2015 is finally here and what a very important year it promises to be for all of us. Governments the world over will, in September 2015, agree a road map by which all countries and states will work to ensure key issues of global importance are dealt with at a local, national, and global level for the betterment of humanity. The issues include: poverty, hunger, health, education, gender, water, sanitation, energy, industry, sustainable development, environment, climate change, forests, peace, partnership – all issues that concern all of us in different ways.
Ireland and Kenya are the two countries with responsibility for chairing the negotiations that will produce the roadmap and world goals (currently being called Sustainable Development Goals) which is a huge role to play on the global stage.
This sounds big, and it is! However…it will only be a success and meaningful if all of us – you and me – are involved and play our part.
To raise awareness, increase understanding, promote debate, and have more people involved, 2015 has been designated the European Year for Development.
The European Year for Development will be officially launched on 22 January in Ireland. One week earlier, on 15 January 2015, Ireland will begin our campaign by organising a THUNDERCLAP to raise awareness amongst people in Ireland that 2015 will be an important year for EVERYONE and that YOUNG PEOPLE are at the heart of making 2015 and beyond a success. We ask you, your colleagues and your friends to help us make some ‘noise’ on January 15th through this thunderclap via: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/20628-young-people-unite-for-change
Also…
On 15/1/15 we want to let the voices of 14 and 15 year old young people do the talking
The European Year for Development is, in essence, about changing the way people in Ireland think about global issues, and about their role as change makers.
Young people will be amongst those most affected by the decisions made in 2015 – it’s their futures at stake. They will also play an important role in monitoring progress and holding world leaders to account on agreements reached in 2015. By focusing on bringing together 15 year olds in countries around the world we will send a powerful message about the importance of the decisions made in 2015 for their future and for generations to come.
We want to encourage people to think of themselves as global citizens, with opportunities to help make the world a better place. And we want to do that, by providing them with lots of inspiring examples of how “people power” is already making a huge difference.
And there is where YOU come in!
Over the next weeks, we would like you to go out and ask young people to speak out.
For instance:
- A group of 15 young people (aged 14/15 years) take a photo of themselves, requesting a 15 minute meeting with the Taoiseach, to present their ideas of what Ireland should do as co-chair of the world government negotiations (called the Post-2015 process/agenda) taking place at the United Nations in New York (we can help the group prepare for any meeting set up)
- Young people record a message about who or what inspires them to work towards a better world / saying what they think needs to be done to make a better world. (As an example, you can use this recording from Eva, who feels inspired by Malala)
- Your organisation’s staff and supporters take part in a Tweet/Facebook Day action on 15 January, highlighting the historic opportunity that 2015 presents (see some suggested messages below)
- Use the creative launch idea concept of “I am 15”. Each 15 year old could write their own “I am 15” message and hand this over to their leader or share using social media or film #Iam
- Take a photo of the individual/group asking them what their hopes are for the futureYouth leaders/workers could dig out photos of themselves at 15 years and tell us what their hopes were when they were 15 years
- Hold a launch at a well-known landmark or building
- Create a giant 15 or take 15 balloons to the meeting or stick a 15 badge to the famous landmark or to a photo online
- Or…come up with a far better idea yourself!!
We are doing this under the Dóchas umbrella as they are taking the lead on the European Year for Development in Ireland. It would be great to have YOU involved too! For more information on the European Year for Development (#EYD2015), please see here: https://dochasnetwork.wordpress.com/2014/09/16/2015-the-european-year-of-development/
If you have any questions or wish to become involved – which would be fantastic! – please email me deved@nyci.ie We are hoping to share information from young people and youth organisations with the general public on and before January 15th via our Twitter: @nycinews and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NationalYouthCouncil
Help us make this happen.
Thank you.
Suggested Messages:
2015 is here – 2015 can be a pivotal year to change the future of our people and our planet
2015 is a year during which important decisions will be made
2015 is the year of two United Nations summits that can change the course of history – September 2015 new goals will be agreed – a new framework for humanity – to tackle poverty, inequality and environmental destruction and December 2015 new climate action targets will be set, a crucial step towards a safer planet.
2015 is a year of opportunity to secure a more secure and sustainable future for people and planet
2015 is when our leaders write their ‘to do lists’ for a generation and what comes out of those negotiations will reveal how ambitious they are – or aren’t – for the kind of world we can build together.
The commitments in 2015 could achieve huge things, like: An end to extreme poverty by 2030 that condemns millions of people, especially women and girls, to an early death, poor education and ill health; a turning point in the soaring levels of inequality and discrimination driven by economic policies that deliver for the few rather than the many; an accelerated transition to 100% renewable energy so that a safe climate and sustainable economy – with all its benefits for people and planet – is possible.
There is lots at stake in 2015 because I know three things – firstly, the world is off track for ending poverty, tackling inequality and avoiding dangerous climate change; secondly, it doesn’t have to be this way: we’ve already shown we can halve child deaths and protect the ozone layer. We know how to fix problems – even really big ones – when we try; thirdly, it will take pressure from us, you and me, to get world leaders to make and keep the big commitments we need for a better world.
We are a movement of people around the world who will ensure that when political leaders meet and define their positions in the agreements in 2015, they will know that millions and millions of people like you and me are watching and listening because we are…‘Demanding our Human Rights; Listening to their promises; Ready to hold them accountable for what they do in the years to come.
