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Canadian Youth Perspectives on Sustainable Development
Prepared in connection with
1997 ContentsIntroduction Youth Issues And Initiatives In Canada Suggestions For Other Youths In Canada Youth Goals For Canada At The Special Session And Beyond Acknowledgements "Canadian Youth Perspectives on Sustainable Development" was written by a youth intern from a youth perspective in consultation with the various youth organizations listed at the end. The monograph was not intended to reflect the official views of the Canadian government, but rather to reflect the opinions and suggestions of a wide range of Canadian youths active in promoting sustainable development. We are deeply convinced that economic development, social development and environmental protection are interdependent and mutually reinforcing components of sustainable development, which is the framework for our efforts to achieve a higher quality of life for all people. (The Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action, World Summit for Social Development, March 1995) IntroductionSeveral youth organizations and many young people took part in the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in June 1992. They united to ensure that the UNCED process addressed issues that were important to them, such as poverty and overconsumption. Most important, these young people wanted to have a voice in decisions that would affect their future. Youth represent the future, but they also have a contribution to make today. Many young Canadians are active in the work of sustainable development. They are working in partnership with other youths and sectors of society, encouraging society to look at new and more sustainable ways to live. They are making their voices heard. Sustainable development relates to professional and personal issues. Professionally it means sensitizing and educating others about what it means in policy and practice. Personally, we all have to change our behaviour. (Carla Doucet, CSD IV Youth Co-Representative) Development does not start with goods; it starts with people and their education, organization and discipline development can succeed only if it is carried forward as a broad, "popular movement of reconstruction", with primary emphasis on the full utilization of the drive, enthusiasm, intelligence and labour power of everyone. (E.F. Schumacker in Youth Source Book on Sustainable Development) Young Canadians from diverse backgrounds and perspectives are working toward sustainable development. They deal with issues that have environmental, social, and economic aspects. Global problems have escalated to such a degree that environmental action needs to involve all sectors of society. Each individual can not avoid playing an integral role in either formulating environmentally sound practices or perpetuating the status quo. This is a key in understanding how to build a sustainable society.(Westcoast Youth for Habitat II Canada)  Youth Issues And Initiatives In CanadaYouth contribution to action on sustainable development in Canada begins with their analysis of the issues. Many youth organizations and young people identify current lifestyles and practices in our society and economy as detrimental to the world's general health. Consumerism and Personal ChoiceConsumption practices in Canada (along with geographic and climatic factors) make us one of the largest per capita consumers of energy and generators of waste in the world. Consumerism promotes unsustainable lifestyles and products. A consumer culture influences youth to "go shopping" as a form of regular activity. The creation of an automobile-based society has helped lead to common urban problems such as air pollution, urban sprawl, widespread loss of native habitat, and the disconnection of people from nature. Young people are prime targets of commodification. We are saturated witha consumer-culture that is ecologically unsustainable. Marketing towards children and students sets a lifetime precedent of buying products that harm the ecology and humanitarian principles around the world. Youth-oriented magazines and advertisements glorify the accumulation of consumer goods, promotingoverconsumption, and a throw-away society. (Media Collective, Ontario) Several young people and youth organizations are building on their analyses of sustainable development issues by working to find and create solutions. Many begin with changes in personal choices, about how they work and live. These include decisions to use public transit or walk rather than car ownership, or cooking fresh, local foods rather than processed food from other places. These are choices that have a positive impact on all levels of sustainable development no matter how small. To raise awareness about this situation many youths and their organizations are participating in public awareness campaigns. For example, a number of youth organizations supported "Buy Nothing Day" on November 29, 1996, an initiative to make people more aware of their consumption patterns. We try to find solutions to the everyday problems. It may take time and a lot of patience, we do in time, find the solutionfrom even the tiny bit of composting to the need for youth to be heard, from guerrilla theatre to native arts. (College student, Ontario) New and existing youth organizations provide vehicles for young people to have a significant impact on the advancement of sustainable development and a venue for voicing their concerns. These include the Environmental Youth Alliance, the Environmental Children's Organization, the Canadian Environmental Network Youth Caucus, Students Taking Responsible Initiatives for a Viable Environment, the Canadian Unified Students Environmental Network, the Canadian Youth Foundation, and Canada World Youth. EnvironmentalA Lack of Respect and AwarenessThe environment, whether local, regional, or global, is a major concern for many young Canadians. They see current practices that show a lack of respect for ecosystems and a misuse of resources. They see problems in our society's systems, as well as a lack of awareness at an individual level. Many youth are concerned that most people are not aware of the impact they have on the environment and the delicate balance that exists between people and the environment. The challenge for many young people and their organizations is to make these issues real for others. Young sustainable development activists draw attention to planning processes that encourage urban sprawl that can overtake farmland and natural habitats. They also highlight or draw attention to other possible byproducts, such as industrial pollution, poor waste management, inefficient transportation systems, and deforestation. For most of us, our home is something person-defined. The natural world has not been taken into consideration when we choose the boundaries. These considerations were anthropocentric when they drew up our communities; there were religious or political impositions of borders on the land. (Ottawa Youth Bioregional Initiative) People and NatureYoung people emphasize the need for a much stronger consideration of the relationship between people and the environment when dealing with resource development issues. Many young people in Canada argue strongly that many agricultural, mining, forestry, and fish farming practices disrupt the balance of ecosystems. Massive nickel mines and hydro-power plants are not our idea of sustainable development. (Newfoundland Environmental Network Youth Caucus) There is a strong effort by youth to lobby the government to honour treaties and return jurisdiction to Aboriginal peoples on the grounds that they have made significant contributions to sustainable development. Youth InitiativesThese issues form a starting point for countless youth initiatives. Many youths and youth organizations are promoting a new and different understanding of politics and ecology. They are raising awareness about bioregional realities, respect for Aboriginal and local knowledge, and our international commitments. Canadian and global societies now hear strong, articulate, committed youth voices addressing environmental issues. We organize school packages that state the conditions of waterways around our islands, canoe expeditions to discover the marine environment. We educate the public about plastic through anti-Tupperware parties, conferences, and forums. We are asking doctors to help us with research, and making a database of groups on fisheries to work in coalition. (Georgia Strait Alliance, British Columbia) We're working to save the Christmas Mountains and the Petitcodiac River. Keeping what we have is our main goal, and we're trying to protect it for the future. (Youth Action Group of New Brunswick) We're doing field and research trips to sites to see what's happening, and then processing what we find through public information campaigns to make the facts more accessible. We are showing people that they can be involved, by promoting Buy Nothing Day for November 29th this year and dispelling apathy. (ECO-MAFIA, Manitoba) Federal Youth InitiativesCanada's Ministers of the Environment and Foreign Affairs and International Trade recognize the importance of involving young Canadians in environmental issues and empowering them to engage their voices in the environmental policy-making process. Environment Canada is committed to ensuring that fora exist specifically to increase the ability of Canadian youth to contribute to the planning process. Through initiatives such as the National Youth Round Table, the Minister receives information that is crucial to effective policy development. In addition, Environment Canada has piloted an initiative to involve young Canadians in international meetings as journalists. In past years, there has been a lack of material available to youth in a language that is both familiar and motivating. Youth journalists attending the international events are in a good position to communicate the knowledge gained to other young people in Canada and internationally. Environment Canada has also led the development of the International Environmental Youth Corps to engage youth in addressing global environmental issues. This would provide opportunities for young Canadian adults to take part in international placements. These would foster their long-term employability in the private environmental sector while strengthening the capacity of the sector to expand Canadian exports and trade. Canada's Minister of the Environment, after attending the meeting of the Commission for Sustainable Development in April 1996, requested that Environment Canada participate in the pilot testing of the Rescue Mission Indicators Project so that young Canadians could assess the state of their environment and create their own local Agenda 21s. To date, twenty Canadian schools have agreed to pilot test these sustainable development indicators, and the Canadian results and experiences will be reported to the Minister of the Environment and brought to the United Nations later in 1997. EconomicGlobal EconomyMany young people are active in changing economic practices and thinking. Beside consumption issues, they are concerned about the global economic system and its impact on their communities. Many rural youths and those in resource-based communities find decisions made far away affect their local economies and their personal choices. A number of youths are concerned that the system can exploit youth labour and lead to continued youth poverty. With the modern world have come conveniences like snowmobiles and canned food, which also mean high importing and transporting prices and waste. There needs to be a positive merging of the traditional ways and the modern world. (Project Coordinator, Youth Service Canada, Northwest Territories) It is this socioeconomic aspect of the global economy that concerns youth. This lack of control over their own economic future limits their ability to contribute toward sustainable development. Youth UnemploymentYouth unemployment and lack of meaningful work is a concern for many young Canadians. Many jobs provide little opportunity for personal or professional development. The changing workplace has left many young people among the poor, especially young single mothers and members of cultural minorities. Sometimes the only way for street kids to get money is to get involved in parallel activities. (Street youth in Montreal cleaning car windows) Youth and Government InitiativesOne solution for some young people is participation in local economic efforts such as cooperatives. Others are trying to redefine the idea of work so that everyone can be considered a valued member of society. They are learning to cooperate, participate, and make decisions at the community level for the benefit of all. Youth entrepreneurs face issues such as a lack of capital, access to credit, and information on planning and supporting programs. These young entrepreneurs are trying to address their own economic realities with solutions of their own. By supporting their own communities, youths are able to actively change local economic practices and thinking. Both the federal (primarily through Human Resources Development Canada) and provincial governments in Canada have many projects that assist youth enterprises and help address the issue of unemployment. For example, the Nova Scotia government has the Youth Entrepreneurial Skills Program, which provides loan guarantees for business start-up. Other government initiatives include the Quebec government's Establishing a Farm Operation, which helps young farmers by providing subsidies to establish farms. In an attempt to address youth poverty and unemployment, the government of British Columbia developed B.C. Benefits: Youth Works. This targets youth who are eligible for welfare benefits by providing them with help in job search strategies and a variety of training and work experiences. The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) is also assisting many youths in addressing the issue of unemployment. The Youth International Internship Program (YIIP) developed by DFAIT will create over 840 positions over the next two years. This program begins April 1, 1997, and will provide many Canadian youths with the opportunity to gain practical and international experience. Project information can be found by calling 1-800-559-2888 (613-944-2415 in Ottawa) or visiting our web site (http://www.DFAIT-MAECI.gc.ca/english/ culture/youth/menu.htm). SocialYouth comprise nearly 30 percent of the world's population. The involvement of today's youth in environment and development decision-making and in the implementation of programmes is critical to the long-term success of Agenda 21. (Agenda 21, Chapter 25, Youth and Children) Social Justice Issues and InitiativesMany Canadian youths are involved in social justice issues and movements. They are educating society to combat problems such as discrimination and marginalization based on factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, class, differences in physical or intellectual abilities, and sexual orientation. Young people are encouraging the understanding, appreciation, and acceptance of people's differences, and overcoming ignorance, stereotyping, and fear. They are promoting a culture of peace and are trying to ensure inclusion of youth on all levels. Numerous Canadian youth organizations are working with education systems and the public to educate the general population on different cultures and lifestyles, as well as on other social justice issues. We try to convince youth of their ability to change the world (by example) and illustrate the importance of doing so soon. I see Youth for Social Justice as a way of showing people they can change things. Empowerment through action. (Youth for Social Justice, Newfoundland) EducationEducation is one focus for youth action. Many students are encouraging educators to find new ways of involving youths in the education system. Several organizations have produced projects or curricula that bring important issues to youth such as culture and heritage. Northern youths have called for a stronger integration of community elders into the education system. The elders help teach respect, understanding, love, hunting, shelter building, cooperation, and respect for the land, animals, and each other. This way many youths benefit from both traditional and modern teachings. Start to respect local knowledge, and work to change the direction of society. Get rid of this deep-rooted exploitation-based way of thinking. (Newfoundland Environmental Network Youth Caucus) Street YouthAlthough youth organizations are very active, many young people are in a cycle of ignorance, apathy, and powerlessness. They see few mechanisms to participate in society and lack access to information and services. This is especially true for street youths whose daily realities are the streets. In cities there is a lack of communication between people; there isn't enough space for social interactions between different groups. Groups of punks often face discrimination based on their looks. (Street youth in Montreal) Youth ParticipationAt UNCED, youth rallied together to ensure their involvement in the decision-making processes on environment that would affect their futures. Since then youths and youth organizations have been active throughout Canada participating in decision-making processes on local, provincial/territorial, and national levels. Many young people are still concerned that their voices are not being heard. Their concerns are not only limited to "youth" issues, but rather they are striving toward the larger picture of sustainable development. Many youth feel that there are still too few mechanisms to develop linkages with youth in appropriate ways (e.g., mentorships and internships). Canadian young people are concerned that they are excluded because of age and are not respected for their views. Youth can offer to the decision-making process a fresh viewpoint to problems and a flexibility to view questions from more than one perspective. They have proven that they have creative ways to solve problems and a drive that allows them to act on decisions made. Government and Youth Working TogetherThe government of Canada has included youth in Canadian delegations to international conferences. More experienced members of these delegations have provided advice and support, improving the effectiveness of young delegates. Youth delegates at the fourth session of the UN's Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD IV) proposed changes to the text in Chapter 36 of Agenda 21 to place greater emphasis on the role of youth in achieving a sustainable society. At the UN Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), the youth delegates contributed to the conference's Global Plan of Action. InternationalA variety of Canadian youth organizations have reached out to partners around the world who deal with similar issues. These partnerships raise public understanding of issues and awareness of both different perspectives and shared priorities. The following are some of these partnerships.
Some government support is available. The Canadian International Development Agency manages the Environment and Sustainable Development Program, which supports small projects internationally for cooperation, partnership, and solidarity. Most other initiatives get little or no government support. Instead, youth organizations and individuals use alternative tools such as the Internet, electronic mail, short-wave radio, and letters. Participation at meetings and travel is supported through their own fund-raising. Suggestions For Other Youths In CanadaYouth have suggested many vehicles to make their views known. They can write articles in school and local newspapers, or give performances to deliver messages. Youths can publish Eco-Journals and organize Youth Days that hold local municipal leaders accountable to youth speakers. Other suggestions are to design sustainability plans that consider local ecological realities and propose them to local governments and to establish community-based youth participation through ecoregional workshops and fora. Internationally, youth can continue to open doors and make contacts through international events and processes. The keys are to keep asking questions and never give up. In Canada, our ministers and processes are more accountable than many places I know. Few youth enjoy this; it carries a responsibility to speak true. (Environmental Youth Alliance, British Columbia) Youth Goals For Canada At The Special Session And BeyondThe Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in June 1997 will be an opportunity for countries to review their successes as well as their failures in achieving Agenda 21's various goals. Many young people would like to see Canada promote an active and honest discussion on unsustainable domestic patterns of consumption, the related impact of trade policies, and the sustainable development of urban society. Interests also include the recognition of the marginalization of many diverse voices in society (e.g., women, youth, people of colour, diverse sexual orientation, ability, and economic class). At the Special Session, two environmental youth networks (the Canadian Environmental Network Youth Caucus and REJULADS) will highlight youth partnerships toward sustainable development through sustainability and equity youth workshops. These will allow young people to show an international audience innovative grass roots youth projects that take concrete action on sustainable development and social ecology. Young people at the fifth meeting of the Commission on Sustainable Development and at the Special Session would like Canada's support and encouragement in developing a Global Youth Charter. This charter would outline many of the concerns and issues that youth deal with on a daily basis. It would also contain different avenues for countries to support the work of youth toward a more sustainable society through the inclusion of youth. Canada's continued support of the Rescue Mission initiative begun by Peace Child International is a project that young people support strongly. Many Canadian youths and youth organizations also suggest that work on a broader set of indicators (i.e., social and economic indicators) is necessary for sustainability to be properly addressed. At several international conferences there have been numerous youth newspapers or journals. Young journalists attending had the opportunity to report on the proceedings to Canadians as well as others internationally. Canada's support of youth newspapers at the Special Session would assist the promotion of this event from a youth perspective. Fundamental to achieving the goals that Canadian youths and youth organizations have set out for the Special Session is the active inclusion of youth in this process. If youth participation is important in decision-making processes on environment and development, it is essential when the world community is assessing past activities and making decision on future plans. Domestically this would involve the inclusion of youth on Canadian delegations and by providing young people better access to pertinent information. It would also involve Canada's cooperation with youth to provide fora for youth expression. Since UNCED, the government of Canada and many youths and their organizations have worked together to strengthen youth involvement in decisions that affect their future. Most important, many Canadian young people are getting out and voicing their opinions and are taking action on things they believe in. Youths in Canada believe that sustainable development is attainable if all those concerned work together. AcknowledgementThe input of the Canadian Environmental Network Youth Caucus and its member groups was vital to this report. Concordia QPIRG ECO-MAFIA Enviro Law Students Society Environmental Youth Alliance Friends of the Christmas Mountains Georgia Strait Alliance High School Enviro Network Lifecycles Manitoba Eco-Network Youth Caucus McMaster S.U. Enviro Committee Media Collective Newfoundland Environmental Network Youth Caucus North Queen's Wildlife Federation OPIRG Toronto Ottawa Youth Bioregional Initiative Save the Georgia Strait Alliance Students Aware of our World The Green Kids Uni-vert Laval West Coast Ecological Youth Alliance West Coast Environmental Youth Alliance WUSC Committee, University of Prince Edward Island Youth Action Group of New Brunswick Youth Ecology Empowerment Plant Youth Service Canada Projects Youth for Habitat II Canada Youth for Social Justice Youth for Social Justice Atlantic Youth for Social Justice Maritimes Further thanks go to: Baha'i National Centre Canada World Youth Carla Doucet Environment Canada Human Resources Development The Canadian Red Cross West Coast Youth for Habitat II Youth for Habitat II Canada (Montreal) Youth without Borders Additional copies of this publication are available in limited quantities at no charge from:
© Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada 1997  |
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