Youth Mass Action

[Chris K's]

Good Morning,

The last few days of meetings with the NYDA, Premiers office, COY, iZibuko Media, uSizo Foundation, Miss Climate Change has mobilised new energy and vision for Africa's youth position on Climate Change.

South Africa youth make up 50% of South Africa and as hosts of COY 7 and COP 17 we have the ability to mobilize far beyond any other previous conference.  As the youth, we may not be the key negotiators, however we do have the ability to mobilize mass action, support and awareness that will bring our people to the streets in support. 

There was a consensus reached that sees this time, in the final hour before the conference, as the time to wage a national and continental campaign aimed at building awareness and support behind the vision of the continent's youth. Its important for this campaign to have its own identity, which doesn't disappear with the conference.

Maggie has agreed to mobilise some of the country's most prominent youth voices from radio, politics and civil society.

As South Africa's majority population and the ones who are most vulnerable to Climate Change its in our best interests to mobilise our masses and make these conferences (COY COP) reflect the African youth's position. 

These are some of the issues the campaign seeks to promote and do include:

• Youth must demand South Africa and African governments to do everything in their power to force a new binding agreement during COP 17 that will deliver real solutions to climate change.
• Education must shift to an environmental sustainable curriculum that will prepare the next generation for the challenges being left on our shoulders by the destruction being left on our shoulders by the current global leadership
• Africa must embark on renewable energy to gain energy and economic independence, and own the means of its production 
• The need to end the historical legacy of foreign companies invading and stealing enormous quantities of the continent's natural resources, while destroying our environment
• Development of an African Youth Climate Change Movement which all youth will be able to relate to. 

With regards to COY 7, there was a consensus that: 

• One day of the conference be devoted to Africa's Climate Change.
• The website of COY should reflect that it is being held in Africa by including some diversity. The website was pulled up during a meeting and the home page seems to only have European kids shown, which doesn't resonate well with the African youth audience, who often label climate change as an issue for the rich European countries.  
• Social Events during COY 7 should not divide the have's from the have-nots. There is no feeling of Africa in Davenport and there was a strong sense of concern voiced that this will split the group based on finance and age. Many of the conference attendees will not be of drinking age or have the money to go to this rich, 100% white owned area to hang out. It was proposed that something be organised on Campus which all attendees can go to. 

Please include everyone in emails going forward so everyone is kept current.

Yours in the struggle for a better future,

Chris

Chris Koehs
Fax:+27(0)86 618 4724
Cell: +27(0)76 542 2207
Skype: chris.koehs

[Inger May Harber]

Hey Chris

A campus party sounds great. Would you be willing to organise it? Jabs mentioned some of the people you might be able to bring in and they sound great.  Considering, you're well connected at Varsity so I'm sure you could get around the examtime restrictions...

Let us know :)

Inger

[chris....@gmail.com]

Morning All,

I was able to open a bar on campus for everyone to hang out together on the 26th at the Rugby fields at Howard College, I believe Gate 2. There are two big parking lots, 3 sports fields, a club house, side club house and a cricket field close by.

Luckily their was already a braai planned so they will keep the bar open for us and we can build the event from there.

I am also speaking to some others about opening up the other 2 bars and the pool if possible (however no pool and drinking together)

There is a braai facility and I can see if they will be able to offer small braai packs too for sale too.

With regards to fundraising for additional meals, I am working on it and will send an update when I hear something from the people who are reaching out.

Best Regards,

Chris

Sent from my BlackBerry®

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From: Marita Lervik <lervik...@hotmail.com>

Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:41:14 +0100

To: Inger Harber<inger...@gmail.com>; <chris....@gmail.com>

Cc: Hilary Bowman<bowman...@gmail.com>; <isaac....@youthclimatecoalition.org>; Katherine Tu<kather...@youthclimatecoalition.org>; <nda...@gmail.com>; <magdalene...@gmail.com>; <foto...@hotmail.com>; <charlot...@youthclimatecoalition.org>; Jabu Ngema<jabs...@gmail.com>; <sea...@gmail.com>; <mga...@gmail.com>; <zwane.m...@gmail.com>; <w.pa...@gmail.com>; <vukani...@gmail.com>; <bbn...@nyda.gov.za>; <charl...@ozemail.com.au>; <karoli...@yahoo.se>; Brandon Nothling<pm.gree...@gmail.com>; Chris Connolly<connolly...@gmail.com>; <caili....@gmail.com>; <sophia....@gmail.com>; <secretary.g...@gmail.com>; <nqo...@gmail.com>; Anelisa<cee...@gmail.com>; <ecosc...@wessa.co.za>; <rory...@gmail.com>; <bashe...@gmail.com>; <coy7ou...@googlegroups.com>; <asia...@kzndae.gov.za>; <mch...@izibuko.com>; <alu...@gmail.com>; <jma...@anc.org.za>; <ace.l...@gmail.com>; <sime...@premier.kzntl.gov.za>; <astat...@gmail.com>

Subject: RE: Youth Mass Action

Dear Chris,
 
I am sure everyone really appreciate your input and interest in making COY a wonderful event. It would be really great if you can organise the fundraising and planning of alternative social events which is free for everyone! Also, it would be really great if you can help find  funds to cover catering for everyone as well, so we don't make anyone feel excluded for not being able to pay for food during the conference as well.
 
Thanks, and please let us know how it goes!
 
Marita
 

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Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:45:51 +0200
Subject: Re: Youth Mass Action
From: inger...@gmail.com
To: chris....@gmail.com
CC: bowman...@gmail.com; isaac....@youthclimatecoalition.org; kather...@youthclimatecoalition.org; nda...@gmail.com; magdalene...@gmail.com; foto...@hotmail.com; charlot...@youthclimatecoalition.org; lervik...@hotmail.com; jabs...@gmail.com; sea...@gmail.com; mga...@gmail.com; zwane.m...@gmail.com; w.pa...@gmail.com; vukani...@gmail.com; bbn...@nyda.gov.za; charl...@ozemail.com.au; karoli...@yahoo.se; pm.gree...@gmail.com; connolly...@gmail.com; Caili....@gmail.com; sophia....@gmail.com; secretary.g...@gmail.com; nqo...@gmail.com; cee...@gmail.com; ecosc...@wessa.co.za; rory...@gmail.com; bashe...@gmail.com; coy7ou...@googlegroups.com; asia...@kzndae.gov.za; mch...@izibuko.com; alu...@gmail.com; jma...@anc.org.za; ace.l...@gmail.com; sime...@premier.kzntl.gov.za; astat...@gmail.com

[Hilary Bowman]

Hi Chris,

Thanks for your suggestions. As I am not from Durban it's obviously hard for me to say what is the better option for the social events, but if there is a college bar that sounds like it might be a good option. I agree that it should be made cheap as possible, so as not to divide the haves-and-have-nots. One concern - I understand it is exam time at UKZN, would that be an issue for a bar?

In terms of your other suggestions for the program, they definitely sound like they'd be great to discuss with the whole group so we can reach a whole group consensus. However, it's pretty difficult to change the program as you are suggesting at this point in time - what exactly do you envisage by a day dedicated to Africa's climate change? As you know, the primary goal of COY is capacity building, so there is much more of an emphasis on skills-sharing than simple informational workshops. There are definitely workshops dedicated to Africa and climate change already in the program, but the reason they are spread out (as we have done with all workshops with similar themes or categories) is so that everybody has a chance to attend them if they miss out on one section of the conference (for example, we tend to have lower attendance on the Friday.)

In terms of the website, please keep in mind that last year's COY was held in Mexico and therefore many of the participants were actually not rich European kids as you presume, but rather local Mexicans and other central and southern Americans, just as will be the case (I do hope!) with COY this year. There are also always people from all around the world - the Pacific Islands, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East - I can assure you that people come from everywhere. I understand that you feel the website may not reflect that, so I'll see what I can do, but currently I am pretty much at capacity.

I feel like it might also be valuable to provide you with some context for COY & the international youth climate movement - has someone has gone through the history of COY and youth at COP with you? COY is organised every year by international youth to prepare for COP (most people work throughout the year over email and Skype and this is their chance to plan properly in person) and, more importantly in my opinion, share skills to build domestic movements all over the world. At each COY, there is of course a special focus on the domestic movement of the country it happens to be in that year, but the focus is definitely the greater vision of the international youth climate movement. Last year we had great success in Mexico, and after COY the Mexican Youth Climate Coalition was created.

I also do a lot of general logistics coordination with YOUNGO, entirely seperate from COY, and part of what the logistics team do is raise and allocate funds for Global South youth participation. Any money that we get, the first priority is and has always been Global South youth. Last year I managed to get funding to support 6 Global South young people (2 from Africa, 2 from the Pacific, 2 from South America) to attend COY6 and COP16, and this year I and a team of other people managed to get funding for 15 young people, which is amazing! We also got the money for COY that I have mentioned. So please be rest assured that diversity is taken very seriously and is quite literally the first thing we ever fundraise for. Any money that we get we ensure is ethical and also with no attached political conditions (we have a series of processes for this that we take very seriously, and COY falls under our fundraising mandate, so they also apply to COY).

I'm very excited that COY this year will be a moment for the African youth climate movement (I like to use the word 'moment', because it's not just a conference, it's a transformation!). The African youth climate movement as it is is, in my opinion, one of the most well-organised, engaging and open youth climate movements in the world. To achieve this, we are obviously working very very closely with well established organisations such as AYICC and JVE (Young Volunteers for the Environment), as well as the interfaith Nairobi-Durban caravan and other African national youth climate organisations.

Chat soon!

Regards,

Hilary

--
Hilary Bowman

e: bowman...@gmail.com
m: +61410 723 414
skype: hilarybowman

[Hilary Bowman]

And when I say 'just as will be the case this year' I mean with South Africans & Africans instead of local Mexicans/South American youth...sorry, should have proofread!

[Karolina Borg]

Hi Chris,

Amazing work on organising the bar! However this still means that it becomes an event that divides between over18s/under18s and drinkers/non-drinkers. But just like with Davenport i guess there will be options for the ones who dont want alcohol. 

Which bar exactly is it that you have arranged? Billys? Diveclub? Depending on which place it is I might have some concerns...

Is it possible to move this event to one of the other nights? Invade Davenport is the only night time event that we currently know will happen, so it would be a bit counterproductive to have to events at the same night!

 

Cheers

Karolina

P please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.

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Från: Hilary Bowman <bowman...@gmail.com>
Till: coy7ou...@googlegroups.com
Kopia: usizofu...@gmail.com; isaac....@youthclimatecoalition.org; Katherine Tu <kather...@youthclimatecoalition.org>; Ndaba Mandela <nda...@gmail.com>; Magdalene Moonsamy <magdalene...@gmail.com>; Mandla Mkhize <foto...@hotmail.com>; charlot...@youthclimatecoalition.org; Jabu Ngema <jabs...@gmail.com>; sea...@gmail.com; Bhekithemba Dlamini <mga...@gmail.com>; Mthobisi zwane <zwane.m...@gmail.com>; wendy parkies <w.pa...@gmail.com>; vukani...@gmail.com; bbn...@nyda.gov.za; charl...@ozemail.com.au; karoli...@yahoo.se; Brandon Nothling <pm.gree...@gmail.com>; Chris Connolly <connolly...@gmail.com>; caili....@gmail.com; sophia....@gmail.com; secretary.g...@gmail.com; nqo...@gmail.com; Anelisa <cee...@gmail.com>; ecosc...@wessa.co.za; rory...@gmail.com; bashe...@gmail.com; asia...@kzndae.gov.za; Zibuko Mchunu <mch...@izibuko.com>; Aluta Ngcobo <alu...@gmail.com>; jma...@anc.org.za; Andile Lungisa <ace.l...@gmail.com>; Inger May Harber <inger...@gmail.com>; Marita Lervik <lervik...@hotmail.com>
Skickat: lördag, 19 november 2011 10:35
Ämne: Re: Youth Mass Action

[caili F]

Hi all!

It would be great to have more social events for COY delegates who are interested in attending! I think it would be best to split the events up and not have everything on 1 night... Chris could you get the bar and other areas for the Friday or Sunday? Or if it can only be on the Saturday perhaps we could move the 'Invade Davenport' event to another night? Either way we should try and decide quickly (by the end of tomorrow?) so that we can make final arrangements for these events.

About the music - I think it's great to get local artists on board! Ndaba, it is good to hear you are speaking to Isaac - as far as I know he is looking into having performers at COY. I am not sure if we would be able to hire drums (funding is always an issue!!!), but I think it is really great that you are willing to perform for free. Hopefully we can work something out?

Thanks!
Caili

On Sat, Nov 19, 2011 at 11:39 AM, Ndaba <nda...@gmail.com> wrote:

Good day

Chris that was well said and I fully support your goals and suggested initiatives.

I am a founding member of the Africa Rising Foundation. www.arfoundation.com dedicated to youth development and breaking misconceptions of Africa in order to build a new generation of african leaders that know and are proud of what being an African is about.

I also run a artists management company called rebel soul entertainment. www.rebelsoulent.com
I am currently in talks with mandla mkhize and people like Isaac to get our band to perform at the miss climate change launch on friday 25th and any other event we can be part of on the 26th. All I will need for this from you is to organise a drum set preferably made by Tama, as in the drum set name. We understand there is very little budget and therefore are willing to perform for free. However if Mandla or Isaac are able to get accommodation for the band for 4 people then we can come for friday and sat night and you will get to experience the incredible new sounds of 2 of my artists.

Together we Stand
Divided we Fall

1 Africa 1 people 1 Destiny

Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom RSE (PTY) LTD
MD
N Mandela

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From: chris....@gmail.com

Date: Sat, 19 Nov 2011 07:13:30 +0000

To: <usizofu...@gmail.com>

ReplyTo: chris....@gmail.com

Cc: Hilary Bowman<bowman...@gmail.com>; <isaac....@youthclimatecoalition.org>; Katherine Tu<kather...@youthclimatecoalition.org>; Ndaba Mandela<nda...@gmail.com>; Magdalene Moonsamy<magdalene...@gmail.com>; Mandla Mkhize<foto...@hotmail.com>; <charlot...@youthclimatecoalition.org>; Jabu Ngema<jabs...@gmail.com>; <sea...@gmail.com>; Bhekithemba Dlamini<mga...@gmail.com>; Mthobisi zwane<zwane.m...@gmail.com>; wendy parkies<w.pa...@gmail.com>; <vukani...@gmail.com>; <bbn...@nyda.gov.za>; <charl...@ozemail.com.au>; <karoli...@yahoo.se>; Brandon Nothling<pm.gree...@gmail.com>; Chris Connolly<connolly...@gmail.com>; <caili....@gmail.com>; <sophia....@gmail.com>; <secretary.g...@gmail.com>; <nqo...@gmail.com>; Anelisa<cee...@gmail.com>; <ecosc...@wessa.co.za>; <rory...@gmail.com>; <bashe...@gmail.com>; <coy7ou...@googlegroups.com>; <asia...@kzndae.gov.za>; Zibuko Mchunu<mch...@izibuko.com>; Aluta Ngcobo<alu...@gmail.com>; <jma...@anc.org.za>; Andile Lungisa<ace.l...@gmail.com>; Inger May Harber<inger...@gmail.com>; Marita Lervik<lervik...@hotmail.com>