By Zanny Begg
"I have been a big fan of EYA since its beginning. Young people have enormous potential to influence the world ... You speak the truth from the most powerful position — it's your future at stake. I hope you will participate in the National Conference of EYA and work to save our future", writes Environmental Youth Alliance sponsor David Suzuki.
EYA is holding its fourth National Conference, April 9-10, at the University of Technology, Sydney. Young environmentalists from across Australia will converge on Sydney to work out how we can protect our environment and our future.
The conference will be launched on Thursday, April 8, with an indigenous peoples' rights public meeting. Special guests at the meeting will be the Aware Community Theatre group from Papua New Guinea, who present their message of social justice and environmental concern through theatre, song and dance.
Other speakers at the meeting will address issues such as the Native American movement in the US and the Mapuche Indian struggle in Latin America. Jenny Munroe, long-time Aboriginal activist, will talk about the fight for land rights and Aboriginal sovereignty.
During the conference itself, workshops and panels have been scheduled covering important issues confronting humanity in the '90s. Topics range from the state of the environment in Cambodia to alternative energies and urban management. There will be discussions on the role of women in environmental preservation, the oil industry and global warming.
But the conference's most important focus will be on what we can actually do to save the environment. EYA activists will share ideas and experiences about how to run campaigns and organise environmental action. Everyone who is concerned about social justice and environmental protection is invited to come along and get involved.
Sam Wainwright, from the conference organising committee, says, "The destruction of our environment demands immediate action. Young people cannot afford to stand aside as our future is destroyed. We have to get active. We have to have the courage to make a difference. The EYA conference provides a forum for people to organise how we are going to save the future. The conference will give people a chance to learn about what is going on in the world and what we can do to change it.
"Young people have often been at the forefront of social change", Wainwright continued. "The continuing existence of humanity is now questionable. Becoming active in the environmental movement is really a matter of survival.
"What makes me optimistic is the willingness people show to become a part of a movement for change. Hundreds of young people have already ttending the EYA conference, and EYA has been able to mobilise people across Australia in environmental campaigns. People want to participate, to get active and challenge the status quo."
Since EYA began in 1990, it has become a dynamic force for the environment. Its work has won it enormous respect in Australia and internationally. EYA's board of sponsors now includes people like Severn and David Suzuki, Robyn Williams, Ernie Dingo and Kev Carmody. EYA is the fastest growing environmental group for young people in Australia.
Sam Wainwright attributes EYA's growth and success to its ability to involve people in issues affect them. "The theme for this year's conference is environmental justice", said Wainwright, "and that is a crucial part of EYA's philosophy.
"We believe in linking together social and environmental issues. When you are living in a recession and 30% of young people are unemployed, environmentalists cannot ignore the question of jobs. Similarly you cannot demand people in the Third World stop destroying the environment if you don't address questions of uneven development and poverty. EYA is involved in campaigns on all these issues."
The conference is open to anyone who is interested to come along and contribute. EYA branches around the country are organising travel to Sydney, and accommodation will be available. Contact the EYA National Office at PO Box R1240, Sydney 2000 or phone (02) 690 1230 for further details. If you want to get active, get in touch with EYA. It happens to be an emergency.