Within this campaign of youth, climate change and forestry, a four days workshop was held from 16-19th April in Bhairahawa with the aim to aware and sensitize local youths on climate change and forestry issues and inspire them to  carry out the climate action campaigns in their local communities. Around 40 youths participated in the workshop that was followed a school awareness campaign at more than 54 schools and more than 5,000 students and 500 members of 50 CFUGs. 

Mr. Rajan Thapa, Regional Coordinator has been really inspired by the enthusiasm and commitment of local youths to work for climate action. Though, it might not have the immediate visible benefits for local livelihoods, but the local people are self-assured that it has future benefits, said Thapa. Within some ten years, they will be greatly benefit by the fodders and plants. 

Children planting in Nepal

According to Mr. Thapa, the local youths are committed to inspect the plants weekly. A committee of local people has been established to save and protect the plants from livestock and other anthropogenic activities. All the local youths will further inspect the plantation areas weekly.

Trees protect the soils from erosion.

Trees are the most important and most effective means of mitigation carbon dioxide. Further the plantation in the eroded lands will help in the soil conservation, controlling floods reducing its impacts in agriculture lands and settlements.

Many people help the youths to plant.

The tree plantation campaign is gaining further momentum with Ek ghar-Ek Biruwa (One home-one plant) campaign in Kawasati Bazaar area, Taulihawa and from Butwal to Salchandi, Dipal Danda. A survey was done in 50 houses to ensure the implementation of this campaign. 

From 18- 31 July, in the Terai region of Nepal took place interesting two weeks:
Over 100,000 trees were planted in western Terai in these two weeks with active participation of youth locals and children.

Since last year, the ambassadors for climate justice have covered the mouths of more than 100 celebrities. As one positive consequence, the advertising agency Legas Delaney , responsible for the campaign "Stop talking. Start planting.", was able to prevail over many other combatants and reached the final round, competing against five other contestants in the category GWA Social Effie. All in all, 43 out of 135 will take part in the final round and line up for for gold, silver and bronze - 37 in the category for economy and six in the GWA Social Effie category.


Felix and Peter Maffay

Next to the Plant-for-the-Planet campaign "Stop talking.Start planting." the following will take part in the GWA Social Effie National/International category's final round as well: The Ministery for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth for "Alter schafft Neues" with the title "Zähl Taten, nicht Falten" developed by the agency BBDO Berlin; and the 'Hochschulinitiative Neue Bundesländer, Kultusministerium des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt, Referat 41' for "Ostdeutsche Hochschulen" with the title "Studieren in Fernost" by Scholz & Friends|Aperto.

The GWA Effie rewards efficient and effective marketing-communication and awards the price for the 29th time this year. The winners will be announced at a gala in Berlin on October 8th. Until then, the suspence continues and our fingers are crossed. In any case, we will be represented in Berlin- and of course we would like to take the award home with us.

Last May, a very active planting group dibbled 4,715 trees in the central part of the country. Children from 84 schools all over the provinces are involved in the project.

This year, they also have a great plan: "We will plant around 5,000 trees every month in all provinces of the country till December 2010" said Maximin Djondo, working at the Environment and Education Society in Cotonou, Jericho. With lots of children and numerous schools, it won’t be hard to reach the goal for 2010.

The group is also very engaged to find sponsors and international partners to make their dream come true.

 

Planting trees in Benin is fun!
 
 
Until 2017 the children from Benin have a big goal: Plant 100 million trees!

 
Dossoumou Liamidi with the Plant-for-the-Planet shirt and Salako Yves in front of their 100 million pledge.

Pähl / Berlin, 1. July, 2010 – The members of the student-initiative Plant-for-the-Planet, which has actively promoted climate justice since 2007, have formulated their call to action into a three-point plan and presented it in personal letters written to the leaders of 133 nations from around the world on the 1st of July 2010.  The letters and the included three-point plan calls for global action to be taken in order to secure the children’s future.

A group of 23 students from Berlin personally delivered the letters to each embassy so that they would be forwarded on to their respective head of state.

This direct request to the leaders of so many countries is an effort to spur global action in advance of the next climate summit in Cancún, Mexico in December 2010 -- which has become all the more crucial after the failure of the Copenhagen summit.

1. Put carbon in the museum. Technology for a CO2-free future already exists. CO2 emissions need to be reduced to zero by 2050.

2. Establish climate justice. In order to limit global warming to the 2˚C that was promised in prior agreements, only 600 billion tons of CO2 may be emitted in total.  600 divided by 40 is 15 billion tons of CO2 each year.  Furthermore, this 600 billion needs to be fairly distributed among the world’s population: everybody should get the same amount, 1.5 tons of CO2 per person per year. Whoever wants more should then have to pay for it.  By doing this, climate justice will also help put to poverty in the museum as well.

3. Plant trees. 500 billion trees will absorb an additional 5 billion tons of CO2 every year. 500 billion trees sounds like a huge amount to plant, but it is possible. The Chinese alone planted 2.7 billion trees as contribution to the UNEP-Billion Tree Campaign in 2009. If everybody planted as many trees as he or she is aged in years, 500 billion trees would quickly be achieved.

In their letter, the children are requesting a response by Sept, 30, from each of these 133 government leaders describing what their country will do in order to combat the climate crisis and save the children’s future.  These proposals will then be presented and discussed at the next international children’s conference in October 2010.

Along with their letter the students presented each country’s ambassador with a copy of their latest book, “Tree by Tree – We Children are Saving the World Now,” in which they explain their motives and goals in a penetrating but understandable way and inspire other children to join in with Plant-for-the-Planet and take action to protect their own future.

By 2020 students want to expand their international network of "Ambassadors for Climate Justice" to include a million children from all over the world.

Source: Plant-for-the-Planet (English)

Munyaradzi attended the Young Agenda 2010 International Children’s Conference on the Environment which was held in the Stavanger region in Norway from the 2 to 5 June 2010. The conference welcomed 250 children between the ages of 10 and 14, representing more than 14 countries. Munyaradzi was elected to be the first Young Agenda Young Ambassador for Africa. Among the responsibilities of the Young Ambassadors are raising environmental awareness among young people, advising Young Agenda on ways to better engage children and helping to build and facilitate networks around the globe. They also lead children-action campaign in their regions.

Upon his return Munyaradzi gave a report of the conference on his school assembly, he has been continued education people on the importance of trees. Munyaradzi went to the Royal Norwegian Embassy to give them some feed back of his visit to Norway and he met the Deputy Ambassador Mr. Tor Kubberud. Munyaradzi managed to take some pictures for  “Stop talking. Start planting”. Munyaradzi wants to use this action point to raise awareness in Zimbabwe.  

Ntv, a Turkish TV Channel transmitted news about Plant-for-the-Planet. Thanks to a supporter who translated the text you can read the message of the announcement:

When a child in Germany understood that bureaucrats did not do anyting about climate changing, he settled down to work.

Felix Finkbeiner who is 9 years old decided to plant 1 million tree in Germany. He made a presentation and people listened to him. Actually Wangari Maathai, who is an environmentalist from Kenya, gave him an inspiration. Felix was determined about 1 million tree in each country of the world. After 3 years Germany had 1 million more tree. ,..., Felix understood that bureaucrats did not do anything. He decided that there should be some actions and worked for it. He said: "We children thought about that we were diddled, especially after the congress in Copenhagen’’. Felix set up Plant-for-the-Planet Foundation and started the campaign "Stop talking. Start planting’’.

You can read view the Turkish article here.

(Source: Screenshot http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/id/25109386/)

Plant-for-the-Planet was invited by the United Nations Department of Public Information to participate in a United Nations Student Conference entitled "Biodiversity and Climate Change" in observance of World Environment Day. Felix represented Plant-for-the-Planet by participating in the video conference from Munich and interacting with students and children in New York, Kuwait and Nigeria.

The British Council is a partner for this student conference and has also invited a number of their youth climate champions to take on the role of facilitators for the group discussions. UN-Under Secretary General of Communication and Public Information Kiyo Akasaka mentioned the children's campaign "Stop Talking. Start Planting." already in the opening of the conference. Gordon Slaven, Consellor of the UK to the UN said "The young have to take the lead not tomorrow, but today, because it might be too late tomorrow."

The young woman in the green shirt, the Nigerian spokesperson, announced to start "Stop talking. Start planting." the other day, June 5th, in Nigeria! The participants of the video conference agreed "Climate Justice" to be a central issue towards Cancún.

Have a look at this beautiful prizewinning poem from 13 year old Bali Posner-Tal from England. It´s on a trees "feelings" when it is cut down:

ITS END
 
Fear prickled the leaves, an illusion of wind
running through its foliage. The tangible feeling
ran deep into its ancient structure of bark. A hum
heard; the tremors felt upon the surface ground.
A slash through the tree's fabric of being and the
life force beneath was severed.  It fell.
 
Bali Posner-Tal (13)

May 11th, 2010, in the South West Region of Cameroon, students from both primary and secondary schools, under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment and Protection of Nature and in collaboration with key partners of the environment, GTZ, IUCN, and the WWF, organised a competition between schools and environmentally-focused clubs and associations.  This event was one of the activities marking the celebration of the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity.

Amongst those selected for the competition were the students of the Fako branch of the Little Angels of the Environment Cameroon (LANEC), who at the end of the competition launched a “green-wave” in schools all over the Fako division by calling on every school present to plant a tree for the planet.  The President of the Fako Branch, 10-year-old Fungwi Harris, called all the participating schools to carryout a Plant-for-the-Planet campaign in their different schools under the slogan, “More Trees.  More Lives.”

This brilliant initiative was encouraged by the South West Regional Delegate for the Environment Mr Nchia Peter, who personally awarded a special prize to the LANEC Association, for their activities related to the environment.  He used the occasion, however, to call on more than 100 students drawn from different public and private institutions to emulate the example of LANEC.  While waiting for a declaration of the final results of the competition, the inquisitive students discussed issues of biodiversity and spent the rest of the day asking questions and learning more about environmental issues.

It is worth mentioning that the Fako Branch of LANEC was installed last July in 2009, during a summer holiday of the National Beach Cleaning Tour, organised by the founding members of LANEC based in Yaounde. This group has given many environmental education and awareness lectures in the Fako division, one of the pledges made during the International Children’s Conference that took place in South Korea in August 2009.  During this conference the children who represented LANEC made a pledge to plant trees for Climate Justice, and this activity falls in line with those commitments. Moreover, there will be a National Come Together in Kribi in July 2010, for another beach cleaning activity that will be followed by a tree planting exercise.

Noteworthy individuals present during this event were the National Chair of LANEC, Madam Priscilla Song, one of the Advisers Mr. Nchamukong Emmanuel, the Communications Delegate for Fako Madam Jacky Gam., and the event organizer Mr Nchia Peter, the South West Regional delegate for the Environment.

Tosam Delphine for LANEC News.

Three spots along the road in the village of Shahtoul were chosen.

The Environmental Pioneers have been working all year for this day. In honor of this year's International Year of Biodiversity, they have spearheaded a fundraising campaign at IC for their planting tree drive.

Students spent the day clearing weeds, digging, planting and mulching.

Locals seemed quite interested in students showing up in their village and quickly offered coffee to the accompanying adults.
"You plant them here and there," guided Emily Shlehleh as shoots were alongside her home, "and I will water them."
Even IC’s bus driver got in the act, grabbed a shovel and gave out instructions.

"I'm a farmer's boy from Baalbek," he said laughing. "It's about time these city kids learn how to plant!"
Finally, it was over. Exhausted students boarded the bus.

"I just loved putting in my hands in the soil," said Farah Arabi, 13.

We have chosen a location on Mt. Petersberg in Bonn for the millionth tree. It will stand directly in front of the entrance to the Petersberg Hotel. The plans are such: At 2:00 pm the Ministers will take a break from their negotiations and come to the hotel, where 45 children will be waiting. Then together we will plant the millionth tree. Afterward, the photo shoot will take place in the banquet hall where the photographers will be waiting. The children and Ministers will then pose for photos with the children’s hands over the Minister’s mouths, symbolically saying, "Stop Talking. Start Planting."

Less than 50,000 Trees to the Millionth!
There have already been 19 planting parties in Germany. Only 50,000 more trees until we reach a million! Every tree and donation counts toward helping us reach this goal. It’s really quite easy to do: just speak with an adult and a park ranger in your area in order to find a place to plant some trees, then hold a planting party by registering it on our worldwide map and invite some friends with our e-cards, and let them know about our campaign. Help us! Together we can reach a million!

Everyone can Help Plant the Trees!
We are not only planting the millionth tree on the 4th of May. The rangers from Bonn have two great places where we can plant 2000 more trees in just 20 minutes. And at this location, everybody can help! Register with us on our website!

During the Earth Day 2010 on the 22nd April the National Youth Development Network – Guyana in collaboration with Earth Day Network, The Caribbean Youth Environment Network –Guyana Chapter and the Agriculture Department of Mahaicony Secondary had a tree planting activity in the school. Before they started their planting session Mr. Elon McCurdy made a presentation about the importance of trees to the environment and explained that it is very important that children get involved to this topic and learn that maintenance is one of the most important factors to fight climate change.

After the presentation they went outside and planted 150 trees at the Agriculture Department of Mahaicony Secondary which is located in the east of Guyana.

In the Moon Palace Hotel - where the UN-Climate-Summit COP16 will take place in December 2010 Palace, Cancun Mexico - Natalia, Hugo and Felix gave a presentation. Afterwards Felix was asked to sign the golden book.

Felipe Calderon’s and Felix' signature                         


This is what Felix wrote into the hotel's golden book:

15/Abril/2010

For most adults future means 20, 30 or 40 years, for us children future means 80 or 90 years. So we children will fight for our future. Copenhagen was a failure and we can not allow that the same will happen in Cancun. We need a Cancun Protocol based on climate justice. Talking alone will not keep the glaciers from melting and the rainforests from disappearing.
Stop talking. Start planting.

Felix Finkbeiner

Watch the video about Felix in Moon Palace, Cancun Mexico

• "Calling all Society members to think about climate changes and start the campaign "STOP TALKING. START PLANTING""
• To create Children TV channel
• To develop Children Communication systems via national internet social network
• To build network among the children from different countries and organize exchange programs, conferences, camps and etc.

During his holidays Felix presented "Stop talking. Start planting" to students of the Centro Educativo, Monteverde. During his presentation he mentioned that Mexico, in particular Cancun, will be one of the most important places concerning the climate and a planetary contract based on climate justice. He also said that, “If the delegates in Copenhagen, would have planted trees the entire week, the outcome for our climate would have been bigger”. Felix then told the children about our activities in Germany, and he invited them to join the planting of the millionth tree in Germany together with 45 environmental ministers from around the world during the preparations of the next UN-Climate Conference.

After his presentation, many children wanted to support the Plant-for-the-Planet activities and preparations for the Climate Conference in Mexico next December. The first members of a Plant-for-the-Planet Steering Committee in Mexico were announced and gave an interview to the media. The first trees were planted, and Dr. José Luis Pech Várguez, Rector University of Quintana Roo and Lic. Adolfo Rivera Hinojosa, Director Instituto Cumbres, Chetumal, Quintana Roo both supported the "Stop talking. Start planting" campaign.

Because of the eruption of a vulcano in Europe, Felix and his family could not return to their home in Germany. So Felix and his sisters attended the school in Mexico. Felix received many invitations to give more presentations and he continued sharing the ideas and vision of the student initiative: at the Instituto Cumbres at the University Chetumal, Colegio Ingles and the Moon Palace Hotel where he was asked to sign the golden book after speaking.

In 2007 Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, together with the prime minister Singh from India asked for "Climate Justice". The Plant-for-the-Planet children will remind her and all her colleagues about that concept which seems to have been forgotten. Many Plant-for-the-Planet-Children in Mexico are already preparing a warm welcome for the delegates of the UN-Climate-Summit 2010.


Dr. José Luis Pech Várguez Lic. Adolfo Rivera Hinojosa

Thanks to in (alphabetic order) Ceci Alcantara, Karin Wrege Gastelaars, Lic. Adolfo Rivera Hinojosa, Profra. Adriana Lechón, Jorgo Miridis, Magnolia Negrete, Marco Polo Negrete, Ing. Raul Negrete, Arq Roberto Sanchez, Dr. José Luis Pech Várguez and many, many others for organizing the meetings.

We have chosen a location on Mt. Petersberg in Bonn for the millionth tree. It will stand directly in front of the entrance to the Petersberg Hotel. The plans are such: At 2:00 pm the Ministers will take a break from her negotiations and come to the hotel, where 45 children will be waiting. Then together we will plant the millionth tree. Afterward, the photo shoot will take place in the banquet hall, where the photographers will be waiting. The children and Ministers will pose for the photo with the children’s hands over the Minister’s mouths, symbolically saying, "Stop Talking. Start Planting."

Less than 50,000 Trees to the Millionth!
There have already been 19 planting parties in Germany. Only 50,000 trees until we reach a million! Every tree and donation counts toward helping us reach this goal. It’s really quite easy to do: just speak with an adult and a park ranger in order to find a place to plant some trees, then hold a planting party by registering it on our worldwide map and invite some friends with our e-cards, and let them know about our campaign. Help us! Together we can reach a million!

Everyone can Help Plant the Trees!
We are not only planting the millionth tree on the 4th of May. The rangers from Bonn have two great places, where we can plant 2000 more trees in just 20 minutes. And at this location, everybody can help! Register with us on our website!

Here the Ministers will meet with us, and help us plant the millionth tree in front of the hotel!

We will be planting here as well! There is enough space for 2000 more trees!