PATRONAGE
Dr. Angela Merkel,
Chancellor of Germany
“youthinkgreen – is something special,
a unique design.”
Christiana Figueres,
Executive Secretary, UNFCCC
“youthinkgreen – You are hope, you are the future!
You bring the future into the present,
your recommendations can shape the decisions
that are now being implemented.
I‘m counting on you!”
Dr. Hans-Gert Pöttering,
President of the European Parliament ret.,
Chairman of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, MEP
“Take the role of an ambassador!“
SUPPORTED BY:
YOUTHINKGREEN
ASKS YOU
What does sustainable development
(mobility, consumption, ..) means for
you – today and in the future?
What should our Earth look like in
the future?
YOUTHINKGREEN CALLS FOR,
WISHES, ENCOURAGES, DRAFTS POSITIONS …
Show your true colour
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What do I really need for a
good life?
How can we link happiness and
wealth together?
Do you know how much nature
you use through your way
of living?
Our everyday choices must
approve, shape and live Fair
Trade as business for the
future.
Would you change to an
eco-social way of living?
Contact information youthinkgreen:
youthinkgreen – jugend denkt um.welt e.V.
Strausberger Platz 5 · 10243 Berlin
Tel. +49 30 60920073
www.youthinkgreen.org
info@youthinkgreen.org
The sole responsibility for the publication’s contents
lies with the authors (youthinkgreen).
Is a sustainable economy
compatible with constant
economic growth?
Should there be a right of nature?
What path should we take together
worldwide?
CALL TO
PARTICIPATE
The path to sustainable
development requires a
parti­cular change in our
lifestyle as well as style of
production and consumption.
Our worldwide coexistence
should rest three pillars: the
exposure to diversity, the
im­plementation of global,
social justice and the
prevention of wars.
Nature provides services
for us. This value must be
r
firmly integrated into ou
economic system to stop its
wasteful use.
We should strive to illuminate
our actions, to reflect, to be
motivated, to change.
A Decrease your ecological footprint,
increse your ecological handprint for a
future worth living for everybody!
A Check and question your ecological
backpack, make the corrections!
A You can find answers and options
for action at www.myfootprint.org and
www.footprintnetwork.org.
Be responsible together and think about,
develop and shape a global future – this
connects us, and it‘s fun!
INFORMATION
16th May 2013 “Courage to act”
“Summit Gala Evening”
Highlight of the
1st World Youth Sustainabilty Summit
Location: Allianz-Forum,
Brandenburger Tor
Admission: 6.15 pm
Registration at: info@youthinkgreen.org
jugend denkt um.welt
“Be the change
you want to see
in the world.”
Mahatma Gandhi
1st World Youth
Sustainability Summit
10th–20th May 2013 in Berlin
Action day
16th May 2013 · 9.30-19.00 h
Brandenburger Tor, Berlin
“Not he who has much is superior,
but he who needs little.“
Niko Paech
WWW.YOUTHINKGREEN.ORG
INFO@YOUTHINKGREEN.ORG
YOUTHINKGREEN – JUGEND DENKT UM.WELT:
A WORLDWIDE MOVEMENT
THE GREEN THREAD
GOES AROUND THE WORLD
About us
youthinkgreen – jugend denkt um.welt …
A serves as an international platform,
A is an international educational youth initiative
based in Germany.
– to fully understand and exchange ideas and
information on the topic of environment, climate
change and sustainability as well as networking,
A
is currently educating 220 young people from
Egypt, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Germany, India,
Italy, Namibia, Peru and Turkey to become
climate ambassadors and actors for sustainable
development.
A supports and advises these youth on their local
sustainability projects (field work).
A
offers the youth the opportunity to inspire
people in an extraordinary way by bringing them
together to become active, responsible and
mobilised. This is achieved by using the tools of
education, media and activism.
– to vigorously and independently implement
specific ideas through local sustainability
projects.
A aims for fully assuming its role as a “world
climate school”.
Berlin, Brandenburger Tor
A reminds us that climate change and environ mental protection must be a priority for society,
politics and the economy on a daily basis.
Young people from all over the world helped, under
the guidance of artists, to make a large tree that
­attracts attention out of garbage such as scrap
material, and materials which have been washed
ashore. This tree is a metaphorical denunciation of
our self-destructive ways of living and a reminder
that we should live in harmony with nature and not
at its cost.
Seemingly useless and carelessly discarded objects
find another use with the tree. They will become
useful materials. Young people from around the
whole world will bring this tree back to life in Berlin.
They will fill its foliage with life, furnishing its leaves
with wishes, demands and suggestions. This is their
appeal to society: “Let’s rethink! Let us finally
discuss and act responsibly together for all of
humanity.”
The tree and its unique position in Berlin will establish a place for dialogue and intensive exchange
of thoughts.
youthinkgreen will document how, during the 1st
World Youth Sustainability Summit, new leaves
constantly grow on our tree, how the number of
wishes, propositions and demands of everybody
makes it always more green. In the end, it will be a
striking image of international demands and concerns that are addressed in particular to climate
and sustainability politicians from every country.
The tree provides the ground for youth to become
active and establish connections. The appeal to
decision makers is clear: Take us seriously! We
want to participate and shape the decisions for the
future!
A guides us and orientates us to act responsibly,
for ourselves but also for future generations.
A creates worldwide connections and friendships.
A gives youth the set of tools necessary to become
a world citizen.
The green thread ...
A calls for us to turn the traffic light green. Green
thinking has been delayed and stopped by a red
light for too long.
– to deepen and sharpen knowledge about the
environment and sustainability,
Rio+20 – birth place
of the green thread
At the end of the UN Conference on Sustainable
Development RIO+20, the German Environ­ment
Minister, Peter Altmaier, mentioned youthinkgreen
and the green thread in his closing speech, in front
of delegates from the wholeworld:
“At the beginning of the conference, I met with
students from different countries, working together
in the youthinkgreen initiative. They gave me this
green thread. The thread should remind us all that
we, as politicians, have an active responsibility for
the fate of future generations. I am therefore very
pleased that the Secretary General has announced
it will appoint a special representative for future
generations.”
TREE OF HOPE
A urges us to recognize the “fragile” state of the
thread on which the earth hangs.
A asks us to work together to face global challenges,
especially as the thread’s knot is a symbol of
intense cohesion and diverse exchange.
A strengthens us to fulfil together our role as
climate ambassadors.
A connects us and also invites you to be part of
our movement and to become active!
... goes all around the world!
APPEAL
Bring your ideas and be part of the leaves of the „Tree
of Hope“, which is a symbol for a common, sustainable future of peace and freedom. It is a symbol of
rethinking, eco-social change and more global, social
justice towards new ways to a life that is worth living
and more sustainable for everybody.”
Join us to make the tree more international,
lively and known.
“This is an exciting action. I wish for you and us
all to see the tree growing and finally becoming a
forest!”
Prof. Dr. Hans J
­ oachim Schellnhuber,
Potsdam-Institut für Klimafolgen­forschung