Interns@BIC Blog

Krisy

The setting

Krisy Moore, Joanna Dafoe and Melody Mirzaagha support youth voices at the Copenhagen negotiations by wearing the  Youth Caucus T-shirts: "How old will you be in 2050?

There is much to say about the climate negotiations that took place in Copenhagen this past December and, as such, writing this blog post is somewhat of a difficult assignment. First, perhaps it would be best to describe the atmosphere and physical location of the gathering. At times, the climate negotiations felt more like a massive two-week indoor music festival (without the music) than a UN gathering. The meetings brought thousands of people (over 15,000 just in the first week) from all over the world together in one venue—the Bella Center. The diverse crowds of environmentalists, students, indigenous, women’s rights, health and anti-poverty activists, concerned citizens, scientists, government officials and media personnel made walking around the 77,000 square-meter building a daunting task.

Some of the Bahá'í International Community's delegates on a mission to find dinner.

Having only attended the first week of the negotiations, I can only discuss the happenings that took place during that time. If you ask anyone present for the first few days of the gathering what the atmosphere was like, undoubtedly their answers would contain words such as ‘intense,’ ‘energetic,’ ‘exciting,’ and ‘passionate.’ They would probably also describe the opening days as ‘stressful,’ ‘overwhelming,’ and ‘hectic.’ What I found particularly amazing about the events of the first week were the creative expressions of activism that members of civil society staged in the hallways, cafeterias, and various other locations within the Bella Centre. Such actions ranged from banners with slogans calling for an end to the Canadian Tar Sands, chanting, impromptu plays, comedic and satirical magic shows about carbon trading, a group of aliens walking through the Bella Centre asking to be taken to the ‘climate leaders,’ songs, a youth led ‘rainstorm’ and much more. There was no shortage of meetings, lectures or actions to attend.

The Bahá'í International Community’s delegation

One of the many creative actions that occurred in the hallways of the Bella Centre.

The Bahá'í International Community’s delegation consisted of 21 people from all over the world. I was so impressed with this group—I had no idea how many knowledgeable, successful and active Bahá'ís were working on environmental issues in various capacities. In fact, Bahá'ís established the International Environmental Forum a professional organization, with over 215 members in 56 countries across five continents, that facilitates learning about the application of spiritual and ethical principles to the challenges of the environment and sustainable development.

The Bahá'í International Community’s delegation included academics, scientists, environmental and social justice activists, medical professionals, students, farmers, concerned citizens and development professionals. We joined numerous working groups (including, but not limited to the Women’s Caucus and the Youth Caucus). The members of our delegation attended morning press conferences held by their home governments; attended various lectures on topics such as climate change and human rights; and collaborated with many participating NGOs—sharing the Bahá'í International Community’s statement on climate change as well as contributing to the discourse language and concepts that illumined the necessity for unity and oneness as driving forces for sustainable solutions to climate change.

Opening session of the negotiations.

The Bahá'í community of Denmark extended to the BIC delegates the utmost hospitality and generosity. They graciously opened their homes to the delegates and worked tirelessly to host evening discussions and events at the Copenhagen Bahá'í Centre. Drawing on the expertise of the Danish Bahá'í community as well as the Bahá'í International Community’s delegates, discussions at the Bahá'í Centre focused on topics such as alternative energy, gender and climate change, the role of religious communities in combating climate change.  These events were well attended and attracted delegates from various NGOs. After a day of racing to attend meetings and lectures at the Bella Centre to attend the evening gatherings at the Bahá'í Centre, I was always so happy and grateful for the opportunity to indulge in the amazing food that was provided after each event!

A concerned citizen marched through the streets of Copenhagen carrying this sign.

I felt really proud of the accomplishments of the Bahá'í International Community’s delegation at the climate negotiations. Discussions about the ethical dimensions of climate change were widespread throughout the gathering, which afforded us the space to make frequent contributions to the conversations. We connected and collaborated with passionate and hardworking people, met members of our governments, distributed our statement, and worked consciously to attend the conference with an attitude of service. I learned so much from this experience. When I returned home to Canada, I wrote an essay for my graduate Security Studies class that explored the ways in which climate change is impacting the security of women in the developing world. I was able to use many of the materials I received during the negotiations to guide my research. I would like to turn this paper into a presentation that I will share with others in my community.

Monica

During my internship at the Bahá'í International Community's United Nations Office I have had the chance to be involved with several social development projects, including working with the NGO Committee on Social Development (CSocD).  One of the bounties of this opportunity is that it has allowed me to gain an insight into the work of the Bahá'í International Community and other NGOs particularly in collaboration with the UN Commission on Social Development. Much of the work of the NGO Committee on Social Development (http://ngosocdev.wordpress.com) involves staying informed with worldwide social development issues and activities, delivering group statements to the UN, and voicing ideas and positions on key social development issues.

More recently the NGO Committee for Social Development with the support of the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS) undertook a research project in search for examples of Social Integration in Action. The purpose of this survey was to present the UN with a grassroots perspective on social integration and to learn more about building stable and integrated societies worldwide with the following statement from the Committee

Work in progress

The survey findings were collected through qualitative research via an online link

( http://www.un-ngls.org/socialintegration/  ). The results provided examples of Social Integration in Action from 190 countries.  The survey involved questions that presented examples of good practices in terms of each organization's overall mission and goals.

Some very touching examples were given. In communities within regions of South America, South Africa, India and Vietnam, religious groups have instinctively taken the initiative of building more stable conditions for the less fortunate when education and jobs have been scarce. Building local libraries and providing reading and writing classes have helped provide basic yet crucial education that others take for granted in more developed regions of the world.

The Bahá'í International Community along with the other NGOs that are a part of CSocD Committee meets once a month in the Baha'i Offices. During the time I participated in the meeting the Committee chair presented the survey conclusions. It was my responsibility along with my fellow intern, Fei Wang to compile and organize the information into a final document for the Committee to distribute as a complete report. This consisted of organizing survey responses from 190 nations from Asia, Africa, South America, United States, and Middle East, each with their own unique stories obstacles and achievements.

Outcomes of CSocD meeting

During the meeting I attended, some very interesting points concluded the laudable effort of the Committee's year long research. The topics discussed consisted of the barriers to social integration such as unemployment, migrant workers , lack of education, macroeconomic policies and discrimination of gender and race. I found that overall the approach the Committee had taken was consistent with those of Bahá'í  principles. It concluded that the Committee believed that social integration from a grassroots level should effectively engage the communities themselves, placing importance on education, equality of genders, and the elimination of prejudice. I found that many of the viewpoints shared by the Committee reflected those of the Bahá'í  principles which are evident in the Bahá'í Writings: "Among other teachings and principles Baha'u'llah counsels the education of all members of society. No individual should be denied or deprived of intellectual training, although each should receive according to capacity. None must be left in the grades of ignorance, for ignorance is a defect in the human world. All mankind must be given knowledge of science and philosophy...." (Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 108).

Survey Findings

The findings indicated that in order to start building integrated communities one needs to consider close relationships within smaller communities. Therefore the solutions and recommendations derived from the conclusion of the findings were considered to be as the following:

• commitment of education for all should be enlisted from a community level,
• a greater emphasis should be placed on the responsibilities of the governments to take active steps to ensure equal rights,
• Policies should be created to link programs of social integration and human development to create jobs and income,
• Governments need policies and legislation to promote gender equality and must have zero tolerance,
• Governments need to implement just and humane immigration laws,
• Governments need to establish "a global economy" to provide for the well being of all just for the profit of few.

The survey also outlined a number of social integration barriers at the grassroots level. These included: unemployment, being a migrant, gender inequality, lack of education, macroeconomic policies, lack of participatory process, poor governance and weak government and discrimination of gender and race.

A great emphasis was placed on creating one unified global economy that provides for the well being of all. To me this raises a valid point that no longer should our world be seen as segregated countries but rather as a nation as a whole with the need for communities to come together. As Bahá'ís we are encouraged to be involved in building united communities with current systematic activities implemented to provide moral education through children's classes, placing an importance on education and eliminating the differences between genders. These grassroots initiatives seek to create a social environment conducive to building a community at every level of society. 

Personal encounter

The insight I gained through working with the Committee is that it is first up to the individual to commit to making a change.   Every small effort makes a difference, and it is only when each person strives to work from the ground level up that we are then able to shift these gradual cultural changes and work towards a higher degree of integration in our communities.

Mary

In order to help put together a compilation on Baha’i concepts related to development, my current research assignment has been to look at many Baha’i documents that explore the theme. What’s really striking is the degree to which an integrated approach to development is stressed. I think it might be easy to sometimes think of the different aspects of societal life, be they education, health, or anything else, as being somewhat independent of one another when they’re actually not. If the goal of development is to bring prosperity to mankind, it’s important to look at prosperity holistically. In the very basic way that I see it, education, for example, helps provide knowledge regarding how to stay healthy, and being healthy provides a better opportunity to receive an education. Likewise, when people are both healthy and educated, they are better suited and able to be active participants in their society, and so on. These are, I admit, very obvious statements, but the idea of integration, from what I understand, moves beyond this simple physical or material synthesis; while these aspects must be working together, there are other factors that must be considered as well.

In many of the papers, there were paragraphs and even entire sections dedicated to the concept of human nature. The documents seemed to be explaining that if we are concerned with the well-being of people, then it’s essential that we look at the fundamental truths that create the foundation of who we are as human beings. Many of the Baha’i documents challenge the common assumptions about human nature that are underpinning ideas of ‘progress’ or ‘civilization’.  These assumptions often focus on our physical needs and ambitions, suggesting that the most essential aspect of our being is a material one. The documents suggest that this viewpoint is, in actuality, nothing more than a distortion of what it means to be human. It ignores some of the other basic attributes that we exhibit every day. For example, economics tells us that people are driven by self-interest, but then what are we to make of sacrifice, or an orientation towards service for the common good? Some might say that any act of sacrifice or service stems from selfish desire, but I think that this kind of thinking is only evidence of a one-dimensional view of the individual. People are, after all, complex, and saying that every individual is guided solely by this one basic principle of self-interest is likely missing a bigger picture. A largely ignored part of this bigger picture most certainly includes the spiritual dimension of human beings.

If we really want to try to improve lives, I think it only makes sense that we examine the full spectrum of what it is that brings fulfillment to people. I’m not sure anyone can deny that spirituality has in the past, and even in today’s more secular climate, continues to play an integral role in individual and community life. It then follows that we start including a spiritual dimension in our developmental outlook and goals; I think that this will allow for a more complete diagnosis and solution to so many of the questions we face today.

Therese

A few days ago the UN General AssemblyThird Committee passed a resolution on Combatting the Defamation of Religions.  The proponents of this resolution argue that there is a need to protect religious minorities from stereotyping and to prevent messages of religious hatred from being disseminated.  I agree that there is such a need.  However, upon further consideration, and certainly after attending a panel discussion on this topic a couple of weeks ago, I have become convinced that focusing on combatting the defamation of religion will not achieve this aim, but rather create multiple problems of its own. 

Map showing press freedom rankings for different countries.  Source: Wikimedia commons.

On the normative level, such a move is very dangerous, because it obscures the fundamental concept of human rights.  This resolution associates the protection of religions with the protection of individual human rights.  Making the leap of giving human rights to religions is inconsistent with the principle of human rights and international law in general.  Individuals have human rights because they are human.  Thus, a legal system with human rights at its core would seek to protect the individual from abuse by government, other individuals, and more impersonal forces like the market.  Seeking to extend the same protection to beliefs, ideas, and practices, will in the end do individuals a great disfavour, irrespective of their religion or beliefs. 

In practice there are two immediate problems that arise when seeking to apply the concept of rights to religions.  The first is the conflict of interest that may arise when the rights of an individual are in conflict with those of a religion.  The resolution implicitly opens the door for restricting individual rights (particularly the right to freedom of expression) in the name of religion.  Among other things, the resolution explicitly condemns the use of various media to incite violence and xenophobia, or “discrimination against any religion” or religious symbol. 

Clearly, I am not in favour of incitement to violence and xenophobia either, and am glad that most countries already have laws that impose reasonable restrictions on free speech in these areas (though they could be better enforced).  But focusing on religions (as opposed to individuals with diverse beliefs) primarily serves to muddle the issue.  For what is a religion?  And what constitutes discrimination against a religion? 

This brings me to the second problem, which is that this resolution implicitly makes the government the official watchdog of religion.  Governments would be tasked with defining (a) which sets of beliefs constitute 'valid' religions, (b) which of the hetrogeneous beliefs held by the followers of a religion constitute the 'pure' and inviolable core of that religion, and (c) what constitutes defamation of this sacred core. 

It is easy to perceive that the scope for misuse by undemocratic governments is large.  It would justify the suppression of free speech on the grounds that religious principles are being defamed.  It would permit restrictions on religious minorities, should their beliefs be deemed defamatory to other religions by the government.  Suppression of the rights of women in the name of religious tradition would become justifiable under international law.  It is a true pandora's box of human rights violations, as in the extreme sense, the existence of one religion can be construed as the defamation of another.  

What, then, ought to be done?  The issue is really one of adequately enforcing existing legislation that protect individuals, especially religious minorities, against defamation and incitements to violence, and to make sure that they can freely practice their religion.  Such measures would reap the benefits intended by the Defamation of Religion resolution, but avoid the pitfalls. 

A second course of action is for each individual to excercise the right (and responsibility) that comes from having freedom to speak our opinion.  Indeed, more free speech is the best way to counter defamatory and ignorant speech.  When confronted with bigoted and malicious opinions, we should speak, blog, write to the newspapers, go on radio, and so forth, and set them right. 

Mary

This is only the fourth week of my internship here at the BIC, and my experience so far has already been wonderful. I am a 20 year-old student at Columbia College, Columbia University, studying East Asian Languages and Cultures. Already living in New York City, I thought I wouldn’t have a better occasion to apply as an intern to this wonderful NGO. What made me so excited to come to the BIC was the chance to see first-hand how Bahá'í ideals and perspectives are contributed to the wider dialogue at the UN. It really is amazing to have the opportunity to witness the practicality of the Bahá'í  teachings at an international level. Also having the opportunity to do my part to help with the work already being done is just icing on the cake. My tasks so far have allowed me to see how the BIC applies some of the principles of the Bahá'í  Faith to the world’s current problems. These principles, which include—among others—the oneness of mankind, the equality of men and women, and the elimination of all prejudice, are extremely relevant to issues the UN grapples with. I must say, the work is immensely gratifying, and I can’t help but be excited to be here.

At the moment, the BIC is working on a document that describes the role of consultation in facilitating participation. Consultation, from a Bahá'í standpoint, is integral to solving any kind of problem; it is a process that implicitly requires a number of people who will bring their understanding to a situation. The matter is then to be discussed with a “purity of motive” that can stem from being mindful that the purpose of consultation is to arrive at the truth. In this way, everyone has the same intentions. No one looks to promote personal interests, as all ideas become a collective resource. There are no hidden agendas that anyone seeks to push; the one unified agenda is to find the truth.

With this in mind, I was asked to help do some research on approaches to participation by looking at both Bahá'í -related content and papers from the UN and other large organizations. What manifested itself so quickly was how complementary the two are. It seems that the world is working toward what it called ‘participatory decision-making’, whereby a number of people, including those most affected by the upcoming change or decision, gather to deliberate on an issue of common concern and to decide on the best course of action. Such inclusive dialogue is, as mentioned, central to the Baha’i view of consultation. Abdu’l-Baha, the son of the Founder of the Bahá'í  Faith, wrote “the views of several individuals are assuredly preferable to one man", and that “the shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the clash of differing opinions” . The way the Bahá'í  Writings relate directly to contemporary problems is very exciting to me. It allows for a smooth integration of moral and spiritual perspectives into present-day issues.

I’ve also been helping put together the 2009 Year in Review for the BIC—a report that documents the work being done by this Office over the past year. The BIC is involved in so many different councils, commissions, and committees; its presence and participation extend to many different facets of the UN and NGO community. Being an intern the BIC is such an amazing experience and opportunity; it’s definitely not worth missing. 

Therese

On September 23rd, the Baha'i International Community launched an appeal to leaders about the Moral and Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change.  As today is Blog Action Day, and as this year's topic is climate change, I though I'd ask a few questions of Ms. Tahirih Naylor, the BIC representative to the UN focusing on global prosperity and the environment. 

I asked Ms. Naylor to explain a bit about what motivated the BIC to initiate this appeal.  She replied that one of the major reasons was the urgency of time, as there are only so many days left to the Copenhagen Conference.  "We really wanted to support the Secretary General's efforts to draw together the leaders of the world for a Summit that focused on coming up with a solution, and to mobilize them to reach a fair, ambitious, and binding agreement in Copenhagen." 

Another reason, she said, was that an appeal from civil society to the leaders of the world would underline the partnership between the people of the world and their leaders.  "While we all have responsibility to do what we can in our own lives," she explained, "leaders are in a special position to take action on climate change.  Therefore, we wanted to encourage them to do so." 

When I first heard about the appeal, I thought it was an important aspect to examine, because the tremendous consequences of climate change creates a strong moral imperative to act.  However, I sometimes worry that such 'high-minded' approaches risk becoming nothing more than wishes for a better world.  So I asked how focusing on the moral and ethical dimensions of climate change can change the way in which people and their governments take action on climate change. 

"It is so easy to get lost in the economic and political elements of the negotiation process," said Ms. Naylor.  "A focus on the moral and ethical dimensions of climate change helps us get beyond the technical wrangling.  It elevates the debate and provides a greater type of motivation.  It helps people and leaders connect with a long-term vision of human prosperity." 

She also pointed out that morals and ethics are a good yardstick of our actions.  This is crucially needed at a time when people are weighing their steps on how to move forward.  Rather than compare ourselves to what other countries are doing, we ought to use a moral and ethical framework to measure our actions.  Even though the policies and negotiation processes will be unique for every country, the ethical imperative of the situation is the same for everyone.  Just like climate change transcends our borders, so do moral and ethical values. 

To me, this explained a bit about how focusing on the moral and ethical dimensions of climate change can, indeed, have very concrete implications for how we take action on climate change.  I was therefore very pleased to hear that the response to the appeal has been very good, and many organizations have been interested in joining.  The plan now is to transform the appeal, with the permission of the other signatories, into something that can be used at the Copenhagen Conference.  The BIC will be there along with many other organizations, and I sincerely hope that they will succeed in infusing the negotiation process with a profound sense of the moral and ethical dimension of the challenge facing humanity and the planet.

Therese

During the past few days I've been listening in on the discussion of the 3rd Committee of the UN General Assembly.  Perhaps one of the clearest threads running through the reports and the delegates' discussion has been the challenge of countries facing multiple crises: climate change, the financial crises, the food crises, and scattered natural disasters risk cancelling out the steps made towards global poverty reduction over the last decades, and dampen future prospects.  One of the areas of direct impact has been the rising unemployment levels around the world. 

It is hard to overstate the importance of employment.  At the aggregate level, full or near-full employment is one of the primary aspects of healthy economic development.  For individuals, having decent work (in terms of safety and dignity) with adequate remuneration and job security often means the difference between living in poverty and having sufficient income to provide for oneself and one's family.  Work is the best means for an income. 

Yet it strikes me that focusing on the economic value of work, though crucial, does not capture the full value of work, which extends even beyond making ends meet.  Having myself recently finished university and begun looking for permanent employment, I am beginning to understand how important work can be for maintaining motivation, feeling like an integrated part of society, and for contributing what I have to give.  Unemployment, on the other hand, can lead to depression, low self-esteem, and social exclusion. 

A BIC statement on work highlights that, "work, no matter how humble and simple, when performed with an attitude of service, is a means to contribute to the advancement of our communities, countries, and global society.”

The value of work thus lies in its role in furthering the prosperity and capabilities of ourselves and others.  Indeed, according to the Baha'i Writings, work carried out in a spirit of service to others is elevated to the rank of worship.  Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, wrote, "It is incumbent upon each one of you to engage in some occupation—such as a craft, a trade or the like. We have exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship of the one true God."  It is thus at the intersection of economic, social, psychological, and spiritual well-being. 

Creating the economic and political conditions that promote full employment and decent work for all is therefore a global challenge of the highest priority.  But the extremely unequal distribution of wealth and productive assets (including education, land, infrastructure) in the world today contributes to making productive work unavailable to large groups of people in many countries.  Social safety-nets and welfare should of course be created mitigate the effects of an economic downturn, and provide for those with limited ability to work.  However, such safety-nets are fiscally hard to maintain in poor and/or stagnant economies.

There is therefore a moral imperative for those in a position to create employment to act. Again, drawing on the Baha'i writings "if a judicious and resourceful individual should initiate measures which would universally enrich the masses of the people, there could be no undertaking greater than this, ... for such a benefactor would supply the needs and insure the comfort and well-being of a great multitude."  Those with inordinate riches should expend them "for the promotion of knowledge, the founding of elementary and other schools, the encouragement of art and industry, the training of orphans and the poor—in brief, if it is dedicated to the welfare of society.

As I see it, the value of work therefore encompasses the need for every individual to earn a living for themselves and their family, but also goes beyond this.  Through our crafts and professions we can also gain socially and spiritually, and serve the overall well-being of the community.

Therese

As I have been attending talks and blogging about climate change over the past few days, I have thought about the scientific, political, and economic aspects of climate change.  And then I was struck by an idea that perfectly captured how I felt about the ongoing climate change negotiations.

Since I was young, I have loved to read about heroes, fictional and real, who had the problems of the world thrust upon them through no fault of their own.  And they were human, they made mistakes, they doubted, they were afraid.  But one thing united them all: they arose for the sake of others and faced their fears; they had courage.

Today the world is facing climate change, a calamity of unprecedented and unpredictable proportions, a calamity that will submerge countries (first in line are small island states and Bangladesh), lay lands barren through droughts and floods, and cause violent and unpredictable spells of extreme weather. (See the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report, ‘Synthesis Report.’)).  It is the stuff stories are made of, set on a beautiful blue pearl of a planet speeding through endless space, faced by imminent catastrophe, with so much potential, so much to save, and so little time.  A potential best-seller if I ever saw one.  And there are heroes: Farmers doing their best to feed their families despite the droughts(2), activists who dedicate their lives to protecting the environment and raising awareness, scientists researching the issue, and millions of people making changes in their every-day lives. 

I do not wish to belittle their efforts in any way, but I am afraid it will not be enough.  For where, I ask, where are the leaders with whom we have entrusted the responsibility to, as their titles signify, to lead humanity through this challenge?  Where are the valiant princes and noble rulers of the earth?  So I remain dissatisfied...  I was never very fond of tragedies, and this has the potential to be a truly memorable, indeed unforgettable, one.  One that will rival the finest Shakespearean tragedy, and make Hamlet and Macbeth seem cheerful by comparison. 

However, I am yet hopeful that we may turn out to be in an epic drama, not a tragedy, of global proportions.  I am hoping to see, out of the corner of my eye, the knights in shining armour come charging in on the international political arena, full of energy and courage, ready to act.  We have talked for two decades about climate change.  Now is the time to courageously step forward and bravely propose, commit,  enact, and make the green future a reality. 

Courage is the true characteristic of any heroic leader, and that is what the story sorely lacks to date.  Heroes who have the courage to face the press and the polls, the campaign-funders and each other, and who do not fear going down the green road before anyone else does.  Where is this courage to do what science, humanity, and ultimately, our deepest moral convictions tell us is the only responsible course of action?  This courage must be born from the heartfelt conviction that humanity shares one common fate, and that we are all connected. Most leaders will not lose their homes and livelihoods from global warming, but they must act for the sake of those who will. 

Will world leaders come to the Copenhagen Climate Conference, armed with love for justice and the knowledge of the oneness of humankind, and establish an international climate regime that is fair, ambitious, and binding enough to secure our common future?  Will they brave their fears and become the heroes of future generations?  Or will they, like princes in Denmark before them, succumb to prevarication and inaction, bringing us one step closer to global tragedy? 

In the opening session of the Climate Summit at the UN on the 22nd of September, presidents and prime ministers spoke about the challenge of climate change.  General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon urged leaders to take action and to make the Copenhagen Climate Change conference a new path forward.  For me, the Climate Summit did not herald a new era of climate change politics.  Yet I could see in it the promise of new possibilities.   

Of the leaders who spoke, all appreciated the gravity of the situation and stated their commitment to taking action.  The two major countries on which any agreement in Copenhagen will depend, USA and China, extolled both their present level of commitment to clean energies and their intention of doing even more.  China stated its commitment to cut its carbon-dioxide emission intensity by a "wide margin."  And US President Obama pledged America's commitment, recognizing that developed countries have a responsibility to lead.  Neither sought to deny the existence of climate change, nor did they (verbally) shirk their responsibility for doing something about it. 

Promising as this was, I couldn’t help wishing that these leaders would put even more on the table, make more concrete proposals.  It was therefore encouraging to hear the newly elected prime minister of Japan express his resolve to make Japan a climate leader, and reduce emissions by 25% of 1990 levels by 2020.  The urgency of the challenge was poignantly presented by the President of the Maldives, whose country's existence is imperiled by rising sea-levels.  The Maldives have themselves committed to become carbon neutral by 2020. 

At first I didn’t know what to make of this.  The political changes on the topic of climate change have been slow.  And to me this was also too slow.  But they are moving in the right direction, and more than once did the speakers say that climate change is not just a challenge, it is an opportunity to change for the better.  And this consciousness is crucial in a world where oil is running out, where international cooperation is still a challenge, where global inequalities persist, and which has been marked by a mindset of short time-horizons. 

This aspect of the climate change debate has been explored in the Baha'i International Community statement on climate change.  Developing an adequate institutional framework for intergovernmental cooperation is crucial for our efforts to manage climate change. The cooperative skills and institutions we must develop for adequately dealing with the issue can serve as the basis for further cooperation on other international issues, such as economy and disarmament.  This challenge presses on us, yet again, something we should have learned long ago: humanity is one.  When we as individuals, societies, governments, fully understand what it means for humanity to be collectively facing a global challenge of tremendous consequences, we can no longer stand by and watch the suffering of others.  This is, in the words of the Baha'i International Community, the "opportunity to take the next step in the transition from a state-centered mode of interacting on the world state to one rooted in the unity which connects us as the inhabitants of one biosphere."

With the impacts of climate change becoming ever more apparent, the clock is ticking for individuals, communities, and ultimately their governments to take action on climate change.  Governments of the world have yet to collectively commit to emission reductions that are ambitious, fair, and binding enough to secure our common future on the planet.  While the scientific consensus is clear, a binding agreement between governments remains elusive.

Climate change is perhaps the largest and most urgent example of the "tragedy of the commons" to date.   If only a handful of countries reduce their emissions, they risk bearing the economic cost of trying to protect the environment, while at the same time suffering from climate change caused by others.  Why should individual governments lower their countries' CO2 emissions without being assured that others will do so as well? 

There is no denying that this global problem requires a global solution.  There is also no denying that this has proven politically challenging to bring about.  But while governments are lagging, I am still heartened to see that our thinking about the problem is evolving, and for the better.

In particular, I am thinking about how civil society has organized itself on the global level in preparation for the Copenhagen Conference in December 2009.  For example: a coalition of organizations (NGOs, faith groups, and unions) from around the world has come together under the banner of the Global Campaign for Climate Action and organized the tcktcktck campaign. Tcktcktck has 25 major partners (including Oxfam International, Greenpeace, and WWF), some of whom themselves have hundreds of member-organizations around the world.

The tcktcktck campaign seeks to mobilize people and organizations to call on their leaders to save the planet at the upcoming Copenhagen Conference.   They call on governments to create a deal that is ambitious, fair, and binding.  And as their name suggests—tick tick tick—time is running out.   Last year, the campaign mobilized over 114 million people across the globe; this year, they hope  to surpass that number. The  aim is to raise awareness, and, by doing so, changing the political context as well.  "If we can change the context of political will, we can make failure to act an electoral liability," says Kumi Naidoo, Chair of the Global Campaign for Climate Action.

Over the course of the Climate Week I will continue to blog about climate issues and events.  In the coming three months, I’ll also blog about other topics related to human rights and global prosperity.

Therese

I am a student of international development from Norway.  I am just starting my internship with the Baha'i International Community (BIC), and one of my first tasks concerns climate change.  I have been invited to blog about some of the events of the United Nations Climate Change Conference along with the climate change bloggers at the Voice Project.  I am very excited to be part of this, as it is my first time doing this kind of blogging. 

As the 64^th Session of the General Assembly is opening, world leaders are meeting to talk in preparation of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark in December 2009.  The meeting is convened by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with a view to providing a forum for leaders to discuss pressing issues at hand and to find common ground.  At the same time, New York City is hosting Climate Week NY°C, which features over 50 events focused on encouraging leaders to set fair, ambitious, and binding goals at the Copenhagen Climate Conference.

Bryan

History has shown, time and time again, dramatic changes follow drastic crises. With the world in the midst of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, surely vast changes are destined to follow. As a BIC intern, I’ve had the unique opportunity to see the initial stirrings of these potential changes firsthand. In a historic meeting, the United Nations General Assembly, representing 192 of the world’s nations, met for a three day Summit (24 – 26 July, 2009) to examine the “World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development.” This was in fact the first time since the beginning of this financial crisis that all governments gathered to discuss a coordinated response to the world’s economic problems.  Having the chance to attend this conference and listen to its many expert speakers, I’ve witnessed how this  crisis has inspired collective action and addressed important ethical issues.

With a profound sense of urgency and enthusiasm, panelists and delegates at the Summit called for a genuine global response to the crisis. In his remarks at the Conference, President of the U.N. General Assembly Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, stated that the General Assembly was on the verge of taking a new step towards a human family that was focused on economic and ecological justice and “which is united with itself, nature and Mother Earth”. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon stressed that “The General Assembly represents all humanity” and that “together, we must galvanize action. Together, we must support the economic rights, the social rights, the human rights of all the world’s people.” Nobel Prize winning economist, Joseph Stiglitz, likened the crisis to a “waking call” for mankind and an opportunity for a new world to be created. Just over a hundred years ago, the Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, Baha’u’llah, ushered this same call: “Let not man glory in this that he loveth his country, let him rather glory in this that he loveth his kind. The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.”   This ability of a crisis to awake such noble sentiments is truly remarkable. 

Given the global participation in the conference, important ethical questions were raised.  Expert panelists shed light on the impact of the crisis on trade, labor, equality and human rights. This was especially inspiring to me. No longer treated as just a financial problem with financial solutions, these discussions brought out the human dimensions of the crisis. In the next six months alone, it is expected that over 60 million jobs will be lost worldwide. According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, these massive job losses expose women and girls to a higher risk of abuse and violence. Furthermore, in the absence of resources, girls are the first to be withdrawn from school. When food is scarce, women eat last and eat least. When employment is at stake, recessions have shown to increase discrimination—migrant workers are the first to be laid off. 

There were also ethical questions about the crisis’ impact on aid. During past economic crises, aid to the developing world has been cut off. In his opening remarks, Ban Ki-Moon cited this, saying, “Surely, if the world can mobilize more than $18 trillion to keep the financial sector afloat, it can find more than $18 billion to keep commitments to Africa.” Throughout the conference, panelists and delegations alike called for the need to make human investments and to find capital for development just as it has found capital for bailouts.

With a newfound sense of collective responsibility emerging and the ethical dimensions addressed, the path to dynamic change is starting to unfold.  The reform of the world’s financial systems and institutions, the inclusion of ethics and the consideration for all humankind is just what the world needs. Seeing the U.N. General Assembly discuss the implementation of these changes has been wonderful to witness. It confirms the counsel of Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, that:

“Every age hath its own problem…The remedy the world needeth in its present-day afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require. Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and centre your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.” 

-Bryan

Following an eventful series of Commissions and UN gatherings, my internship at the BIC is quickly coming to an end. It’s difficult to reflect on my life-changing nine-month internship at the BIC without digressing into the realm of nostalgic.  The sheer volume and diversity of work undertaken by the BIC during the last nine-months makes providing a comprehensive summary of events far too difficult for one post to explore. I think a few personal favorite experiences and highlights would make for better journalistic endeavors and enjoyable internet reading.

CSW 53

I began my internship in October—a hectic time in the office, as staff were saturated in preparations for the UN’s largest Commission—the Commission on the Status of Women (53). As a result of the intensity of the time, my first few weeks on the job consisted of immersing myself in the inner workings of the The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and The Division for the Advancement of Women’s website, while reviewing piles upon piles of background documents and essays, Expert Group Meeting summaries, and previous Commission outcomes and their agreed conclusions.

My internship duties during the first two months could easily be summarized in the following words:

Read. Summarize. Organize. Discuss. Repeat.

Read. Summarize. Organize. Discuss. Repeat.

The expectations were high, the workload immense, the time short and the experience remarkable. All of the hours of intense preparations which included various UN roundtable events, BIC statement writing and editing sessions, online discussions and delegation coordination enabled the BIC to enter the CSW with a well-prepared and extremely qualified group of male and female delegates. In addition to their numerous successful formal presentations, BIC delegates also organized creative events during the CSW such as a photo exhibition and a theatrical performance.

The BIC delegation accounted for about 40 of the nearly 5,000 people who attended this year’s CSW. My favorite part of the CSW was getting to know our delegates. They were incredibly talented, amazing people from a variety of professions and countries. I so deeply enjoyed the quiet conversations we had about their work in the field of gender equality and their personal stories of challenge and triumph. These simple moments in the midst of physical exhaustion kept our spirits and energy levels at their highest and are my fondest memories of the Commission.

BIC Blog

Before starting my internship, I had never blogged before. I had never even thought about blogging. So when I was asked to kick-start the blog postings on the new intern page, I was a little scared and worried about putting my thoughts out into the virtual world. But in reality, blogging for the BIC was quite possibly my favorite part of my internship!

Creating the blog has been an amazing learning experience for the entire office. We worked (are continuing to work) really hard together to create a vision and direction for the site. The feedback has been very positive and the process has been really fun. I particularly loved blogging during the Commission on Sustainable Development. So many interesting and important things happened each day, which made finding topics and inspirations for blog postings very easy. I especially loved blogging about the urban farm tour that we took. The tour was such a powerful experience and I was very excited to share the information that I learned. Being involved in the blog was also a great opportunity for me to periodically escape the technical, jargon-heavy academic world that is the United Nations and to slip into a quieter zone of creative non-friction writing.

In addition to the blog, the BIC created a Facebook group with videos, news articles, interviews and photos from UN events and BIC gatherings. These new outlets help people to understand the work and purpose of the BIC and the opportunities that exist for collaboration and involvement. The BIC Facebook group is growing quickly in popularity, with over 2,000 people joining within the two weeks of its creation. The site may be found by searching for "Baha'i International Community" on Facebook.

Final Tears

Although my internship is ending, the BIC’s work in the area of human rights, social and economic development, environmental protection and the advancement of women continues at full speed. The continuation of the intensity of this work is contingent upon the help of interns and volunteers. Being an intern at the BIC has been such a positive and life-changing experience. I highly recommend that each person interested in becoming an intern contact the BIC. The staff is incredibly kind and supportive and is always seeking energetic, motivated people to assist them in their work.

Honestly, the BIC is the place to be!

Many thanks to everyone who made my internship so wonderful!

Krisy

During the 8^th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, which I attended as a BIC delegate, the International Indigenous Women's Forum (Foro Internacional de Mujeres Indigenas - FIMI) hosted a side-event "Estado de Implementacion de las Recomendaciones del Foro Permanente Para Cuestiones Indigenas" (Status of the implementation of the recommendations of the Permanent Forum). Five panelists shared their perspectives and offered recommendations for improving the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. I found interesting the recommendation to have a Universal Periodic Review process where countries report back to the Forum regarding their implementation efforts. It was also suggested that indigenous groups and peoples be updated regarding resolutions that make mention of indigenous issues, particularly in regards to women.

Side-event hosted by the International Indigenous Women's Forum.

It was highlighted that FIMI, along with other institutions, is working to develop indicators to monitor the implementation of CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women). These indicators could be presented as questions addressed to governments. For example: "Is it right to say that laws, politics and actions exist to promote the loss of indigenous identity?" The representative from UNIFEM was very hopeful about the future as she shared the organization's experience in Ecuador, where UNIFEM advocates for justice in the context of both ancestral and modern practices. Issues such as violence against women cannot easily be dealt with in the sphere of ancestral justice so women are working hard to advocate that it address the issue of the rights of women. They have been very active in addressing the Ecuadorian Constitution and are demanding from the government to have access to non-indigenous law/justice.

Other panelists shared stories and about violence against indigenous women and children; others spoke of war as the cause of oppression among indigenous groups. In some regions of the world, militarization of countries is still visible today. In India, indigenous peoples have risen to resist and oppose this. This type of violence is one of the reasons that younger generations migrate to large centers such as New Delhi in search of a better life only to find violence that ultimately leads to disappointment, insecurity and sometimes death.

The message of the panelists was clear: the time for action is now. Children and youth should be given the opportunity of a quality education as they are the ones who will carry the culture forward and will need to strive to make the necessary changes in attitudes and behavior. The world has enough documents, declarations and Constitutions by which individuals can defend their rights. The time for action has come.

"All the worlds problems can be solved in a garden," said Geoff Lawton, director of the International Permaculture Research Institute, in his famous Greening the Desert video. While inspiring and invoking a sense of possibility and a more just and equitable future, I felt it was a bit too simplistic. How could the food, environmental and economic crises we face today on a global scale be addressed through such a simple thing as a garden?

The Urban Farm Tour side event of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development 17, took us to some inspiring places in Brooklyn where people are coming together to address the injustices and inequities in their communities through gardening. Our the fist stop on the tour, at the Brooklyn Rescue Mission (BRM), showed me how the simple act of gardening could help bring together a community, empower youth, create livelihood and improve nutrition and food security. Located in a low-income area of inner Brooklyn, the BRM is a small but growing oasis. And while the BRM community garden does not yet produce a lot of food, it none-the-less provides a valuable service to its community by providing fresh vegetables that would be otherwise unavailable.

The last community garden we visited, East New York Farms! does produce a considerable amount of fresh vegetables to be sold at their farmers market, even raising bees for honey and pollination. Yet despite their larger size and output they still cannot meet the demand for fresh food in their community. Both BRM and East New York Farms! support a farmers market in their area, a vital component to improving food security in their communities. The farmers markets are an important link in the rural to urban connection, not only increasing the amount of produce available to the host community but also strengthen the economic viability of rural farmers by enabling them to sell their produce in these otherwise inaccessible neighborhoods.

These farmers are not just food producers, they are cultivators of community. In New York, the once common vegetable garden has been replaced by parking lots and lawns, and while food production was an integral part of a community's social and physical makeup only a generation ago, the skills and practice of gardening and food preparation are disappearing. Community gardens play a vital role in improving food security and nutrition by reincorporating these fundamental skills into the populace. But perhaps more importantly, community gardens provide a space where capacities can be developed, youth can be empowered,  and communities can be cultivated.

In preparation for the CSD, the delegates from the BIC deepened on the subjects of agriculture and rural development in the Baha’i Writings, resulting in some truly inspiring thoughts and realizations. Abdul'l-Baha, the son of the Founder of the Bahai Faith, Baha'u'llah, states in Foundations of World Unity that "agriculture is the fundamental basis of community," yet it is also understood that the role of agriculture and the farmer in community is far greater than the mere production of food, which is in itself of great importance for our health and livelihood. Baha'u'llah says that "the farmer is the first active agent in human society" and is "the primary factor in the body politic." This redefines the farmer as the primary builder of the local economy, encompassing a wide range of tasks including environmental management, economic development, research, technology development and community building. To carry out these tasks effectively, farmers need to possess diverse capabilities, consisting of knowledge and skills coupled with values and attitudes, that enable them to become active agents in the cultivation and development of their communities. Thus the importance of agriculture and farmers should be clearly manifested in our social structures.

Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahai Faith and great-grandson of Baha'u'llah, wrote that, “We cannot segregate the human heart from the environment outside us and say that once one of these is reformed everything will be improved. Man is organic with the world. His inner life moulds the environment and is itself also deeply affected by it. The one acts upon the other and every abiding change in the life of man is the result of these mutual reactions.”

This process of development is therefore both internal and external, individual and societal. Baha'u'llah wrote: "In the rose garden of thy heart, plant naught but the rose of love." So perhaps solving the world's problems does start in a garden, the garden of the human heart.

Jeff

Canadian CSD delegates meet with Mr. Jamshed Merchant, Assistant Deputy Minister, PFRA & Environment Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

During the second week of the CSD, Canadian delegates were invited to meet with Mr. Jamshed Merchant, Assistant Deputy Minister, PFRA (Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration) & Environment Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. During the meeting, Mr. Merchant spoke openly and enthusiastically about the future of agriculture in Canada, answered questions, and sought input from delegates. The meeting was not only informative but thoroughly enjoyable as Mr. Merchant revealed a light-hearted nature and great sense of humor.

Finding affordable fresh and healthy food in New York can be difficult: there is a conspicuous shortage of “traditional” grocery stores. The food retail stores available in my NY neighborhood, for example, include corner store/delis (or “bodegas”), selling mostly over-priced, processed foods; fast food vendors; and one extremely expensive community co-op natural food store.

The food situation I have experienced in New York is not unique to my neighborhood. In fact, according to the NYC Department of City Planning, the city’s supermarket shortage affects 3 million New Yorkers—with those living in low-income neighborhoods most adversely affected [read more]. Of the 11,600 food retailers across New York City’s five boroughs, only 550 supply affordable, healthy food; 10,000 are bodegas; and 800 are pharmacies like Rite Aid and Walgreens.[1] So what does a New Yorker turn to for nutritional sustenance? For some, the answer is urban farming.

On Saturday, May 9^th, a group of CSD delegates ventured to Brooklyn to visit three community urban farming site. First on our agenda was Brooklyn Rescue Mission (BRM), a community-based project located in Bedford-Stuyvesant (Bed-Stuy) that is developing creative solutions around food justice, community health and economic challenges. BRM is a particularly important initiative in Bed-Stuy, where 35% of  residents live in poverty, 20% are unemployed, and “subprime foreclosures have more than doubled since 2005 at a rate more than four times the national average" [read more].

Many people in the community rely on emergency food assistance programs to meet their daily nutritional needs. BRM has been a long-time food pantry provider for community members. In 2005, recognizing the need for an empowering solution to end community hunger, it partnered with other New York City’s environmental and food justice organizations to transform an abandoned lot behind the Mission (which had served as a neighborhood garbage dump) into a space to grow fruits and vegetables for pantry recipients. Since its creation the site has evolved not only into an urban farm that has served several hundred people, but also into a space for community gatherings, community service and youth education.

Located in an area which lacks healthy food options (otherwise known as a "food desert") BRM endeavors to make urban farming a “starting point for a self-reliance movement, empowering neighborhood residents to take ownership of their own food supply, nutrition and neighborhood revitalization”.

 It also seeks to “build community pride, provide healthy provisions to its neediest residents, encourage youth entrepreneurship and develop a communal culture towards land use and community health through an innovative sustainable food system.” Reclaiming food systems is critical in an area like Bed-Stuy, where more than 1 in 4 children in Head Start programs and public elementary schools is obese; more than 4 in 10 children and 1 in 4 adults is overweight or obese; more than 1 in 4 adults is obese; and more than 6 in 10 adults are overweight or obese [read more]

At the farm

Upon arriving at the urban farm, CSD delegates were greeted and welcomed by BRM staff, which included three teenage farm interns who have worked at the farm for several years. The interns provided a brief history of the farm, explained what grows in the farm (e.g. collard greens, cucumbers, lettuce, green and red peppers, tomatoes and cabbage) and the ways in which the farm has impacted their community and their lives. One of the young people explained that the garden provides her with a place of solace and peace amidst a life that is often filled with negative distractions. Another young farmer explained how working at BRM has empowered him to make healthy nutritional decision and share his new-found knowledge with his family, while a third told our group that his farm experience has furthered his interest in biology and deepened his commitment to attend college. All three young farmers agreed that the farm had a positive impact on the community and has provided youth in the neighborhood an outlet for creative and constructive activity. One of the BRM organizers proudly told the CSD delegates “since beginning the farm project, not one of our male youth has been incarcerated and not one of our female youth has gotten pregnant”.

The foods produced from the farm are divided into two parts: food to be distributed to pantry recipients and goods to be sold at the local farmer’s market initiative, run by BRM. The Malcolm X. Blvd. Community Farmer’s Market, a small farm stand operated by the youth farmers, is open on Saturdays. In an attempt to make healthy food available to the neediest in the community, the prices of the food are low and food stamps are accepted. In addition to infusing the community with positive nutritional options, the Malcolm X. Blvd. Community Farmer’s Market also provides the young workers with valuable business skills and experience. The youth take pride in answering customers’ questions about the food that they have grown and have gained confidence from their involvement in this inter-generational community project.

This visit was truly inspiring. It was amazing to see a community that is facing numerous challenges, clearly identify a specific problem and then collectively mobilize to solve this problem, in an inclusive, empowering and effective manner. I really enjoyed speaking with one particular youth farmer and hearing how the garden has transformed her eating habits and her understanding of food systems; provided her with options that were not previously available; and enabled her to develop useful skills and self-confidence. Visiting BRM and the other urban farms on this tour exposed me to the concepts of “food (in)justice”—a pervasive yet hidden issue in so many communities and one that I was completely unaware of. I’m excited to learn more about these topics and to join a community farming initiative in my neighborhood.

[1] UFCW Local 1500’s Building Blocks Project Research from the Dept. of Agriculture and Markets Food Retail list.

Having lived and travelled in numerous countries around the world, Kiara Worth now lives in Durban, South Africa, where she uses theater to share knowledge with and empower local communities to act on the social and environmental issues facing them. After performing her one-woman play, "Theatre of Survival," at a CSD side-event last week, Kiara was invited to deliver a second performance for NGOs. Kiara's compelling play demonstrates how the challenges of climate change can be communicated through theatre. She takes on the character of an older African woman, a mad scientist and a bohemian dramatist who each present different approaches and solutions to climate change in South Africa.

Kiara comments:

"The creative arts, and theatre in particular, have the most extraordinary way of bringing people together despite their differences and discussing things at a deeper level than development communication. We need to focus on issues of spirituality, issues of emotions, and belief systems. We need to look at the person as a complete and holistic individual–not just as a physical creature that is engaged in economics, if we truly want to transform the injustices of the world."

I sat down with Kiara for a short interview in order to gain more insight into her creative and transformative work. The interview and a video of the 12-minute play can be viewed at: [Interview / Performance].

BIC’s ‘Learning Center’ workshop titled “Climate Ethics: Implications for the CSD-17 Thematic Cluster” was featured in the May 8^th issue of CSD’s daily publication, Outreach Issues. Outreach provides a wealth of information and reflection on CSD-related themes and is a must-read for delegates. BIC intern, Jeff Thimm’s article titled "Importance of Climate Ethics Animates Learning Center," appears on page 5 of the issue and discusses the speakers, themes, and interactive component (analyzing country-specific case studies) of the 3-hour event. This is the second year in a row that BIC has sponsored a Learning Center workshop. For video footage of the event,  click here.

The top 4 things I’ve learned from the first 4 days of CSD-17:

1. One-hour deadlines are the norm for drafting, revising and voting on Major Groups’ proposed text. This makes flexibility, effective communication and consultative skills a must!
2. “Sustainable development” is an extremely complex term with definitions and interpretations that vary drastically  depending on cultural, social, economic and other considerations.
3. The opportunities for  involvement at the CSD are endless: there are countless groups to join, text to (collectively) draft, meetings to attend, people to meet, workshops to participate in, important negotiation sessions to go to, documents to read, summaries to write, emails to send, blogs to post…the list goes on and on and on.    
4. The language of  UN documents is precise, meaningful and deliberately chosen. The Chair of the Women Major Group, for example, advised individuals to be wary of language such as “in accordance with national law”; “when appropriate”; “in accordance with traditional and religious beliefs”; and “in accordance with customary law”. These terms, which may appear harmless, can  have huge (and potentially negative) implications—especially for women.  Another  point: UN draft texts often consist of run-on sentences, incorrect English grammar and deliberate over-use of commas in order to avoid periods. English teachers worldwide would cringe! In the UN  world, ideas  introduced after a period are often disregarded by  parties negotiating the text; individuals, then, try to squeeze as much information into one (massive) sentence as possible. Finally, when proposing text to UN members for their consideration, it is important to use strong and firm language. Most often, the proposed language is edited—and weakened—during the negotiations.
    

 In short, being a delegate (especially a youth delegate) at the CSD is amazing!