I was not present at the Rio+20, but due to curious reasons I have been following the blogs and volunteers updates. The real political conclusions at the end of the day will anyway make the headlines but I was particularly interested with the thousands of delegates who flock to the conference venue each year.

While I was a youth delegate at COP 17, Durban, one of the liveliest times was the last days. Everyone at the top of pyramid wanted to make the minimum damage to his/her political relations at the same time wriggling out of any hardcore responsibilities (read environment) without bringing any drastic slowdown to the current economic growth. While the end days approach the hope-carrying volunteers and activities see how tactfully the big decisions were sided out. So they make one last desperate attempt to get down on the ground and protest against their countries?leaders, if they see their country not doing fair (Remember Fossil Awards? Ah!), regardless of getting de-accredited from the conference. It was a first time for me and I had some lame doubts somewhere in me, like if they are doing it just because they find it cool, how many of them really believed that their mere protests outside the venue will make the world leaders to re-consider the decisions etc. One of the senior delegates from my country became very sentimental for the right reasons and took time to describe her experience at COP 15, Copenhagen, where the activists including her dared the snowfall and went with silent protest with burning candles in their hands. I saw a vast difference among the political leaders, these climate activists and the general public who I represented few months back.

It has been a couple of days since Rio +20 ended. And I have been reading a couple of blogs and websites, so I would like to report a couple of them. The official document of UNCSD ?he Future We Want?was ripped down due to dissatisfaction among the activists. Bill McKibben, the founder of 350.org joined the youth delegates?demonstration. One of the Amazonian tribes protested against the multi-billion project of building hydroelectric dam on River Xingu, which demands relocation of more than 20,000 people in Altamira. The Brazilian environmental minister stressed how the developing countries are committing towards sustainable development while the richer ones sit and watch back. It was also reported that there was riot police and armed ropes lined up outside the conference venue. Many activists walked out of the venue surrendering their accreditation badge to the conference security...all for the planet's peace...Agreed no sweet happiness has been easy, but the delay might prove stupid and please someone make those people in power to understand: The quicker, the less ugly.