Thursday, September 30, 2010

Freedom of Every Sort

So today I had the absolute pleasure and privilege of attending Free the Children's WE DAY in Toronto at the Air Canada Center. In a stadium of 16,000 youth leaders I got to experience amazing music, inspirational speakers, and more importantly the feeling of YES WE CAN DO IT.

Scott Hamel, magician extraordinar, demonstrated the steps of how to get out of a straight jacket, and although it seems irrelevant to everything, he made it make complete sense. Getting out of a straight jacket may seem like an absolutely impossible task, but with determination, step by step, it is possible! And just like anything else, with determination and taking it a step at a time, the impossible is quite possible. So, although the world is big, and the problems that face it seem even bigger, WE have the power to change it. Whether it be building a school in South Africa, or planting trees in Indonesia, we have the power to save the world.

One particular moment that brought tears to my eyes was when Betty Williams announced the Children's Declaration, demanding children be heard in the U.N. This is so similar to how the International Youth Accord is written by youth, for the future of our planet, FOR OUR FUTURE. Youth aren't the leaders of tomorrow, we are the leaders of TODAY. And despite the mass of the problems, the heart shattering loss of biodiversity, and the sickening destruction, WE WILL STOP IT


You could text and get your message displayed on the big screen, and among the "I <3 Justin Bieber" (who wasn't there btw.)  and "Be the Change" proudly got my message displayed:


   "Biodiversitymatters.org. Stand up and Speak Out. 
Sign the International Youth Accord on Biodiversity."


A problem has many parts, and social injustice, environmental injustice, all injustice is co related, you can't fix one, without fixing the other. So what I have learnt today. EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM. Whether it be freedom from slavery, climate change, poverty, hunger, whatever it may be, we all thirst for FREEDOM AND PEACE

We are going to save the world, take our hands and join us. We are the generation that will save the world, from "me to we", we will do it. No one else will.

Happy Thoughts,

Jessica Tarka

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