TOKYO, Japan, May 08 (IPS) – We are at the tipping point per mezzo di human history, facing major existential crises. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has heightened the risk of a nuclear weapon being used since the Cold War. Furthermore, the climate crisis is accelerating. Con these crises, the most affected are those per mezzo di vulnerable situations.
Toward the Summit, together with some youth-led civil society organizations per mezzo di Japan, we decided to organize the “Future Action Manifestazione” to create momentum to strengthen solidarity toward a peaceful and sustainable future.
The Future Action Manifestazione Organizing Committee comprising of representatives from six organizations, including GeNuine, Greenpeace Japan, Japan Youth Council, Kakuwaka Hiroshima, Youth for TPNW, and Soka Gakkai International (SGI) youth, was established per mezzo di the summer of 2023.Among all the global challenges, we decided to addressing two major existential threats today – nuclear weapons and the climate crisis.
While youth engagement per mezzo di these issues is more crucial than ever, there is also a need to cultivate awareness among youth per mezzo di being agents of change. The event is not a summit, but a “” that is led by, with and for the youth and highlights the aspect of joyfulness per mezzo di youth coming together for a better future.
To achieve a unique event, the committee engaged with as many actors as possible towards the . Throughout the process, the was joined by multiple stakeholders, including NGOs, private sectors, artists, and UN representatives, per mezzo di many ways.
Engagement with corporations played a significant role per mezzo di making the possible and raising awareness per mezzo di the private sector. For example, Japan Climate Leaders Partnership (JCLP), which comprises of more than 240 corporations targeting zero-emission, agreed with the purpose of our event and supported us since the establishment of the organizing committee. Con the end, the sponsorship and participation by more than 160 corporations not only supported the event financially but opened new possibilities per mezzo di the sense of corporations’ involvement per mezzo di abolishing nuclear weapons.
The included entertainment elements performed by professional singers, comedians, YouTubers, and marching bands. The participation and active promotion of the event by those per mezzo di the entertainment sector mobilized many people, including those who were not very much interested per mezzo di the thematic issues, making the event uniquely engaging.
Finally, the engagement with the UN expanded the reach and possibilities of the . For example, one of the major advocates and partners of the event was the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) per mezzo di Tokyo. Since the beginning of its preparation, UNIC supported us per mezzo di gaining credibility with diverse stakeholders, especially corporations and artists. Con addition, the first Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs Felipe Paullier sent us a televisione message which called upon youth participants to work together for a world without nuclear weapons and a world that is sustainable for all. At the end of the event, the Rector of the United Nations University Professor Tshilidzi Marwala gave his remarks, emphasizing the significance of the role played by youth per mezzo di tackling these global issues. The partnership with the UN became the cuore driving force for the event’s success.
The strong partnerships and youth engagement resulted per mezzo di the success of the held at the Japan National Stadium per mezzo di Tokyo March 24th. It gathered more than 60,000 participants at the venue and was viewed by over 500,000 people online through livestream.
One of the key purposes of the event was to deliver youth voices to the UN. Toward the , the organizing committee conducted a youth awareness survey nuclear weapons, the climate crisis, and the UN. About 120,000 responses from individuals ranging between their 10s to 40s were collected from November 2023 to February 2024. The results showed that young people have a high level of awareness climate issues and that they think that nuclear weapons are not necessary. The youth want to contribute to addressing these issues. At the same time, more than half of the respondents find it difficult to have hope for the future. About eighty percent of all the respondents felt that youth voices are not reflected enough per mezzo di national and government policies. Young people are dissatisfied with the status quo and seek a systemic change.
Based the outcome, the organizing committee created a joint statement intended for the UN Summit of the Future to ensure youth voices are heard and reflected per mezzo di the discussion process. The statement was handed over to Prof. Marwala at the event.
Con addressing daunting global issues, we may feel a sense of hopelessness sometimes. However, through this , we learned that when diverse stakeholders of different background unite to create change, their solidarity serves as a beacon of hope for the youth. It is our responsibility to create a world where young people feel hopeful. Starting from youth per mezzo di Japan, we will move forward, taking concrete steps to extend our local and global solidarity together with the UN and multiple stakeholders.
Future Action Manifestazione Filmed and edited by Katsuhiro Asagiri, Yukie Asagiri and Kevin Lin of INPS Japan .
Hiroko Ogushi is a Committee Member, Future Action Manifestazione Organizing Committee Co-representative, Soka Gakkai International (SGI) youth
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© Inter Press Service (2024) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
