Tag Archives: Durban 2011

Stop dreaming, start acting

Posted on December 6, 2011 by | Leave a comment

By Njideka Onwunyi

I have for a very long time thought about what would be the best title for my first article once i create my own blog. Besides this I still wonder what would be the name of my blog. My care about a lot of issues like environmental sustainability, poverty, religion, sports, water, sanitation, green chemistry, sustainable development, creative writing, poetry, renewable energy, travel, music, and art are issues that interest and fascinate me. It is such personal concerns that urge me to voice my opinion when opportunity for same arises.

A strong belief and desire for change can be used to define me as an advocate longing for a better world. I long for a just and fair world to all, liberated from materialistic ideologies, one that respects nature and creation. A home for all that tackles with sincerity issues of climate change and environmental degradation. An ideal world for me would also have total harmony devoid of poverty. I wonder if such a world is possible! In my opinion yes, such a world is possible to realize and I invite you to join the movement of people from diverse ethnic and religious background both youthful and dreamers to such a world.

Njideka Omwunyi ready for task ahead as an advocate on climate change issues.

The fact that I know am not alone even strengthens more. Such thoughts would never have filled my mind without participating at the jointly organized eco-justice training by World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation. It has been a privilege to be part of the civil societies’ activities currently taking place at the United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Conference of Parties (COP17) meeting in Durban, South Africa.

The sessions conducted daily at the eco-justice training have enlightened me in a great way. I have learnt about the Christian perspective to eco justice, which has set a solid foundation for my future advocacy plans. I now have deeper understanding of my responsibility as a Christian to become more active in my context. Sometimes back the world struggled to believe that man would one day walk on the moon. There may be many who will read my article and rubbish it as mere ‘dreams of impossibility’; What have experienced In Durban keeps my hopes alive and am determined to amplify my voice as an advocate for eco-justice.

Ms. Njideka Onwunyi, 26 is a participant at the Eco-Justice training and she is from the Roman Catholic Church in Logos, Nigeria

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Be part of Eco-Justice change you long to see

Posted on December 2, 2011 by | Leave a comment

By Antony Fredrick Ogolla

I believe that young people are the major stakeholders when it comes to environmental concerns because the future belongs to us and our children. With this in mind then the question is: What kind of environment do we want our children to live in? If we are in a position to answer this then I think we are home and dry.

Over the years our environment has been handled carelessly by human activities and the climate change impact facing us today is a reflection of our past actions. What we face today in the world could have been avoided if all followed God’s intention at the creation for man to care for creation as opposed to exploiting the earth.

As a young person change starts with me and I believe that it is time for us to take individual responsibility and make a difference in the world. There no other options of in-action, we have to ACT failure of which the future generations will hold us accountable and squarely responsible for the environmental harm already caused.

An African saying among the Kikuyu community in Kenya may act as a lesson for all. It says-“Take care of the environment because you did not inherit it from your parents but you borrowed it from your children”.

Even as we gather as young people in Durban I would emphasize all the global youths worldwide to embrace a culture of sustainable justice for all.

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Antony Ogolla sort to find out about the COP17 venue

Posted on December 2, 2011 by | Leave a comment

World travel award for the tenth time has awarded International Conventional Centre (ICC) in Durban as the leading conference centre and top twenty centres in the world. Conference Of Parties (COP17) delegates from 190 nations meet at the centre from 28th November 2011 – 9th December, 2011. Antony Ogolla a participant at the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) youth training on eco-justice sort to find out the antiques of the building with a functional space, aesthetic environment chosen to host the climate talks.

Venue of the COP17 in Durban South Africa

The International Convention Centre (ICC) is one of advanced conference facilities in the world. Its flexibility and versality are just some of the few factors used by in the design of this state of the art technology centre. It is a purpose built-fully air conditioned centre with convention halls that are interlinked but separate. It has moveable walls that allow for a number of different venue configurations. The centre has capacity host 5000 delegates and has 7000m squared of column free floor space. With the adjacent exhibition centre, the ICC can double its capacity to accommodate 10,000 delegates. The facility boasts of 25 meeting rooms.

In terms of technology and capacity to accommodate the media the centre is able to air live broadcasts as well as house lighting suitable for TV production and filming. Delegates are able to connect with Wi-fi and generators are always on standby in event of power outage.

The COP17 delegates will also have access to banking services, medical, postal and be able to purchase stationery when need under the same roof.

ICC Durban being a world class conference facility has received accreditation from ISO and was voted as the best in the marketing category in 1998 by the International Congress and Convention Association. The centre has also been recognized by Eskom for energy efficiency award and Ceterers’guild of South Africa for excellence award.

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Security beefed up in Durban ahead of Cop17 meeting.

Posted on November 27, 2011 by | Leave a comment

By: Langa Lulanga

South African Security officials have handed over all security operations at The 17th Conference of Parties (COP17) to the United Nations. This is to ensure maximum security at the conference that will draw world leaders, Africa faith leaders,civil societies and youth representatives from around the world.

The United Nations are now in full control of the security at the International Conference Centre (ICC) that has been duped a ‘Blue zone’ until December 9, 2011. “During this period when the world is watching, there are a lot of expectations. The South African police are expected to make sure that they maintain the safety and security of all visitors in our country as well as ensuring that the security of the country at large is not compromised,” says Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Acting National Commissioner of Police.

The conference schedule to start on November 28, 2011 at the ICC in Durban will close on December 9, 2011. 20 000 delegates are expected to fly into Durban for the UN climate change conference. 
 Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) says some sections of the airport’s terminal will be limited only to COP 17 visitors, to minimize overcrowding and delays. The United Nation and South Africa security officials indicated their readiness to handle any security eventualities at the conference.

“The South African Police and its security forces have a proven track record in hosting events. I am confident that your reputation will be further enhanced by the time this premise is handed back from the UN to your proud democracy,” highlighted UN Security Chief Kevin O’Hanlon. The COP17 entered into force in 1995, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC have been meeting annually to assess progress in dealing with climate change. The COP adopts decisions and resolutions, published in reports of the COP. Successive decisions taken by the COP make up a detailed set of rules for practical and effective implementation of the Convention.

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