International Youth Day:
Live our lives
Sustainability does not only refer to maintaining environmental
balance and renewal. Sustainability encapsulates three facets of life:
the environment, society and the economy. We live our lives in the
overlaps and intersections of these facets, and our actions and
attitudes help shape them. Their changing shapes in turn affect the way
we are able to live our lives.
The negative effects of unsustainable behaviour are not easily
contained. As has been proven by the global crises in food, the economy
and the environment, the concept of the global village has gone beyond
being a useful analogy to being a hard reality, making clear the need to
adopt a global sense of social responsibility.
With these things in mind, as the energizers of today and the holders
of tomorrow, it is imperative that youth embrace the challenge of
sustainability in its fullness as they help pave the way forward through
the 21st century and beyond. Youth action, inclusion, and their full
participation are key to developing today's world for the generations of
today and tomorrow and central to a sustainable existence
Shoot Nations Photo Competition
The future of tomorrow |
To commemorate the Youth Day, young people (aged 11 to 25) from all
around the world can submit photographs and drawings to participate in a
global photography competition 'Shoot Nations'. A selection of
photographs will be presented to the United Nations and displayed at UN
Headquarters from 3-14 August in commemoration of International Youth
Day.
How you can celebrate the day
*Team up! It is a great opportunity to rally support and get key
actors involved - Governments, non-governmental organizations, academic
institutions, businesses, and young people, to focus on what has been
done to further the World Program of Action for Youth.
*Organize! Hold forums, public discussions and information campaigns
in support of young people focusing on youth issues and how they can be
addressed.
*Celebrate! Plan and organize performances everywhere to showcase,
and celebrate, the fact that youth contribute to the societies in which
they live. Convene exchanges and dialogues focusing on the rich and
varied skills, interests and aspirations of young people.
*Take action! A major focus of the Day is practical action to further
encourage the empowerment and participation of youth in the processes
and decisions that affect their lives. The media have especially
important role to play in support of the observance of the Day to
promote public awareness of youth issues.
*The United Nations Program on Youth is encouraging youth
organisations around the world to host community barter fairs for
International Youth Day. Remember, with bartering there is no money
involved, only pure exchange of goods and services.
History
The General Assembly on 17 December 1999 in its resolution 54/120,
endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers
Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be
declared International Youth Day.
The Assembly recommended that public information activities be
organized to support the Day as a way to promote better awareness of the
World Program of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, adopted
by the General Assembly in 1995 (resolution 50/81).
Courtesy UN.org |