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We?ve got the power!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by | 30-12-2013 23:28 recommendations 0

THE word ?power? in #PowerShiftMsia serves as a double entendre, representing not just our energy sources, but also the power of the people to address and mitigate climate change.


The five-day #PowerShiftMsia event was part of the Global Power Shift (GPS) movement. The first phase of the movement started with a summit earlier this year in Istanbul, Turkey, where 500 young climate change leaders from 134 countries around the world gathered.


The second phase now involves getting those climate change leaders to create their own power shift movements back in their home countries.

Malaysia?s very own power shift took place earlier this month at a resort in Kajang, Selangor and for this BRATs reporter, it was definitely an amazing event.

All 30 participants (aged 18 to 30) – including some from Indonesia, Finland, Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan and Singapore – were enthusiastic throughout the event, all ready to promote and encourage environmental conservation.

The seven Malaysian representatives at GPS worked between their busy schedules with 40 dedicated young volunteers to put together #PowerShiftMsia in less than a month.

The workshop focused on empowering young people with skills in policy and governance, digital campaigning, creative activism and media. The aim by the end of the five days was to help participants become more confident, so they can initiate their own climate change awareness movements and campaigns.

Participants also got the chance to meet climate change leaders such as United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) climate change negotiator Dr Gary W. Theseira, environmental activist Gurmit Singh, Environmental Protection Society Malaysia (EPSM) president Nithi Nesadurai, Eco Knights founder/director Yasmin Rasyid and Random Alphabets co-founder Zain HD.

One of the participants, 18-year-old Form Six student Jassyla Julius, flew in from Sabah to join #PowerShiftMsia, hoping to learn how to initiate more effective campaigns. Ever since the proposal of the Kaiduan Dam in February 2008, Jassyla and the people in her village have been using all possible methods to campaign against the construction.


At the moment, their efforts have seemed futile, but they have still not given up hope. They are continuing to fight for the human rights of the Kadazandusun Murut community living in the area, as well as the preservation of some of our oldest rainforests.


The most important message of #PowerShiftMsia, however, is never to be discouraged by small numbers. Everything has to start somewhere, but it can also create a ripple effect. After all, as Adrian Yeo, one of the organisers, said: ?This is just the beginning.?


Guest speaker Steve McCoy added: ?You, the Gen Y, are the most important generation in the history of mankind, and you need to do something to save this world because otherwise it will be too late to pick up the pieces.


By ROXANNE LOW

brats@thestar.com.my

*To know more about the #PowerShiftMsia,movement go to world.350.org/malaysia/.

 
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14 Comments

  • says :
    Well reported
    Posted 08-01-2014 19:33

  • Rohan Kapur says :
    Great initiative
    Posted 06-01-2014 14:25

  • says :
    You are right. Youth have got power. We need to spend it for right cause.
    Posted 01-01-2014 23:26

  • says :
    thanks for sharing
    Posted 31-12-2013 23:22

  • says :
    nice initiatives
    Posted 31-12-2013 20:43

  • says :
    loved the initiative
    Posted 31-12-2013 20:35

  • says :
    nice initiative
    Posted 31-12-2013 15:01

  • says :
    I too believe, youths are the synonym of power and when they unite nothing is left undone.... nice report...
    Posted 31-12-2013 11:00

  • says :
    It's great to see youth getting power because we will live the future, the result of current consumerism life style. Right?
    Posted 31-12-2013 09:29

  • says :
    what a power, nice initiatives
    Posted 31-12-2013 00:40

  • says :
    thanks for sharing
    Posted 30-12-2013 23:50

  • says :
    thanks for sharing...

    Posted 30-12-2013 23:38

  • says :
    great!!
    Posted 30-12-2013 23:37

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