BKs at the Local Conference of Youth for Climate Change in Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands ( Europe ) : The Local Conference of Youth for Climate Change Netherlands (LCOYNL) 2019 took place at the Amsterdam University College. The Conference of Youth (COY) is a youth-powered conference which takes place prior to the Conference of the Parties (COP) with regards to the United Nations Framework for the Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). LCOYs are held to bring forward the voice of the youth in policy decisions regarding actions for climate change.

The Brahma Kumaris Environment Initiative (BKEI) has been taking part in the COP for 10 years and in the international COYs since 2011. Youth are especially very active in raising awareness of climate-related issues, and have started local chapters of the COY. In 2019,  more than 20 LCOYs have taken place across the world.

A delegation of five members representing the Brahma Kumaris Environment Initiative traveled to Amsterdam for the Local Conference of Youth for Climate Change Netherlands, including BK Akansha from Bielefeld (Germany), BK Deepa from Berlin (Germany), BK Ilja from Hilversum (Netherlands), BK Madhava from Buchhold (Germany) and BK Niranjan from Berlin (Germany). BK Sister JC from the Philippines also spontaneously participated with her enthusiastic interest in environmental awareness.

Opening Ceremony and Workshops:

The opening ceremony of the Local Conference of Youth for Climate Change Netherlands shared real stories of some of the participants, including how they have experienced the effects of climate change in their lives. There were stories of beaches disappearing in Kerala due to rising sea levels, to ice sports disappearing in the Netherlands due to rising global temperatures. There were more than 150 participants, 25 workshops and 20 volunteers.

The first half of the day were different workshops. These included Introduction to Climate Science, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, the UN process on climate negotiations with the member countries, and climate litigation with the case of Shell, the largest mineral oil and natural gas company.

The workshop on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report shared some surprising scientific facts. For example: to limit the climate change temperature increase to 1.5 C is difficult and the temperature might even increase to 3 C. In general, it widened knowledge about the different kinds of activism taking place in the environmental sector. It made everyone aware of the needs and points of concern of the participants.

The BKs set up the exhibition stand with a poster of the “10 Ways to Change the World,” the solar plant at Shantivan, Solar One, and displayed blessing cards linked to the 10 Ways.

Plenary Discussion

The format of the Local Conference of Youth was very open, with 10 big themes, including Rail to the COP, Indigenous People’s Movement in Climate Change, Mental Health and Climate Change, and so on.

A group called Extinction Rebellion devises ways of civil disobedience by disrupting daily functioning of cities and financial institutions. Eco-anxiety is becoming more of an issue.

The Local Conference of Youth participants were very interested in the BK workshop. Many participants were open to hearing about spirituality and, in the face of environmental challenges, feminine and indigenous consciousness. We heard statements like “We cannot keep on running all the time. There is a need to stop and reflect.”

BK Workshop on “Consciousness, Consumption and Climate Change”

This workshop offered by BK entitled, “Consciousness, Consumption and Climate Change” had 15 participants. Most participants were in the age of 20 to 30 years old. The participants were very aware of their environmental duties. Many followed a vegan diet and practiced other environmentally friendly ways of living.

Participants took part in an appreciative inquiry where each one was asked for a point in their lives when a deep change took place in their consciousness. The exercise was designed for the participants to reach into their pool of inner resources and realize their strengths to deal with present and future challenges.

The discussions during the attended sessions concluded that behavioural change and value systems are key challenges in achieving climate change goals. Apart from the protest and campaigning tools, students were continually in search for new methods to be heard, which was inspiring.

The participants became aware that trying to seek happiness from the outside world was a major cause of excessive consumption. We concluded the workshop in the awareness that each one of us needs to be introspective to find the correct balance. A final guided meditation was held where the participants visualized the future while seated on their throne of empowerment.

On Day 2, BK Madhava attended a session called “Working towards ending racism in the climate movement (sustaining all life),” BK Deepa joined a session on Netherland municipality goals on being Carbon Neutral by 2050.

Concluding, the Local Conference of Youth was informative and inspirational with knowledgeable guests and speakers. The sessions gave us much more insight into climate change and the consequences of it. There was a rich mix of cultures and a wide variety of personal stories were told. These stories touched and brought all back to simplicity. Ultimately, a vision of a better world has much more impact than an individual might think. It helps one to make the first move; others will follow.

Ellen, Shanti, Jacqueline, Louis, Rakesh of the Amsterdam BK family and Daksh from Cologne (Germany) supported the logistics of the event and the Local Conference of Youth for Climate Change Netherlands team.

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