Prep Com1 Rio +20

On the the 19th of May, I sat in the United Nations HQ in New York in the EcoSoc Chamber in the North Lawn Building at 7:51pm as Nicolo softly sang Nancy's Sinatra's song...


" I was five and he was six

We rode on horses made of sticks 

He wore black and I wore white 

He would always win the fight 

Bang bang, he shot me down 

Bang bang, I hit the ground 

Bang bang, that awful sound 

Bang bang, my baby shot me down "

It felt so surreal. It is 2010 and I have been attending the first session of the 2012 UN Commission on Sustainable Development's (CSD) Preparatory Committee (PrepCom1). 


The 2012 CSD (also referred to as Rio +20 as it is being held 20 years after the Earth Summit that was held in Brazil) is a major deal and it was interesting to watch as the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) took up both substantive and procedural matters. The procedural side was dealt with in contact groups...and this was why we were sitting here at 7:15 waiting for the final plenary.


It was the final day of the Rio +20 PrepCom and the meeting had been scheduled for 4pm today...but negotiations between member states on contact group 1 ( on the preparatory process) had run over...way over. And I, witnessed my first real UN negotiations despite having attended two UN Commissions.

The negotiations began. The issues arose over paragraph 8 (of a eight paragraph process). The US refused to accept it as it was...and wanted amendments to be made. G77 and China had only accepted it as a "package deal" and once negotiations had begun--they raised the issue of the potential ambiguity of paragraph 3. They felt that the paragraph could be interpreted in a number of ways (most of them wrong) and wanted it amended also. They also didn't accept Switzerland's recommendations for paragraph 8 but preferred the EU's version. I watched Switzerland propose changes, retract the changes to cede to the EUs softer version. I watched the US endorse Switzerland's retracted version and reject the EUs version for being too soft. 

Then the negotiations fell apart. The US and the EU agreed, G77 and China did not. The EU and G77 and China agreed...the US did not. This cycle proceeded for hours. The heads of the groups met in small clusters, and then went to convey the wording to the larger groups in bigger clusters


Negotiations complete. Finally, (hours later) a consensus was reached. I found the experience very insightful. I had the unique and unexpected opportunity to talk to the Irish delegation during the "10 minute" negotiation (that in fact lasted over 3 hours). 

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The prepcom itself was an interesting three days. The main drama seemed center around contact group 2 on draft rules of procedure of UNCSD. Namely, G77 and China raised questions about the involvement of the European Union in the document (because they felt Palestine deserved the same recognition as the EU and refused cede their concerns over the current legal status of the European Union to participate in the document as they did not accept them as replacing the EC---or at least that is what my impression was of the whole situation). There was no agreement on forwarding the document to plenary despite meeting four times (at the third meeting a representative of the Office of Legal Affairs attended to hear the questions regarding the participation of Palestine and the European Union in the participation of the document). 

At the fourth meeting of the group, the G77 and China proposed the inclusion of the following questions in the modified text. G77 and China raised a concerns regarding;

• The current legal status and application of paragraph (a) of ECOSOC decision 1995 /201 throughout the whole document; and
• Is there a decision required by ECOSOC to formalise the succession of the EU as a replacement for the EC.

The European Union objected to their inclusion citing ECOSOC decision 1995 /201 and the document PRO/NV/Denomination change--European Union, dated 31st December 2009, mentioning as an example their participation in CSD18.

There was no agreement on forwarding the modified draft rules to the plenary.

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I really enjoyed the PrepCom Rio +20 meetings. They gave me the opportunity to see the UN at real work. I loved it. 


Well, that was UN CSD18 and the Rio +20 PrepCom. Hopefully, I will be at CSD-19. If I am, I promise to keep you updated. If I am not...I promise to be involved online and that should be worth at least one blog entry. I am supposed to be leading the Policy Paper working group to  prepare for CSD-19. So, I really need to get myself in gear and start contacting people. I know that I should do it while CSD-18 is still fresh in everyone's minds :)

We all bleed

It is hot and humid today...it is stifling like wading through invisible warm untangible cotton-wool. The city itself seems sluggish...a bizarre comment to make about NYC! It has been a week since CSD-18 Ended. I use a capital "E" because it deserves one. It was an event that I hope to remember for a very long time....


It has given me a completely new perspective on what I am doing. My time in NYC, my personal goals and the path that I was following. I had arrived in New York City in December full of great dreams, hoping to see most of them realized but pragmatic (or cynical-based on your personal perspective) enough to know that they would fall short. Most of my wild imaginings were fulfilled. I got the position I hoped for when I arrived in JFK on the 8th of December in a daze. MY secret hopes were realized and to an extent that few people grasp. But the reality of my secret hopes (aka goals) left me feeling a little disillusioned, a little discriminated against and a little left out. It has been hard establishing (to myself) that the world is not going to change no matter how far I travel. It has been a challenge to acknowledge that I have to change if I want the world to treat me fair. The only way to achieve what I believe I need to, to do what I feel I must and to make even a tiny change in the perceptions of those people around me is to become a better me. But at the same time, a major part of me rebels at the thought...even articulating makes me feel dirty. Yet, it is reality. People judge. Prejudice exists. Is it right...no! Can it be abolished...yes! But can it be abolished over night....no. 

Controversial though my statement may be (and I wish reality was different). It is true. Prejudice is ingrained. It has been drilled into the very core of who we are as a society. And it scares me. I wasn't expecting as much prejudice as I have encountered since I arrived in the USA. I do not know why I did not expect it. I have watched TV. I have listened to the news. Yet, racist comments still manage to shock me, to take me aback. Why? I don't know. It isn't like Ireland is completely prejudice free or that Tanzania lacked Stereotypying / prejudice. But the fact that I encounter it to such levels in the middle of NYC....one of the most multicultural places I have ever lived...floors me repeatedly. I cannot (it feels) stop being shocked or astonished by the comments that people make. that the conclusions that are drawn. Or by the double standards that I witness against others due to their race, ethnicity, accent, skin colour, physical appearance, or orientation. It originally amused me when I was not invited somewhere because the host thought I was "black" because it was surreal. Then it saddened and angered me. 

In direct contrast, CSD-18 Youth Caucus made me feel like humanity can be unified. That we are all the same human family. That the artificially constructed labels or barriers that other people create to discriminate, stereotype pre-judge or seperate us seem not to exist. Or perhaps I was just too carried away by the flow to notice the snags? I hope that my version was correct because it gave me something that I have been missing lately.... 


Hope and Faith and Trust.

It showed me that the next generation can work together simultaneously with a unified vision. That the scope of our advocacy is only limited by our own personal barriers (shyness, fear, misunderstandings, lack of communication or personal egos). But the message of hope shone through. Because we did not know each other and the only thing we had in common was our vision of change. We had all come to the Commission on Sustainable Development to articulate the need for global solutions to global problems. To stress that act local think global or act global think local isn't working. There need to be more enforceable guidelines, there needs to be better processes, the time to act is now before it is too late because it isn't too late YET! 

That is a powerfully hopeful concept. To realise that we are killing the one thing we rely on as a human race to survive (our planet) inorder to make our immediate circumstances better. That we are consuming for the sake of consuming without investigating the source of our products. I loved the fact that CSD and NPT overlapped because they are both examples of global governance dilemma's. And the events illustrated the power of a holistic view regarding aspects that we are in denial about...climate change, nuclear disarmament, and financial crisis are things that require global solutions. It is no longer a time where national governments can merely solve national problems and consider their jobs done. It is becoming a time where globalisation forces the reality of global governance requiring a normative, enforceable aspect to assist all of us. It is becoming undeniable. At least to me...

The faith aspect is harder to articulate (at least in a blog). Is it enough to say that because I have now got hope that things will get better / I now have faith that humanity will be forced to change? I know that this is a simplistic statement. Faith for me has always been a challenge. But it is invigorating, inspiring and energizing to be feel like you are minuscule part of a much bigger change. It is amazing to be the grain of sand that is being pushed along as it flew out of a bit of coral and into the current. That image illustrates the immense power of the change but not the empowerment that I feel. Being a part of a group of Youth who were willing to allow me to be myself...without forcing me to conform to their image of me and without limiting me based on their preconceived false image of me was freeeeeeeeeeeeeing!

It has just struck me that if you have read so far....you probably consider me to be living in a xenophobic place where I am regularly forced to do insane things due to prejudice. I would like to reassure you that that is not the case. I am merely a witness to a few (very few) unconscious or blatent expressions of negative taught / embedded behavior that should be unacceptable everywhere but that exists.


 I know that in the USA there are strict laws against discrimination. But laws cannot and do not change mentality overnight. They just provide some minor level of protection for the object. That is our challenge. It is the Youth and Children who have to take on the responsibility to control our own perceptions and to prevent ourselves from being contaminated with hatred in whatever form.


It is time to invest in peace. It is time to change ourselves so that the future generations will have less prejudice.

I suppose one aspect of this situation / problem that baffled me the most was the self pity (for things that had happened generations previously), the guilt (again, for things that had happened generations before and that you had not direct control over) or almost retaliatory comments against people who just happen to have been the same race as your forefather oppressors. I was shocked when someone came up to me at the UNPFII and said..."White people like you are the reason I live in a marsh". I felt like replying...I grew up in Cork (Corcaigh, pronounced [ˈkˠorkˠɪɟ]—from corcach meaning "swamp") in Ireland...I suppose that is your fault? I don't blame the English for forcing my ancestors to live under ground by taxing their windows and doors....neither do I blame them for the famine (I realise some Irish still do). But somehow I didn't think the man who had been complaining that UN security had confiscated his knife (Personally, that made me feel a little safer) would appreciate my attempt at humor. I also doubted that he would be impressed if I blamed him for the famine or Ireland's colonization....so I said nothing. But the fact that he blamed his problems on me...a complete stranger...baffled me. 

However, I love the fact that the Youth Caucus showed me that humanity is truly one family. We have the capacity to work together, we have the ability to change, to investigate or question things around us for ourselves. That is liberating! But please do not dismiss me as being overly optimistic or naive. I know we have a lot to achieve, I am aware of the barriers to change but I believe that seeing the barriers makes it easier to destroy them. It is the hidden, silent, unspoken hidden barriers that are more pervasive and harder to tackle systematically.

Youth Caucus - CSD-18

Last night, CSD-18 ended and now I am thinking about all the friends I made, experiences I would not exchange for anything and wondering how things can get back to normal....

The Youth Caucus are the driving force behind the Major Working Group of Children and Youth. Due to this, we drafted 23 oral interventions (most of any working group), we wrote statements, lobbied delegations, held bi-lateral meetings, discussed lobby strategies, discussed social outreach and organised sub working groups on regional / & thematic bases. Since, we were approximately 40 people in total. There was a lot of overlap, every individual has different strengths and weaknesses. Personally, I am great at editing or proof reading fast. I also am good and research. This was combined with the dynamic skills of the rest of the group so that we could even simultaneously edit interventions during sessions using pirate or ether pad. I learnt a huge amount about teamwork, the importance of clear "soft" leadership (aka facilitators) and about UN procedure & protocol.

Lessons Learnt!

1. Be yourself.

I found that I participated most effectively when I allowed myself to use my strengths constructively. I tend to be very organised, work fast, innovative, a perfectionist when it comes to editing documents and punctual. These qualities were an asset to me during the CSD-18. I love to meet new people, debate new ideas, learn and explore new concepts. This highly motivated and talented group of youth from all over the world allowed me to take my capacity and to exceed it. They challenged me to articulate my ideas, to reach consensus, to establish dialog and to network with delegates / trade unions / business representatives and NGOs. We worked long hours together on the same projects and yet we managed to do so with a strong spirit of friendship and understanding. They allowed me to be myself and yet motivated me to discover new skills (such as drafting statements and chairing meetings :P ).

2. Have Fun

While there was no shortage of work at the CSD-18 for the youth caucus. There was also no shortage of fun! Every morning we would begin at 7:30-8am. We then had a briefing (8-9am) followed by a mad rush into working groups / drafting process to have something ready (or at least mostly ready) by 10am. These working groups were conducted online and this allowed us to work in the Vienna Cafe while sipping hot chocolate or lattes.

We would usually alternate between the different session locations, escape briefly for side events or to hear the statements being read and the resume online with a section of the group. As we all alternated between the statements, there was a point person for each one so that at least someone would make sure it was completed.

Our days would generally end with another round of briefings. As I was in the European lobby group. We would usually finish at about 8pm. Then we would all wonder off and find somewhere to eat as a massive group (without a reservation). The evenings would then end at 11-1am. We would scurry off to where ever we happened to be living and sleep. To do it all again. After two weeks....I can really start to feel the tiredness. However, work is not over....Monday is Rio +20 prepcom (preparatory committee for those of us who don't get all the acronyms).

3. Express yourself


It is amazing how articulating your ideas, contributing your perspective or skills develops them. The more I expressed myself...the more I learnt about and from other people. The more contacts I made, the more opportunities I discovered and the better I established myself. I quickly found myself absorbed into a diverse group of wonderful people. I found myself leading the social media group or being encouraged to participate in other adventures. Expressing myself was such a tiny step that led to better things.


4. Advocate for change!


This was the essential reason that we were there. We were there to participate, identify gaps, identify needs and address it together in a spirit of consultation.

how cool!

Hello All,

As you should know by now. I am attending CSD-18. As part of this, I got to know the wonderful youth delegates from Belgium and Aurore (one of the official youth delegates) invited me to contribute to their blog http://www.sustainableyouth.be/search.php?lvl=5&pro=12&a=213 (as it was CSD-18 and that meant almost no time...I wrote a lot fast and it isn't amazing but it is amazing that I managed to write anything completely brain dead!) So, please check it out and comment. Lots of appreciation and love for every comment.

Saba

p.s Follow this link....and add comments http://www.sustainableyouth.be/search.php?lvl=5&pro=12&a=213 or else.... :P

Old Secretariat

I am sitting in the UN (old) secretariat building. Surrounded by people eating "subsidized" overpriced food. The comparisons with my old university (University College Cork) are startling.

Java city also supply the coffee...I am willing to bet Campbells / some similar catering company provide the food and people still shovel it in. Which essentially begs the question:


Is life a perpetual university?? or school replication?

The answer is of course no. We are older, our relationships are more complex but we are addicted to fast, easy and the illusion of cheaper. My battery is of course dying. I have to go.

Love Saba

Political Plotting and UN Commissions

Sustainable Development is a term that has many definitions but not in the UN system...at least not a holistic and strong one. This year, the Youth Caucus (that I had the great privilege of being part of) had one of their Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) lobby points requested a definition that included political, social and environmental consequences caused by human economic activities.

This years Commission focuses on the thematic areas   of SCP, mining, transport, chemicals,waste, the 10yr framework and cross cutting issues.However, CSD-18 has an added bonus for me....my opportunity to actively participate in the Major Working Group of Children and Youth. As part of this, I am very involved in the Youth Caucus that essentially is the driving force behind this Major Group. I was absorbed into this talented, intelligent, involved and highly participatory group during the Youth Blast held at Columbia University the weekend before the Commission began. At that event, we decided on our lobby points, and drafted a final version of them so that we could present them over the coming week. We also were briefed on what to do, expect and how our Major Group would work.

Since the CSD-18 has begun, it has been a blur of drafting statements / lobby strategies / speeches, reading statements to identify gaps / our points / cross cutting issues, lobbying, meetings and fun!!! I have never before worked simultaneously with up to 40 youth  (well, usually 10) on a document at the exact same time from different locations (we tend to use pirate pad and each have our own color. Yet amazingly we end up with a coherent, unified, and interesting statement (or conclusion).

I have been learning a lot. I am constantly collaborating with young people from all over the world (five continents), with different backgrounds (NGOs to students to consultants), goals, and functions (official youth delegates, NGO staff, etc) at the Commission. This year I got to meet with the head of the Belgium delegation to discuss SCP informally. I had the opportunity to listen to Jane Goodall and Jeffery Sachs discuss Global Governance. I watched "Counting Down from Zero" and saw Michael Douglas in real life. I got invited to lunch by members of the Kenyan and Tanzanian delegation and joined the major working group of trade unions as an observer.

I feel like I am learning a phenomenal amount from the other youth-- I have learnt to draft statements fast! (often during a session), to accept mistakes will be made, how to lobby, who to lobby, why to lobby and how to measure lobby effectiveness. I am experiencing the thrill of hearing our words being absorbed into official UN documents / statements.

There is one week left. We are over half way done. I can feel the pressure but this is why I studied politics, I want to be challenged...I love this environment of ideas, creativity, new everything and working together on an amazing team towards a common goal--advocating for change!

Youth Blast 2010

The CSD 18 has begun....

and I have been terribly remiss in updating my blog! It has been a hectic few days for me. I worked all weekend (attended the Youth Blast on Sunday at Columbia also). This event has been amazing for me. I am a member of the Youth Caucus (major working group of Children and Youth). So, I have been directly involved in drafting statements that are being read at the events, lobbying people and creating strategies that advocate for change.

 As my 8am briefing is beginning...I have to go! But I will have my next installment tonight to tantalise you with (lol!) In the meantime, get involved and join the team. Participate in drafting statements with us, learn about what is going on and share what you think are the most important points regarding the thematic areas at: http://csdyouthcaucus.ning.com/ I look forward to hearing from you soon..