News

Bianca Jagger and some 30 youngsters representing
the World Future Council’s (WFC) youth campaign on climate change personally
called for action in talks with the German chancellor’s special commissioner to the G8
Summit and the Japanese ambassador in Berlin.
The young people and WFC Chair Bianca Jagger presented German State Secretary Bernd
Pfaffenbach and Ambassador Toshiyuki Takano with samples of thousands of
appeals from children in 45 countries. The letters, drawings and quotes were printed
on 30-feet-long scrolls the youngsters unrolled in front of the government
representatives. They call on the G8+5 heads-of-state to take active steps to prevent
climate change and protect the environment. Talks about climate issues are
scheduled for the second day of the G8 Summit on July 8 in Japan.
“I can say that not only I but the whole German government supports your efforts. I
made a promise to Ms Jagger that I will report to the chancellor today about our
meeting,” said State Secretary Bernd Pfaffenbach. He also told his visitors he
doesn’t own a car, rides a bus on weekends and uses renewable energy at home.
“I will also inform the G8 presidency in Japan about this great project you’ve done,”
he said.
“This is a rare opportunity for the children to address their concerns directly to a
senior politician,” said KidsCall patron Bianca Jagger. “The WFC is delighted that its
youth delegation had its questions answered and its concerns taken seriously.
Future generations will have to pay the price for climate change – that is why we
have to listen to the youth of today.”
After the lively discussion at the German Federal Ministry of Economics, the
delegation proceeded to the Japanese Embassy. “I am very pleased that these
young leaders understand the issues, and are contributing to solidifying the
solutions,” said Ambassador Toshiyuki Takano. “Movements like this influence our
debates for the better.”
“I think that it’s great that these politicians took so much time out for our discussions,”
said Luisa Wellhausen (17) from Hamburg. “I hope that they’ll take us seriously and
remember our questions.” “…and that they’ll pass them on to the other politicians so
they’ll do something about climate change,” 15-year-old Tim Hamester added .
“Young people want assurance that politicians are committed to solving the climate
crisis,” said Bianca Jagger. “They are genuinely worried that the rainforests are about
to disappear, that there will be no more fish in a few years, and that soon the only
water left will be polluted water.”
The WFC initiated the KidsCall campaign last May during the Live Earth concert in
Hamburg, Germany. During the G8 summit, world leaders will continue talks about
the road to an emissions agreement at Copenhagen in 2009.