African children say “shocked”’ by what they hear on climate change
By Tesfa-Alem Tekle
December 14, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) – Children in Ethiopia over the week end said that they are extremely concerned about what the world is talking about now, the burning issue of climate change.
Ethiopian Prime minister Meles Zenawi-led Africa’s negotiating team to Copenhagen climate change summit, received bid farewell at the National Palace, in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, organized by prominent Ethiopian artistes.
At the occasion, children as young as 4 years old stood before the African negotiating team and expressed their grave concern on the posed climate change threat and requested the team to deliver their voice at the ongoing decisive UN climate summit in Denmark.
“We children of Africa are shocked by what we are hearing on climate change threats. We deserve to enjoy our childhood in a safe and clean environment” representative of the children (roughly a 5-year old girl) said to the African team.
“On behalf of us (children of Africa), you witness all you can at Copenhagen and we will also keep on crying out from your behind until our voices are heard” the child added.
The children called on the continent’s negotiating team to strongly confront world leading polluters, the industrialized nations, at Copenhagen and come back home with “good news”.
At the occasion, Africa’s lead negotiator PM Meles received similar messages from representatives of various segments of the society.
Representatives from farmers, Artists, elders, mothers, the disabled and environmentalists as well spoke their voice before the team saying how much the adverse impact of climate change has affected their life, their environment and asked the group to attach their voice to Copenhagen.
Speaking at the occasion PM Meles said that the climate issue has become a question of life and death and he ensured that the African team under his lead would leave no stone unturned to bring home continent’s demands
“We need to have adequate compensation for the damage done tour development prospects and we need money-not the phoney money that we have frequently been promised without any prospect of it being delivered but real money that can make a difference,” Meles said.
“I am deeply honoured to have been chosen by my colleague to be Africa’s spokesman on the matter and lead Africa’s negotiation team. I am sure every Ethiopian feel equally honored,” he said.
“I want to assure everyone here that I will work tirelessly and with total dedication to the fulfilment of the interests of our continent as a whole in the upcoming negotiations,” he said.
“I am determined to do so on the one hand through reaching out to the leaders of the developed countries in a constructive and flexible manner and reaching out to major developing countries seeking their solidarity with us so that no one will be tempted to ignore our voice” , he said.
African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson, Erastus Mewencha to his part said that, Africa’s decision to speak out with a common position is a landmark move for Africa that could lead for a concert out come at the summit.
He added that – Africa’s stand is that the rich and industrialized countries, support developing countries for sustainable development while the developing countries do their homework at home as a fair share to tackle the global threat.
More than 110 world leaders are due to arrive in Copenhagen on Wednesday for an intense 48-hour of final negotiation.
The African negotiating team is expected to head its way to Copenhagen late tomorrow. A source told Sudan Tribune.
Africa argues that global warming should not go beyond 2 degree Celsius and is demanding Billions of dollars as compensation for the climate change damages. The continent contributes almost zero (3%) to world’s total green house gases.
Researches indicate that climate change damages could cost Africa 30 billion dollar by the year 2015 and even up to 100 billion dollars in the year 2020.
(ST)