1

September - December 2008

Volume 3, Issue 2

Ready to Act? Realising Sustainability through Collaboration

Dear WSC-SD members,

In the past few months the WSC-SD has grown

incredibly. Our voice covers so much of the

globe, and I am comforted by knowing that and

how I have a friend in sustainability no matter

where I go. I would like to extend a warm

welcome to all of our new members.

Welcome! I am overwhelmed by you all!

WSC-SD Fort Hare, South Africa

Students for Global Democracy of Uganda

Agathar Kamota, South Africa

Istiak Ahmed, Bangladesh

Lindsay Cray, USA

Songhee Park, South Korea

Georgina Smit, South Africa

Gladman Thondhlana, South Africa

Carlos Bacaimane, Mozambique

Agripa Munyai, South Africa

Urias Sunday Goll, Liberia

Mohan Kukret, India

Jose Leurino, Denmark

Cyril France, Ghana

Jarot Indarto, Netherlands

Tek Jung Mahat, Nepal

Rizwan Shamim, Bangladesh

Geoverty Sidel, Ecuador

Denise Margaret Matias, Philippines

Iwan Budhiarta, Indonesia

Hebalallah Mowafi, Saudi Arabia

Timo Uustal, Estonia

Jacob Veedfald, Denmark

Vuyokazi Lusanda Bangani, South Africa

Architesh Panda, India

Cheikh Mamina Diedhiou, Senegal

Salman Saeed, Pakistan

Kelechi Eleanya, Nigeria

Nooralluh Jan Ahmadzai, Korea

Supatra Marlairodsiri, Thailand

Varuzhan Sahakyan, Armenia

Jerilyn Terry, USA

Evi Maya Savira, South Korea

Irina Pleva, Netherlands

Emmanuel Osei Awuah, Ghana

I really appreciate all the contributions and

enjoy hearing about your work. You should

enjoy as well-- our members are up to some

impressive action.

Cheers-

-Kat

kat.potter@wscsd.org

Director of Internal Relations, WSC-SD

Co-President, Sustainability@MIT, USA

2

NEWSLETTER CONTENTS

SNIPPETS from the WSC-SD 3

UPDATES: 4

from SOUTH AFRICA: WSC-SD Fort Hare,

University of Fort Hare

from COLOMBIA: Adriana Valenzuela, Individual

Member

from NAIROBI: Students for Global

Sustainability, University of Nairobi, Kenya

from CAIRO: Quark Society, The American

University of Cairo

from CANADA: Regina Chapter of the WSC-SD,

University of Regina, Regina, Canada

from TOKYO: Alliance for Global Sustainability

University of Tokyo Students Community,

Japan

from USA: Sustainability@MIT, Cambridge, USA

from GHANA: Cyril France, Individual Member

from BANGLADESH: Istiak Ahmed, Individual

Member

OPPORTUNITIES 18

3

SNIPPETS: small pieces from the WSC-SD

_____________________________________

2009 Student Summit for Sustainability

www.wscsd.org/s3zurich/

January 25 - February 1, 2009

in Zurich (ETH) / Kreuzlingen, Switzerland

This year we have the wonderful opportunity to

jointly have the WSC-SD annual premeeting + S3

conference + AGS conference, hosted by ETH

and project21 the WSC-SD student community

in Zurich.

Registration for S3 is now closed as of

December 24th.

The WSC-SD premeeting will be attended by

representatives from our student communities

and a few individual members. As an attendee,

please be sure to complete all of the

premeeting preparatory materials. If you have

any questions about the premeeting, please

contact Jess, (jess.schulschenk@wscsd.org).

Themes this year will be sure to bring much

insight, collaboration, and sustainable progress.

A. AGS Urban Futures themes

<www.cces.ethz.ch/agsam2009/panels>

B. Over-arching AGS priority areas:

<www.cces.ethz.ch/agsam2009/panels/unis_sus>

C. Student Summit for Sustainability

<www.wscsd.org/s3zurich/call-for-papers-posters/>

_____________________________________

VISION e-Journal with oikos International

On February 2nd, after the close of S3, there will

be a post-meeting with our fellow student

community oikos International.

The WSC-SD and oikos International are

collaborating together to re-launch the VISION

e-Journal as a platform for students to publish

and access articles on a broad range of topics

under the theme of sustainable development.

This is a worthwhile opportunity for the WSC-SD

and oikos International to collaborate on a

project of mutual interest, and it is of great

importance that students have a platform to

publish their work as well as access information

and resources being produced by other

students.

A venue will be provided by the organising

committee of the summit, project21, in Zurich.

This will provide an opportunity for interested

persons to discuss and plan the way forward for

VISION.

Who should attend?

Any WSC-SD or oikos International member who

is interested in being part of the re-launch of

VISION. We are looking for a new editorial

board to take charge of VISION for the period

February 2009 – February 2010. Please confirm

with Jess Schulschenk that you would like to

attend this meeting, with a short motivation

highlighting your interest in the VISION

e-Journal. (jess.schulschenk@wscsd.org)

I can’t attend but am still interested, what

should I do?

We understand that not all members who are

interested in working on VISION will be able to

attend the meeting in Zurich in person. If you

4

are unable to attend but still interested, please

email Jess your thoughts for the journal as well

as how you would like to be involved and what

you are able to offer / commit to. Please ensure

that this email reaches Jess by no later than 15

January 2009.

For further information, please contact

Katharina Beck (beck@oikosinternational.org)

or Jess Schulschenk

(jess.schulschenk@wscsd.org).

_____________________________________

WSC-SD Website & Wiki

www.wscsd.org

wscsd.wik.is

Remember: Every SC and IM is *required* to

register their profile on the wiki. Please do

so!

The website and wiki platforms are beautifully

running and the only thing left is for us to now

use them! Please login to your wiki account

and edit your personal info, add projects and

resources.

Decorate the website! Please send Jess photos

of yourself or your SC taking action for

sustainability. (jess.schulschenk@wscsd.org)

Consider subscribing to the RSS feed for the

website to stay posted with news and feel free

to add your comments to the posts. Please

contact Ryu if you would like to contribute to

the website, share your ideas, or be interviewed

(ryu.yanagisawa@wscsd.org).

Sincere thanks for everyone who has

contributed their part to the wiki and website

thus far!!

And take advantage of the ‘Projects’ space and

‘Calls for Assistance’ to initiate collaborations

and overlaps with your international friends!

5

UPDATES

_______________________________________

from SOUTH AFRICA

WSC-SD Fort Hare, University of Fort Hare

The World Student Community for

Sustainable Development – Fort Hare (WSC-SD

Fort Hare) was launched on the 9th of October

2008. As a recently accepted partner of the

global body, we appreciate the support we have

received from the executive committee and

look forward to working with other

communities across the globe.

WSC-SD Fort Hare was launched at an

internal conference held at the University of

Fort Hare whose objective was to assimilate

perspectives on the conception of sustainable

development within the context of the South

Africa and Africa as a whole. A total of 63

participants attended the conference and a total

of 9 papers were presented. From the outcomes

of the conference, and in line with the context

of our university, the emerging themes were

inclined towards social and economic

development. The primary focus our

interventions will thus be aimed at improving

the conditions of disadvantaged communities,

particularly vulnerable and low income

communities such as those in rural

communities.

(14 of the 21) Members of WSCSD Fort Hare

After the Conference

Since our launch event, WSC-SD Fort hare

has been involved in a project to improve the

learning conditions of disabled students at a

community based centre in our community. This

centre is resource constrained and requires

assistance in identification of relevant skills to

be taught to these students and the

development of the curriculum to be taught to

these students. To this end, the WSC-SD Fort

Hare team has been undertaking a resource

audit of what is available at the centre and an

analysis of the exact needs of the centre.

Students at the Centre During one of our Visits

We are in the process of developing

modules for training soft skills and

entrepreneurship skills for these students. We

are also keen on working on proposals to raise

funds / opportunities for acquisition of basic

infrastructure and computers to expose these

students modern learning tools that can

enhance their learning experience.

Our forthcoming projects for 2009 include

assisting emerging entrepreneurs with basic

business management and financial skills.

6

_______________________________________

from COLOMBIA

Adriana Valenzuela, Individual Member

From 16th to 19th October in Bogotá –

Colombia, was gathered young leaders,

governmental institutions, and international

agencies of cooperation in the “VII

Latin-American Encounter of Youth for the

Environment and Sustainable Development”,

organized by Corporación Grupo Tayrona under

the central topic “Actions against Climate

Change”

The meeting reaches the issues of economical,

environmental and social impacts of Climate

Change, adaptation and mitigation

measurements, public politic and participation,

education and communication for sustainability,

as well as the role that youth play like agents of

change and social transformation. This event

counted with participation of delegations from

Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panamá,

Dominican Republic and United States and

established the Bogotá’s declaration that among

its main agreements are:

1. Creation the first World Student

Community in Colombia, by the name

“Jóvenes por el Planeta, of Corporacion

Grupo Tayrona this are integrated by

student from different universities. This

is the first World Student Community in

LATINAMERICA.

2. Creation of the Latin-American Alliance

of Youth for Environment, ALMA, this

will be a regional platform to promote

the cooperation and participation of

youth in environment and

sustainability.

3. Realization of a Regional campaign

simultaneous on 5 of July called

“Latin-American Campaign of

Reforestation” to combat Climate

Change and to carry out environmental

educative process that contribute to

the cultural transformation towards a

sustainable.

4. Rotating of the place of the

Latin-American and Caribbean

Encounter of Youth for the

Environment and Sustainable

Development in Latin-American and

Caribbean countries to promote youth

participation, being Dominican Republic

the venue of the next Encounter in

2009.

Adriana Valenzuela, founder and regional

director of World Student Community says “the

work we are developing to promote the

capacity building, empowerment and active

participation of youth in environmental topics,

are a contribution in the construction of a

Latin-America more equitable and sustainable in

which solidarity and cooperation between of

nations will be the basis for a different future”

7

_______________________________________

from NAIROBI

SfGS-UoN, University of Nairobi, Kenya

As we conclude the year 2008, we thank the

almighty God who has led us this far. To us, just

like other Kenyans, the year begin on a very sad

note. Nevertheless, SfGS-UoN has risen above

the animosity and tribalism that was planted in

many people’s hearts, through the post election

violence, to forge healthy and friendly working

relations among its members. A number of our

members come from the major tribes which

were involved in the previous conflict: Luos,

Kalenjins and Kikuyus.

September – December 2008 Activities:

This was the shortest part of SfGS’ calendar.

Having only seven weeks (21/10/2008 –

11/12/2008), we could not realize many

projects. However, we can report the following

initiatives:

1. SfGS-UoN Partnership:

Through the help of Mr. Philip Osano (of the

world Y.E.S Forum) Mr. Otieno visited UNEP’s

Environmental Education and Training office in

Nairobi (on 12/09/2008) and acquired some of

their publications for the purpose of stocking

SfGS-UoN’s database. UNEP offered to work

with SfGS-UoN continuously. They have offered

to delegate resource persons to SfGS-UoN

organized workshop on sustainability between

January to March 2009. SfGS-UoN’s executive

committee is currently liaising with UNEP to

organize an exhibition of Green companies in

Nairobi to link the students with the co-operate

world, especially in the context of sustainable

production. Discussions on these initiatives will

continue in 2009.

2. Tree Planting Initiative:

Through the GreenEarth Club we had 1000

seedlings planted at Upper Hill Secondary

School. Even though the seedlings had been

earmarked for planting at the University of

Nairobi, they were transferred to Upper Hill

School because most members of SfGS-UoN

were on an end of academic year vacation

(August – Mid October) yet the seedlings were

overgrowing. This exercise marked the launch of

collaborations between the GreenEarth Club

and local high schools. Through such initiatives,

SfGS-UoN hopes to mentor the students to grow

as environmentally conscious leaders.

In an effort to find more partners to support the

Greenearth Club, Mr. Nickson Otieno got an

opportunity to talk to the Director of Green

Africa Foundation. The foundation has donated

1000 seedlings to SfGS-UoN for planting at the

University of Nairobi at the beginning of next

year (2009). We are still looking forward to

receiving more seedlings from the foundation in

the future. To realize this, we requested the

University of Nairobi to assist us transport the

seedlings from the foundation’s nursery (in

Kitui) and assign caretakers to maintain the

trees after planting. We are still waiting for

response. The foundation has also welcomed

SfGS-UoN members for a field visit to their

chemistry laboratory (producing biofuel from

jatropha seeds).

3. Members meeting:

SfGS-UoN held members meeting on

30/11/2008. This was a crucial meeting in the

history of the group, held just after the

graduation of four executive committee

members. Members reviewed the groups’

annual activities and discussed potential

projects for the year 2009. New members were

also encouraged to be actively involved in the

group’s day-to-day initiatives.

4. WSCSD’s African Initiative

We are glad to be part of the World Student

Community for Sustainable Development’s

African Project Team. The project comprises

African SC leaders and IMs working under the

able leadership of Christopher Hedvall,

8

European Regional Director. This project,

though still at its conceptual stage, presents a

great opportunity for SfGS-UoN’s engagement.

5. International conferences:

SfGS-UoN is greatly privileged to be represented

in the 2009 WSCSD’s AGM and the Students

Summit for Sustainability holding in Zurich

between 23rd

January and 1st

February 2009. We

take this chance to thank WSCSD and AGS for

sponsoring Mr. Nickson Otieno and Miss Sylvia

Essendi’s participation at the meeting and the

summit.

SfGS-UoN’s Pledge:

We would like to pass our sincere thanks for all

who have supported SfGS-UoN’s activities in

one way or another.

We still invite partners, individual and

cooperate sponsors to support SfGS-UoN as we

strive to achieve our goals. We are still faced

with the challenge of mobilizing financial

resources to carry out our activities. An example

is our major initiative, the GreenEarth Club, that

lacks petty cash for transportation of seedlings

from donor nurseries to planting sites.

We are looking forward to working more closely

with our partners, well wishers, and sponsors

to-be in the New Year of action (2009).

THANK YOU ALL! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND

PROSPEROUS 2009!

-Otieno Nickson Otieno, President SfGS-UoN

_______________________________________

from CAIRO

Quark Society

The American University of Cairo, Egypt

During the past few months Quark has

witnessed various achievements in different

categories, but to highlight the most important

ones, we could mention our scientific campaign,

projects, extending to Cairo University, and

finally launching our website

Recovery and Purification of Methane Gas:

Recently we had a group of graduating seniors

who are working under the umbrella of the

Quark on the Recovery and Purification of

Methane gas with innovative techniques.

If any body is interested in contributing,

co-operation, or supporting this project, contact

directly the project co-ordinate, Amer Yehia,

(aamerbebo@hotmail.com)

Scientific Awareness Campaign (Physics):

During the last semester AUC Physics Professor

Karim Addas conducted a few scientific lectures.

In these five lectures Professor Addas tried to

explain the basic and deep theory of the

relatively new physics branch called Quantum

Electro Dynamics (QED). The students, along

with three physics professors watched together

video lectures of the late Dr Richard Feynman,

the author of the Noble winning prize theory of

QED. Both the Professors and the Students

engaged in critical arguments over the highly

controversial new theory and gained valuable

insights on the matter.

Extending to Cairo University:

Cairo University is the biggest and the oldest

university in Egypt and due to the good

spreading reputation of the Quark. There has

been a large demand on open recruitment in

Cairo University and finally we have done that,

so wait for news about our many new upcoming

projects and may be opening another branch for

Quark there.

Quark Website:

We have finally been able to launch our website

and Quark toolbar to be able to follow to spread

out the word about our projects and

achievements. You could visit our website on:

http://clubs.aucegypt.edu/quark

9

_______________________________________

from CANADA

Regina Chapter of the WSC-SD

University of Regina, Canada

Compliments of the season!

We are in the process of exploring the creation

of a provincial wide initiative in Saskatchewan

that will focus on sustainable development

issues that are crucial to the province. We have

been holding meetings and brainstorming

sessions, and have initiated a study to better

understand what value such a new organization

may potentially bring to Saskatchewan if it

comes into existence. The last brainstorming

session took place at the end of November and

the study was initiated at that time. A first draft

report is expected by January 15. In the

meantime, the University of Regina has just

completed its finals (exams) and is currently on

holidays. Our activities begin again in January.

Here's wishing you a Merry Christmas and the

very best in the New Year!

Warm regards,

Nnaemeka

_______________________________________

from TOKYO

sus+

Alliance for Global Sustainability University of

Tokyo Students Community, Japan

[World Happiness Festival]

WSC-SD made “World Happiness” Happier!!

During summer, there are tons of music festivals

in Tokyo. This year, a SPECIAL music festival was

held in Yume no shima (Dream Land), Tokyo.

“World Happiness” was special because it’s got

a big message that, “We should think, talk and

dream about World Happiness with a greatest

music!”

In this festival, members of WSC-SD in Tokyo,

include students in University of Tokyo and its

alumni, guided by Sanae Ohshiro, opened the

exhibition selling “Sustainable Coffee”,

demonstrating “Uchimizu”* and showing

pictures from WSC-SD members. (Pictures are

the ones shown in SSS2008, Regina, Canada.)

It was a great success. Hope you come and visit

Japan during the next Music festival season!!

*“Uchimizu” is Japanese old custom, to pour

water on the ground to cool down during

summer.

-Ayumi Arakawa, Sus-Plus, AGS University of

Tokyo Student Community

Pic.1 Sanae Ohshiro (Right) demonstrated

“Uchimizu”.

Pic.2 Can you see the logo of World Happiness?

10

Pic.3 Pictures from SSS2008 was shown.

Pic.4 Organizers. (Right to left: Sanae Ohshiro,

Yuri Koike and Ayumi Arakawa)

[AGS meeting presentation]

We gave the presentation about SUS+'s 2008

activities to professors of AGS the University of

Tokyo. Professors gave us the frank questions

and comments about our activities, and after

that, we interacted with them more frankly in

the party. We think such a opportunity is

important to make our community governance

and finance sustainable. Maybe this opportunity

made professors' feeling about our activities

better. (Takanori Tomozawa)

[Energy Working Group]

Energy Working Group (g-Enesis) started to

collaborate with Student Environment Energy

Forum(STEP),which is consisted of

undergraduate students, Department of

systems innovation,environment & energy

course. They are trying to organize an energy

forum with other Japanese universities' student

study groups,is being planned in Tokyo next

year. We join their meeting as advisers, to share

our knowledge and skills.

(Kazunori Iritani)

[Climate Change Working Group]

Four members of CCWG were fortunate to

participate in COP14/CMP4 held in Poznan as

observers. Each member has 2 topics, one is

from each background (topics about

deforestation, negotiations between USA and

China, adaptation and the role of IPCC) and

another is focused together on the future

framework of climate change as their common

topic. During negotiations they analyzed true

meanings behind statements utilizing their own

expertise and sharing the results among them.

After returning from Poznan, the members held

a presentation reporting happenings and

decisions which came out of COP14 along with

their own interpretation of negotiations and

interviews. This naturally led to discussion over

global issues and international negotiations for

climate change among the UTSC members,

through expressing each interesting point of

view. (Yasuaki Kanbe)

[Education Working Group]

SusEdu (Sustainablity Education Working

Group)'s annual aim is to research educational

programs for sustainability education and hold

workshops on them. We have 2 story we would

like to share with WSC-SD members. One is

about DEAR and the other is Learning Theatre.

DEAR(Development Education Association &

Resource Center) is network organization that

promotes sustainable development through

education. On August 23rd

and 24th

, DEAR

Annual meeting was held in Tokyo. Three

members from SusEdu took part in this

conference. As debriefing Session, SusEdu held

workshop "Global Classroom" which was

11

presented in DEAR. 15 people participated and

discussed how they feel about taking action for

sustainability. The other story is about Learning

Theatre. Since many social movies, like "An

Inconvenient Truth" "The 11th hour", are

delivered world-wide, it is great chance to

watch those movies with people who don't have

much concern for sustainability. Not only

watching the movie, but sharing

feelings after that together deepen our

knowledge and concern for sustainability.

SusEdu starts project "Learning Theatre”

that consists of movie session and café-talk

session. University of Tokyo holds student

project contest every year. We entried the

application of Learning Theatre to this contest

and had chosen to be one of the finalists.

Although it was not chosen, we are willing to

organize it to spread consciousness for

sustainability. (Ryu Yanagisawa)

_______________________________________

from USA

Sustainability@MIT

MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA

This summer 2008, Students for Global

Sustainability at MIT joined forces with other

sustainability-focused student groups Share A

Vital Earth, the MIT Generator, S*, and the

Sustainability@Sloan Speaker Series to form

Sustainability@MIT, a larger group dedicated to

environmental sustainability. We now boast 800

members!! With more students involved and

stronger connections to faculty and

administration, Sustainability@MIT will more

efficiently promote green practices and policies

on campus and beyond. We have the

manpower so that we are simultaneously

pursuing endeavors related to campus greening,

community activism, curriculum development,

green jobs, MIT events, media outreach, and

more!

The MIT Generator

This movement exists to unite and catalyze

student groups working on local energy,

environment, and sustainability projects with a

campus focus. In October Sus@MIT held the

first “Generator” of the year where students

pitch sustainability ideas and form groups for

actual realization of the successful ideas.

Projects from last year gained more support,

and a few new ideas were sparked! For more

about the MIT Generator see:

http://sustainability.mit.edu/Generator

Business As UnUsual

Sus@MIT hosted a series of collaborative art

events with artist Cindy Snodgrass to better

understand how climate unites us all as

members of the same amazing earth system

with a responsibility to conserve earth's

resources for balanced living. During the MIT

Family Weekend event and two subsequent

workshops, staff, students, siblings and parents

contributed to a collaged map of the world

depicting the predicted impact of climate

change on agricultural yields. They also used

wood block stamps to print onto prayer flags,

12

reused t-shirts, and recycled burlap and other

reusable grocery bags. The prayer flags created

at MIT were incorporated into a growing wind

fabric sculpture: “Wings and Prayers: Blessings

for Water and Food,” which went up outside of

the student center on both weekends during

the event series. Inside, at the Weisner

Gallery, the collage map, t-shirts, and bags went

up for a month-long installation. Together, we

imagined, nurtured, and created "substantial"

art experience.

http://sustainability.mit.edu/BAU2

The artwork is now displayed in a storefront

display case on Massachusetts Ave- the main

street in Cambridge!

Zero Waste Event Info Session & Party

After several successful “Zero Waste” events in

the past Sus@MIT has now instilled this

principle of minimizing environmental impact

into all of our activities, and this semester we

decided to share our knowledge and experience

to influence other events on campus to make

them less wasteful. Key event organizers,

staff, department and student leaders attended

this zero waste event which consisted of two

parts: the first educated groups about how to

make their events have less environmental

harm (with ease!), and the second

demonstrated and celebrated the success of this

goal by having a zero waste party ourselves.

Information about food caterers, event

advertising, food waste, and resources that

Sustainability@MIT can offer were presented.

Attendees were very enthusiastic in trying new

things to minimize waste with the many, many

meetings, events, and conferences that they

organize on campus!

http://www.appropedia.org/MIT_ZeroWasteEv

ent_PlanningGuide_Wiki

FreeMeet III and IV

Given the *huge* success of our FreeMeets last

year and many inquiries into more, Sus@MIT

hosted FreeMeets at the beginning of the

semester and another near Thanksgiving. The

idea of this event is simple: Bring stuff to get

rid of, take stuff for free. The event itself was

simple too: we just needed a large room

space, big paper to label the various categories

of stuff, and a team of Sus@MIT members

working on shifts throughout the day-long

event. Our target for the event was to

promote reuse of goods, reduce waste and

sending things to the landfill, and reduce

unnecessary consumption of new goods.

Likely there were more than 350 people who

came by!

Leftover items at the end were donated and

very little “junk” had to be begrudgingly thrown

away!

Looking ahead

Sustainability@MIT has a strong new executive

council that has aims to bring our sustainability

work to the forefront of MIT’s agenda and

beyond the MIT campus to do some true

“community service.” Already in the works is

organization of MIT’s first Sustainability

Symposium: MIT and the Transition to a

Sustainable Economy (April 16-18, 2009).

Sustainability@MIT and others are organizing

13

the 2009 Sustainability Symposium to engage

the MIT community and its supporters in a

discussion on the Institute's current research,

teaching, and service. We will be bringing

world-class leaders in research and industry to

campus to help guide a discussion on what MIT

is and should be doing to speed the transition to

a sustainable economy.

_______________________________________

from GHANA

Cyril France, Individual Member

World Urban Forum

The World Urban Forum is held biannually, the

Forum is the world’s premier conference on

cities and the problems they face in a world that

is urbanizing faster than at any other time in

history. As in Vancouver and Barcelona, youth

leaders from across the world had an

opportunity to witness the brain trust, dialogue

filled, and educative World Urban Youth Forum

(WUYF). The third biennial session of the WUYF

was held on the eve of the Forth session of the

World Urban Forum (WUF) at the Nanjing

International Expo Centre in Nanjing, China,

approximately 500 youth delegates from over

50 countries congregated to deliberate and

discuss issues on the theme, “Harmonious

Urbanization: The Challenge of Balanced

Territorial Development.” The 2-day conference

was hosted by the Nanjing Municipal

Committee of the Chinese Communist Party

Youth League.

At the opening ceremony of the forum

dignitaries and leaders in urbanization affirmed

their commitment to fostering youth-led

development. Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, The

Executive Director of UN-HABITAT, as noted in

her profound statement, Mrs. Tibaijuka said

“now is the dawn of a new urban era,” with half

of the world’s population already living in towns

and cities, and a projected increase to two-

thirds, by the year 2030. She was quick to

emphasize that the only way to meet the

challenge of urbanization was through

unadulterated dialogues among young people.

She acknowledged that innovation and

creativity are traits of youth/young people, and

that this is a key for overcoming the challenges

of urbanization and poverty.

Joaquim Chissano former President of

Mozambique, and also UN-HABITAT’s Youth

Ambassador, expressed his passionate quest

that in his role he was searching for leadership

and guidance from youth to judiciously

implement his duty to the outmost best.

A member of the Standing Committee of

the Nanjing Municipality, Ms. Xu Huiling in a

welcome statement, wished all youth delegates

from home and abroad productive dialogues

and future collaboration.

Mr. Per Nygaard, Assistant Director

General of the Ministry of Local Government

and Regional Development, Norway, in his

presentation, he outlined some of Norway’s

commitments to the development of youth.

Additionally, he made remarks in relation with

14

Norway’s contribution to the new UN-HABITAT

Opportunities Fund for Urban Youth-Led

Development. Mr. Nygaard stated that Norway

had reached its commitment to a development

assistance target of 1% of GDP.

The youth forum gave young delegates of

global grassroots and youth-led initiatives an

opportunity to engage with experts from the

public and private sectors, Aid and development

agencies, on ways youth could address urban

challenges and issues such as engendering Child

and Youth-friendly Cities, Harmonious

Urbanization: The Youth perspective, Youth as

Peace Builders: Building Bridges, Climate

Change and the City: Harmonizing action for the

Environment, amongst others. Notably,

frontward sentiments form young delegates

throughout most sessions was geared towards

efficient, effective and greater inclusion of

young people as partners in the development of

policies and creation of youth-friendly urban

cities. Additionally, delegates reiterated the

imperative role local authorities do play in

engendering involvement of young people in

the advancement of youth-led initiatives and

development.

Being a Rapporteur for the WUYF was quite

a challenging and unique learning experience,

especially having to report on the Session 13 –

“Youth Participation Urban Development – The

Chinese Experience”, though stimulating it also

triggered diverse opinions from delegates. This

session served as a platform for both Chinese

and other international delegates to share

experiences and to learn more about Chinese

youth participation and urban development.

The common consensus reached from the

session attendees was that urban development

does not only signify the place where people

reside, but also represents the concept of a

“market” for daily transactions and improving

the core essence of a harmonious culture both

within and outside a nations scope of operation.

Delegates also avowed that economic growth

brings about urban development because

without economic growth, it makes it very

difficult for nations to develop their urban cities,

hence making economic growth an antidote to

urban development. The intent of every urban

development should be for the development of

people. Sustainability must be a benchmark in

addressing youth and urban development.

Observably, session 2 (“Youth as Peace

Builders: building Bridges”) was very intriguing

as innovative, youth-led initiatives and

programs were presented, focusing on the role

of young people/youth as agents for peace

building, conflict prevention and transformation

at local, national, and international levels.

During the session, youth delegates shared

some ideas and workable actions towards peace

building from their own experiences.

In 2007 during the 21 session of the

Governing Council that oversees the work

program, and budget of UN-HABITAT, member

countries passed a resolution for the setting up

15

of a special fund to help young people living in

poverty. This led to the conception of the

Opportunities Youth Fund, discerning messages

from some dignitaries and selected youth

delegates preceded the formal launch of the

Youth Fund. The Opportunities Fund for urban

youth-led development is designed to improve

understanding, and lead to more effective ways

of involving young people in sustainable urban

development. The fund seeks to facilitate

achievement of the Millennium Development

Goals and their youth-related targets. It will also

be used to strengthen youth-related policies,

help governments, civil society organizations,

private sector, and address youth concerns, and

support new information and learning channels

for young people. The Fund is keen to ensuring

that gender concerns are incorporated into all

policies. In other to foster cooperation the

Opportunities Fund will be managed by a

committee of experts drawn from UN-HBITAT,

donor governments and youth representatives.

A noteworthy sphere of the forum was

the Youth Roundtable and Launching of the

Youth Advisory Board. Intensive dialogues

categorized the Youth Roundtable jointly hosted

by UN-HABITAT and the Government of Norway,

the cordial working ambiance propelled youth

delegates to discuss how the new Opportunities

Fund for Urban Youth-Led Development can be

used to help young people. During the

Launching of the Youth Advisory Board it was

noted that harmonious urbanization requires a

process in which both youth and policy makers

interact with each other thereby enhancing

cooperation.

Categorically, the World Urban Youth

Forum was not just interesting and educative

but also mindboggling coupled with splendid

organization of events and activities. I feel

privileged to have been able to witness such an

experience.

_______________________________________

from BANGLADESH

Istiak Ahmed, Individual Member

We recently formed a team and organized a

workshop regarding Sustainable Development

issues in Bangladesh. It has come to end with a

great success. We received a good feedback,

which inspired us to move on forward. We have

decided to make project for this. Project

proposal already been sent to the Asian

Co-Ordination.

Background:

In Bangladesh our education system is not

enough to build awareness and make the

students conscious and effective regarding

sustainable development issues. Even on

completion of the graduation course a student

gain inadequate knowledge and ability to work

for sustainable development issues both in his

professional carrier and his social life. As a result

in every sector (government and private)

sustainable development issues does not effect

or has less important matter in countries

development strategy and planning. In order to

improve this situation advanced and concerned

students like WSC-SD Members should come

forward. Experience shows that those students

are concerned on these issues can take effective

role in the society. From this point of view we

would like to introduce a research and training

project together with implementation strategy

in every possible aspect.

16

The project:

Include organize workshop and training

regarding environment, nature, global warming,

pollution, biodiversity, social work and carrier

development issues for the students.

Objectives:

• Involvement of students in decision-making

process.

• Encourage them to approach local

government

• Works for international institution being

member of the organizations of the related

to issues mentioned above.

• Working for awareness building by the

students in the society.

• Prepare them and assist them for the

international course and training

programme.

Date, Venue and time:

19 December 2008 at a party center in Sylhet

district, a city located eastern part of the

country. A daylong workshop from morning

10.30 am to evening 4.30 pm.

About participant:

80 (eighty) Selected College and University

Students from different university and colleges

of the country from different background

attended this workshop. The number of college

and university were 14 took part this workshop.

Both female and male students were present.

However in spite of our great effort we could

not make a balance between the mail and

female. I think Female students are not so

interested. Male students were majority.

About team members:

We were eight lecturers, seven co-team

members, one official photographer works as

voluntary basis. Without their voluntary effort

it I may not possible for me to do so. One official

Video camera man and three technical

assistances (projector, operator etc) actively

work for this workshop.

About Sponsor:

We managed an official sponsor to provide

logistic support i.e. technical cost,

accommodation cost (food and Hall room fair),

Digital banner cost, photocopies cost, students

communication cost etc, for this whole

workshop. As I have already mentioned that our

team members including lecturers works for this

workshop voluntarily. Our official sponsor lives

in UK but born in Bangladesh. At present he is

visiting Bangladesh. Next week he will go back

to UK.

About Lectures:

1) Introductory lecture on presentation, rules

and regulation of the Workshop: Under this

heading one of the speakers inform to the

participants about rules and regulation,

selection criteria, what to do what should not

do during the workshop, manner and etiquette

etc.

2) Introduction on United Nations: In this

lecture we discussed about UN and its organs,

major functions, committees, history of UN and

its head quarter, background and institution of

the UN, source of money of the UN etc.

3) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): In

this are we discussed MDGs and its target,

national and international achievement, role of

NGOs (Positive and negative) etc.

4) Environment and Climate change: In this

topic we focused on local, national and global

environmental and climate change issues,

definition of environment, nature and climate,

cause of environmental pollution and climate

change, How to promote environmental

awareness, local and international major

environment pollution issues and role of

administration, students etc.

5) Role of Students National and International

Perspective: In this topic we highlighted

students activities in national and international

17

level, differences of education method in

different country, how a student take a vital role

in all level national and international.

6) Social Work role of youth and students: In

this area we highlighted social activities and its

history in local, national and international

perspective, teamwork, co-operation,

achievement, etc. Moreover we highlighted the

role of youth and students for building evil and

civilized society.

We also provides few assignment during the

lectures i.e. group painting in particular topics

and presentation, question and answer, brain

storming, taking opinion in particular area etc.

All lectures delivered through power point

presentation with relevant pictures, data etc

through projector in a giant skin.

About selection process:

During the lecture: we carefully consider

attentiveness, active role, question,

presentation, concentration, discipline etc.

After the Lecture: We decided to take interview.

We have finished interview of all participant. It

was started 20 December and finished on 29th

December. We took interview one by one. From

this interview we are taking decision will be

going to our project members.

18

OPPORTUNITIES

_____________________________________

International Student Energy Summit

Registration for the International Student

Energy Summit is now open. Take part in one of

the largest student gatherings for sustainable

energy in the world today. From June 11-13 of

2009, ISES will bring together 500

post-secondary students from across the globe

to Calgary, Alberta, Canada – one of the fastest

growing energy centers in the world. As an

ISES student delegate you will have the

opportunity to learn and network with industry

experts and global thought leaders.

Topics will include:

*Finance, Regulation and Sustainability;

*Global Energy Cooperation; and

*Technology and Innovation.

Register early and win back your

registration. Not only will you save $100.00 off

your registration fee, if you register before the

Early bird deadline of February 28, 2009, your

name will be entered into a draw for a chance

to win back $595 registration fee.

Join hundreds of passionate students from

around the world in learning about, and helping

to shape the future of energy.

http://www.studentenergy.org

We would like to thank you for your time and

consideration, and look forward to hearing from

you.

Regards,

Crystal Li

Student Association Partnership Team

International Student Energy Summit

studentpartnerships@studentenergy.org

____________________________________

Consilience: The Journal of Sustainable

Development

The Editorial Board of Consilience: The Journal

of Sustainable Development invites both

undergraduate and graduate students to

contribute to the journal. The first issue of

Consilience was published online in February

2008, and we are pleased to announce that the

next issue is due to be published November

2008. We accept submissions in English only,

but offer help to those for whom English is not

their first language.

Consilience: The Journal of Sustainable

Development is the first student-founded

academic journal of sustainable development

and is based at Columbia University in the City

of New York. The aim of Consilience is to

juxtapose different disciplinary approaches of

students worldwide to confront the challenges

of sustainable development.

Thank you for your consideration and I welcome

you to visit www.consiliencejournal.org to view

our first issue. Please do not hesitate to

contact me at hsl2103@columbia.edu or

another member of the editorial board at

contact@consiliencejournal.org with questions

regarding the submission process and

Consilience.

With regards,

Hannah Lee

Editor-In-Chief

Consilience: The Journal of Sustainable

Development

con·sil·i·ence (noun): The joining together of

knowledge and information across disciplines to

create a unified framework of understanding.

19

FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES, NEWS, and INFORMATION GO TO OUR WEBSITE:

www.wscsd.org

& COMMUNITY WIKI PAGE:

wscsd.wik.is