2009
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Dr. Laszlo Nagy, former Secretary General of WOSM, on Friday 18 December in Geneva. He played a vital role in reforming World Scouting and his memory will remain with us for a long time.
December 16, 2009 WOSM delegates held a side event at the Bella Centre that was to serve as the platform for some of the youth of the movement attending the Scouts for Climate Summit sharing with us their stories of how environmental awareness and education from within Scouting continues to affect their lives, the lives of their communities and the lives of all people around the world.
Copenhagen, Denmark: "Volunteers do. Volunteers act. They are doing something about climate change; making things happen and improving lives," said UN Volunteers Executive Coordinator Flavia Pansieri at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP15) yesterday. "Millions of people are taking action for the environment as volunteers. Their actions are more powerful than any statement about solving climate change and they deserve recognition and support. Governments need to take note and include volunteers in their solutions to climate change."
15 December, 2009 - As part of the engaging activities of the COP15 Delegation of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), delegates had an opportunity to discuss the latest positions on the climate agreement with the European Union's Environment Ministers. This meeting provided a close insight of the policies that each of the countries within this region are fighting for.
The Danish Scouts and Guides are holding a Climate Camp throughout the two weeks of the United Nations Climate Change Conference. The aim of the camp is to highlight the importance of climate change and the need for everyone to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. It does this by engaging adults and young people in a variety of fun, Scouting activities.
December 14- Scouts attended one of the many high level youth briefings that occur throughout the duration of the Conference. This 30-minute event provided an opportunity for Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC] to make a short intervention to discuss the linkages between climate science and COP 15 negotiations. His discussion relating to the processes of IPPC was followed by questions from youth in attendance.
On Thursday 10th December the voices of young people around the world were heard at the UNFCCC COP 15 Conference. Youth and Future Generations Day was an opportunity for youth organizations to share their thoughts and ideas on climate change through a variety of actions, workshops and presentations. Scouting joined in this celebration of youth with a presentation explaining why Scouts are part of the solution to climate change. The presentation, given to a wide audience of conference participants, focused on showcasing what Scouts are doing all around the world to raise awareness of climate change and how Scouts are taking action to improve the environment.
Twenty year old Simon Maddrell was one in a group of 14 Venture Scouts who travelled from the United Kingdom to Kenya as volunteers. Their mission was to build sand dams and water tanks to collect run-off water from domestic roofs.
During the planning stages of their work, Simon was introduced to Joshua, a Kenyan agriculturalist who had pioneered a method of conserving water in drought-afflicted areas. Together with Joshua, they decided to raise £14,500 and build a dam, six barrages and 30 water tanks. In less than two years they actually raised £32,500 to build three dams, six barrages and 70 water tanks!
Copenhagen- 7 December 2009, marked the start of the worlds most important and anticipated United Nations Climate Change Conference. COP15 was opened by the Danish Prime Minister Lars Rasmussen who set the tone and stakes of the conference which are to set a strong, ambitious, just, equitable, effective, operational, exclusive and transparent agreement at the end of the two week period.
Clean Up the World and the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) are celebrating the second year of their Ally relationship in 2009 by working together under the banner of “Communities uniting to Combat Climate Change”.
Clean Up the World and WOSM are proof in point that partnerships such as their Ally Relationship can bring about tangible improvements in the environment, create opportunities to connect with others and have fun in the process. As each of the organisations works in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme, their individual missions are strengthened through this Alliance.
