The event was opened by Doris Schapira LWVUS Observer to the UN. One of her roles is to advocate for issues of concern to the LWV, speaking with government delegations about these issues and works with the coalitians of NGO representatives on issues of mutual concern, especially the NGO Committee on UNICEF- Working group on Girls.
- I got the sense a focus of this group was human traffic-ing and the sex trade involving young girls.
The first speaker was Rachel T. Harris the campaign coordinator of the Women's Environment and Development Organization ( WEDO website) Her organization is working to promote both adaptation to and mitigation of climate change living environment changes.
- As I was listening to Rachel, my first thought was, are women the only agents of change for our planet?
1.3 Billion people in the world live in the deepest level of poverty and 70% of them are women
Developing countries, or underdeveloped countries, live in a fragile balance and as climate change effects crop failure, fuel shortages ( wood gathering) clean water, disease spread, displacement and civil war as a result of unrest- women and children live - or survive- in conditions that result in the changes brought about.
- What was missing in her remarks was Where are the men and boys?
The second speaker was Maaike Jansen the United Nations Environment (UNEP) Programme officer
Maaike spoke of the need to put women's voices back into the solution equation. She spoke with frustration about the progress of the Kyoto protocol and the USA lack of participation.
- Those of us who live in a developed country are very isolated from the disease spread that occurs as a result of heavy rains and flooding to areas not accustomed to such weather.
- The young, the elderly and the infirm are subject to dengue fever, malaria, diarrhea, malnutrition- all which can cause death.
- www.un.org/climatechange
- http://www.unfccc.int/
Africa is the hardest hit of developing countries and contributes to the global warming climate change problem the least.
- Missing in this discussion was: the role played by each countries government in helping to solve the health problems.
The last speaker was Michele Ferenz the United Nations Children's Fund Senior Consultant
Michele was advocating for a human rights based approach to the problem helping children in the climate change agenda arena. Her organization is working to inform and educate the developed countries about how climate change amplifies the current problems.
- I agree, each human being has the right to food, shelter and safety. What is missing in the conversation again is what role each country's political leaders play in making their home country's situation better or worse.
3.5 million deaths last year due to malnutrition and 1/3 of those deaths were children under 5 years old. Those of us who have little children or grandchildren, just imagine what its like to watch a loved one starve to death.
As the other speakers mentioned, vector borne disease is increasing, for example
Malaria in sub saharan Africa, 2000 deaths a day, children under the age of 5.
All groups have linked climate change to increase in behaviors such as child abuse and human trafficing.
A statistic was given that more that half the worlds children live in areas of Urban poverty in 2008. This lead the group to speak to the devastation by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and the number of people who were living in poverty before the disaster and who now live in worse conditions.
We left the conference and as we drove back to Ulster county- thru the streets of one of the most important cities in the world, New York city, I was struck by how vulnerable we all are.
Many Americans are living one pay check away from financial disaster.
In order to not feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problems we face as humans on this wonderful planet, I seek out a small local problem and do my best to help it come to a resolution. I'm sure that there are many others out there that do the same.
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