Generation Earth rallies for the youth’s vote

Generation Earth, a green networking platform with the youth, for the youth, by the youth launched on Friday, March 18, 2011, and will see 20 schools from across Gauteng on board. What is this you may ask? This is an organisation that strives to recognise and develop green thinkers who are tomorrow’s global leaders.

Generation Earth School councils will launch in schools across Gauteng and across the country in a bid to provide opportunities for gaining knowledge and an understanding of climate change, environmental impacts, conservation efforts and sustainable living both locally and internationally. This is a structured action plan for schools and youth to make a difference and change the world for the betterment of the environment.

For far too long green issues have been used as punishment in schools. Green issues have been forced upon learners and ‘eco clubs’ and ‘green groups’ have just been for a small minority of learners.

Generation Earth school councils will endeavour to throw this ideology on its head as it launches school councils that are cool, not only because it’s a group of young individuals making a difference but its young individuals who are leaders and change makers, these are our Earth keepers.

Generation Earth has seen an amazing endorsement from South African celebrities and personalities all rallying behind an initiative that has its sights set on mobilising change by being the change.

Generation Earth school councils will be mandated to carry out four environmental service projects and campaigns and two social service projects each year. One of these must be aimed at creating international understanding and goodwill of issues around the environment, climate change and conserving of our natural heritage, Mother Earth.

We are privileged being born in an age of innovation, creation and limitless boundaries. Far away lands have become a part of the global village. Knowledge is available at the click of a single word and it is the age of the individual, free communication, technology and digital power.

The philosophy rests on the right of freedom and the belief in the power of one. There is no better moment in time but now to launch a highly anticipated body of green thinkers, young individuals who are inspired, innovative, driven agents of change who strive to combat the fight against climatic change.

It took two young individuals who have been activists from a young age to create a platform and structure for young people to green, grow and lead. Ella Bella and Catherine Constantinides are no strangers to the environmental and conservation sector, with years of hands on experience with grass roots projects and campaigns across South Africa and around the world.

They are the founding members and creators of this organisation. Ella Bella is also a Southern African Youth Ambassador for the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP). Her work with UNEP has seen her travel across the world being a green ambassador for several campaigns and action programmes.

Humanity embraced freedom; but neglected responsibility. The time has come for us to be held accountable for our actions. At the launch of the initiative Ella Bella said; “Our mission and vision stems from our commitment to the environment, conservation and youth. We believe that it is our moral responsibility to make a difference within these sectors to develop and give back to the communities from which we were raised.

The youth are not the future, they are the present and the time for change and development is now. These leaders have the right to a voice that speaks for the cause of Mother Earth whose voice is muffled by pollution, soil erosion, deforestation, animal slaughter and the constant abuse of our Earth.

Sustainability and success can only be achieved if it is driven by the next generation; the Earth Generation. Our passion is embedded in our daily work, our changed behaviour where wearing the ‘Green Glasses’ means something. It is real. It is from the heart. We have travelled across continents, seen beauty and sadness, poverty and the plight of the environment. We must make a difference now, change a way of life and change the world.”

The GE school councils will meet again later this year at the first Annual Generation Earth Youth Summit which will take place prior to COP17, the 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference, hosted in Kwa-Zulu Natal. At this summit schools from across South Africa will be invited to showcase what they have done environmentally. It will be a forum for discussion, debate and interaction between schools, communities, local government and corporate South Africa.

Catherine Constantinides one of the founding members stated, “We have lived on a principal of “take, make and waste”, Only Now are we becoming conscious of the need to understand how it was made and where did it come from, and where is it going to. Only now are we asking, What can I do? Can I make a difference?

We believe that the launch of this organisation will develop green carbon conscious consumers, and business leaders of tomorrow. Our age of humanity will be known for its excess and extravagance. The technical age gave way to a freedom that has expanded human boundaries. Regrettably man has used this for pleasure, comfort and luxury.

The time has come for people to stand together and make a difference as a unit. If we do not we face disasters that we do not yet comprehend. We have not fully understood that our behaviour has caused our existence on earth to be threatened.”

Generation Earth officially launches its Website , Facebook and social media platforms in order for this to be a fully-fledged green movement that embraces the youth, where they are at how they interact with each other and the earth around them.

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Catherine Constantinides and Kevin Nassiep CEO SA National Energy Research Institute.