Job Description

The Global Youth Action Network (GYAN) is looking for young people who enjoy writing and keep up to date on current issues for a volunteer blogging position. GYAN is a network of youth organizations, and strives to connect young people around the world and provide them with the tools and resources they need to enact change locally, nationally, or globally. GYAN also has special consultative status with the United Nation’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and accordingly works to increase youth participation in the United Nations.

To this end, the staff and interns at GYAN regularly attend briefings, meetings and conferences at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and write about them in our online blog. GYAN is now looking for a dynamic, motivated and knowledgeable young person to write in our blog about issues that affect young people in their local communities, and what is being done by and for youth. The blog is available at http://www.tigblog.org/group/unreports.

Blogger Responsibilities:

- Write one blog per month minimum about one of the topics detailed below
- This position will last for 6 months; during this time you must write 6 blogs
- Work to publicize the blog in your local or national community, and urge more young people to read and comment on the entries

Blog topics:

Currently, our blog focuses on issues and events taking place at the UN. Your blog must relate to one of the following topics:

1. Write about the UN’s presence in your local area. Feel free to choose a specific policy or program to analyze. Are there any helpful programs that the UN is implementing in your local community? What do people think about the UN’s efforts? Give your opinion on the policies of the UN, and whether you can see their effect in your local area. Are their efforts working? Check out the UN News Centre to keep up to date on issues, and to find ideas to blog about: http://www.un.org/News/


2. Discuss critical issues facing young people in your community, and what young people can do about them. Discuss a problem and offer a solution.


3. Highlight some of the positive contribution of youth. What are young people in your area already doing to help others and to enact change?


4. Read and respond to previous blogs written by GYAN staff and interns regarding UN programs, events, and policies. Are those measures actually being implemented? Is anything happening on the ground, and are UN policies creating tangible change? Is there a difference between what the UN is saying, and what is actually getting done? Post your responses and observations in the blog.


5. Write about how young people can increase their voices and participation in the UN, and what young people can do to get involved and make a difference in their communities. What opportunities do you see for young people in your area, whether within the UN system or outside of it? Discuss any opportunities you find out about – e.g. fellowships, programs, conferences, workshops, etc.

Skills & Requirements

- Basic knowledge of United Nations activities and policies
- Interest in social justice issues and in learning more about the UN
- Strong writing skills
- Fluent in English, Spanish or French
- Knowledge of youth opportunities locally and nationally
- Previous experience or involvement in working with youth, or working to make a difference in your community is helpful

Application

E-mail us: 1 previous writing sample of your choice, and a brief essay stating your interest in the UN system. Please send us this material by the application deadline of September 15, 2008. E-mail all application materials to gyan@youthlink.org.

Youth Employment and climate change; time for action

Report By: Kwame Frempong, GYAN Ghana National Coordinator

August 12, 2008 has been set aside by the UN General Assembly as International Youth Day. The UN General Assembly recommended that public information activities should be organized to support the Day as a way to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and beyond. The theme set aside for this year is “Youth and Climate Change; take action.”

Climate change is any long-term significant change in the “average weather” that a given region experiences. Average weather may include average temperature, precipitation and wind patterns. It involves changes in the variability or average state of the atmosphere over durations ranging from decades to millions of years. These changes can be caused by dynamic processes on earth, external forces including variations in sunlight intensity, and more recently by human activities.

Most of the global warming over the last 50 years has been caused by human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels that release carbon dioxide - a greenhouse gas that traps the sun’s heat and warms the earth. Greenhouse gases occur naturally in our atmosphere, and without them the Earth would be too cold for life to exist. However, greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are the main contributors to climate change (99%). The gases allow solar radiation (heat) to pass through the atmosphere but after it is absorbed and re-radiated by the earth, the gases prevent this heat from escaping back into space. Under natural circumstances this is what makes the earth warm enough to support life.

But over the past few decades, climate change has brought about extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, storms and heat waves. These dramatic changes have also caused sea levels to rise, threatened wildlife, reduced the amount of safe drinking water and increased the spread of disease. These extreme weather conditions are far from natural. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, when humans began burning fossil fuels (petrol) on an unprecedented scale, greenhouse gases have steadily been piling up in the atmosphere.

Many of these gases last longer than a century. As a result, current carbon dioxide concentrations are now far above any level in the past 650,000 years. Global emissions of green house gases have increased by 70% between 1970 and 2004. The result is that more and more heat is being trapped in our atmosphere, leading to an “enhanced green house effect”. The world is warming very fast with global temperatures rising by 0.75 degree Celsius since 1850. The rate of warming for the past years 50 years double that for the past century.

Youth Employment Partnership must benefit environment and help fight climate change

Though climate change is largely due to human activities in the developed world, its impact is strongly felt in developing countries. In Ghana, climate change has not attracted enough attention even though it has been suggested that climate change is the most serious threat facing humanity. But climate change and youth employment have generally attracted much global attention in recent years. Both are serious challenges to the future health and prosperity of Ghana, and are issues which require urgent attention. We cannot take care of one without addressing the other. The ill effects of climate change and poverty require taking comprehensive action that encompasses both issues. We cannot fight climate change without considering the need for decent and well paid jobs for our youth, nor can we effectively address the youth unemployment challenges without accounting for the impacts of climate change on agriculture, disease patterns, and violent weather events, all of which particularly impact developing countries like Ghana.

This year’s theme for the world youth day: “Youth and Climate Change; take action” sets the tone for renewed efforts to solve the challenge of climate change with strategic action. The question to ask is what actions can be taken to solve climate change and unemployment at the same time.

To lessen the negative effects of greenhouse gases, we must reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This will not completely eliminate the problem but will result in some degree of positive change. The promotion of energy efficiency can bring significant increases in climate change.

Government policies can help in fighting climate change. The introduction of new initiatives such as the regulation of greenhouse emissions by setting standards for industry and transport is one policy direction that can be taken by governments. Such policies can be in the form of municipal rules for energy use and regulation of industries whose emissions constitute an important cause of climate change.

Youth organizations must influence government policies as well as help raise awareness on climate change. Additionally, youth organizations should monitor policy implementation in order to share their knowledge and put pressure on policy makers at all levels to ensure that policies do indeed deliver outcomes for young people. The organizations must also ensure rights to land, forests, water, energy and livelihood for their poorest people.

With the backdrop of youth unemployment being a major challenge confronting this nation, efforts made to provide practical solutions to the issue of climate change can serve as employment avenues for young people. The recycling of paper and plastic products to conserve energy can be a source of employment for the nation’s unemployed youth. Recycling centres should be set up to recycle paper and card and other items too including old computers, ink cartridges, plastic, tins, even furniture and clothing.

In solving the challenge of climate change and youth unemployment, new forms of responses should be pursued. The formation of partnerships between organizations and/or between an organization and communities for instance as well as the creation of “green jobs” in view of the increasing concerns of climate change can be viable alternatives.

Thus, the challenge of climate change can also provide a solution to the challenge of unemployment among Ghanaian youths. The bottom line is that the youth of Ghana should be at the forefront of spearheading the fight against climate change.

International Youth Day will take place this year on August 12, 2008. This year’s theme is “Youth and Climate Change: Time for Action.” Climate change has already begun to devastate communities and deepen the effects of poverty, making the challenges facing young people even more difficult. However, young people have a powerful voice, and together have great potential to call for action and work towards ensuring a better future for every generation. On International Youth Day, it is important to celebrate the achievements of young people, encourage their further involvement in decision-making and development of their communities, and recognize their potential to change the future.

“Left unaddressed, climate change could cause an unraveling of the progress that has been made towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, and could also have serious implications for peace and security,” said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, in a message to young people about International Youth Day. “Unless we make radical changes in the way we live, by the time the youth of 2008 reach my age, the world may well have become a rather inhospitable place.”

“Today’s young people will bear the consequences of climate change, thanks to the unfortunate legacy of their elders,” he continued. In many developing countries, girls and young women are often responsible for farming, collecting wood, and finding water sources. These duties will become much more challenging as climate change reduces the availability of water and agricultural productivity. Young women and girls will be forced to spend even more time on these activities, rather than on education.

But young people have a distinct advantage in the fight against climate change, said Ban Ki-Moon. Young people are skilled at using and spreading new habits and technologies. They can also easily adapt to low-carbon lifestyles and can work towards a transition to a low-carbon economy. Such economic growth based on clean energy will also create jobs that help reduce youth unemployment. Overall, young people should be given the opportunity to become more involved in decision-making.

“We will need the spirit of youth in abundance as the world seeks to embrace cleaner, more sustainable forms of energy, including renewable resources,” said the Secretary General.


Some of the specific areas that need to be addressed by young people are:

• Preparedness and disaster risk reduction: It is necessary to work towards building the capacities of individuals and communities so that people are prepared for any disasters that come about as a result of climate change. Moreover, the likelihood of such disasters occurring should be reduced.
• Adaptation and mitigation: Actions must be taken to reduce the harm and exploit the benefits of climate change.


What can you do to join the global youth movement on IYD08?

Team up! Team up with other young people within your community. Look for existing youth organizations in your local, regional, or national communities that are taking action on climate change. Together, you can work to make climate change a priority for stakeholders – like governments, NGOs, academic institutions, businesses, and individuals.

Take action! Once you have gathered a group of people interested in climate change, go one step further by taking concrete action to achieve your goals. Conduct research on how your local community is contributing to climate change – and do something about it! Get young people involved in planning a local project to promote sustainable development practices in your community. Research what has successfully been done in other communities, and lobby for implementing those practices in your own community. Hold events, talks, public discussions, campaigns, and forums to raise awareness about climate change, encourage more young people to get involved, and to find out what other young people are already doing. Use media such as the internet, blogs, advertisements, newspapers, and the radio to raise awareness of International Youth Day, climate change issues, and to motivate other youth to take action.

Celebrate! If you or others in your community have already been involved in projects that address climate change, plan an event to showcase your work and to inform others of what is being done about the issue of climate change. Raise even more support for your project by inviting leaders, officials, and young people from your local community.

According to the Secretary General – ultimately, young people around the world have a chance to “invest their energies and bright ideas into shaping a safer, more sustainable planet.” So make sure to celebrate International Youth Day 2008 by taking action on climate change, making your voice heard, and working towards a bright future for all young people!

What are YOU doing to celebrate International Youth Day 2008? Leave your comments here!

Credits: Information from Here and Here.

On Thursday July 31, The United Nations Security Council voted to extend by one year the mandate of the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in the western Sudanese region of Darfur. Although 14 countries voted in favour of continuing the "UNAMID" mission, the United States abstained from voting. The resolution extends the mission until July 31, 2009.

“[Peace] is still some ways off,” said John Sawers of the United Kingdom in the Security Council meeting. “It will require patience, determination, and the willingness to grapple difficult situations along the way, but peace is attainable and we must continue to strive for it.”

Recently, the UNAMID mission has been facing many obstacles in Darfur. Since the beginning of the year, UNAMID has deployed about 9,500 troops to Darfur, far short of the planned number of 26,000 troops and police officers.
Moreover, the security of humanitarian workers deployed by UNAMID has been threatened recently, creating concern about the success of the mission and the safety of peacekeepers. In July 2008, at least seven peacekeepers were killed and 22 were wounded by gunfire.

The peacekeeping mission also faces shortages in troops, personnel, helicopters, equipment, and logistics. The resolution calls on UN member states to pitch in and provide desperately needed supplies, especially helicopters, to help stabilize the situation. By the end of the year, the UN aims to have deployed 80% of the full mission of 26,000 troops.

The main debate surrounding the adoption of the resolution centered upon the indictment of the Sudanese president. There are currently efforts to indict Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir in the International Criminal Court, for 10 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Sudan. However, this Security Council resolution makes it clear that the council is ready to discuss suspending the indictment of Bashir by the ICC if it means peace in Darfur. As a result, the United States abstained from voting.

“The United States abstained because language added to the resolution would send the wrong signal to Sudanese President Bashir” and undermine efforts to bring him to justice, said US Ambassador Alejandro D. Wolff at the meeting.

Ultimately, many of the countries voting for the resolution differed in opinion on the issue of suspending the indictment of President Bashir. Some countries stated that this is an issue that should be considered seriously, but at a different time and in a different manner. Such a decision taken at this time could undermine trust between Sudan and the UN, and harm the fragile situation in Darfur. On the other hand, others - like the US - felt that impunity would not contribute to long-term political stability and that it is important to bring those responsible for human rights violations to justice.

Regardless of their views, most countries said that they had voted in favour of the resolution since the need to bring stability to Darfur is most important at this moment, and UNAMID must be given all possible resources necessary to successfully complete its mission.

What exactly is happening in Darfur?’

Although we have all heard about the ongoing genocide in Darfur, many of us are unfamiliar with the exact details of what is going on in the war-ravaged region, and why.

International experts estimate that at least 200,000 people have died and 2.5 million have been displaced in Darfur since early 2003.

What is the war about?

In 2003, two non-Arab rebel groups launched attacks on military targets, accusing the Arab-dominated central government of neglect and discrimination. After these attacks, the Sudanese government is said to have funded Arab tribal fighters – called the Janjaweed – to quash the resistance. The political struggle intensified traditional tensions between the two groups.

Non-arabs say that the Janjaweed, or tribal Arab fighters, join Sudanese government forces on horses and camel, and attack villages, killing civilians, raping women, and looting and burning homes. The Sudanese government denies that it is funding the Janjweed, saying that the estimates of casualties and atrocities are grossly exaggerated.
However, Arab tribal leaders themselves say that the Sudanese government had asked Arab tribes to help fight the rebel groups.

The non-Arab rebel groups include the larger and more active Sudan Liberation Army and the smaller Justice and Equality Movement. Both groups say they want a fair share of power and resources in Darfur. They are suspected of seeking the central government’s overthrow.

Genocide is defined as the systematic extermination of a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group. The attacks by the pro-government side are often condemned as “genocide” because they seem to typically target non-Arab villages, also speaking of killing “blacks” or “slaves.”

The entire situation has been further exacerbated by desertification and climate change in the region; the Sahara Desert has advanced by about 10km per year, increasing competition for remaining fertile land.

Picture credit: One, Two, and Three.

Check out these websites for more information on Darfur, and how you can take action: Save Darfur; 24 Hours for Darfur; Darfur is Dying.

Rather than just complaining about climate change, the United Nations is taking steps to finally do something about it! Today, Friday August 4th, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon will begin a month-long experiment in which the temperature inside the UN Headquarters in New York will be raised by five degrees, from 72 to 77 degrees. The air conditioning will also be switched off on weekends.

The experiment is called "Cool UN" and is aimed at helping the world body save energy and cut carbon gas emissions, as well as save about $100,000 in costs. The UN is hoping to act as a role model for global action on climate change, hoping to inspire and lead others by its good example.

This experiment will also allow engineers to test energy consumption and utility costs in the UN building. Some officials also hope that the extra 5 degrees of heat will give diplomats more compassion for people living in the developing world, where heat and humidity often become the norm.

Mr. Ban is also encouraging a more casual dress code, and is encouraging bureaucrats and diplomats to wear their national dress within the headquarters to help them maintain comfort in the warmer atmosphere.

My opinion....: I feel that this is definitely a good symbolic gesture. Yet, so much more can and needs to be done by the UN. I feel that this is a measure that could have been established much before, and should be continued much past the one-month long time span currently proposed. This example certainly needs to be followed by civil society as well as corporate actors around the world, in order to make any tangible impact. Still, it is a good symbolic gesture on the part of Mr. Ban.

What do you think about this issue? Is the UN doing enough? What more can be done? How can young people contribute? Please leave your questions, comments and feedback here!

Read more about this by clicking here.