is testing grounds for future leaders. I have messed up so many times that I would be thrown out if I were an adult; spilling food on the high commissioner of Africa, sleeping in for important meetings, making-out instead of attending conference calls, saying unintellegent stuff to the media, making crappy speaches, missing deadlines, you name it and I’ve done it.

I imagine that the steep communicating and decision making learning curve would be hard to overcome without a network of friends to help you through it. It would be really hard to become an adult in a leadership role if you haven’t had years of intensive training in one of the many youth movements.

Just another reason to get involved now!