As usual, the day started with joining the never-ending long queue outside UNHQ, but despite the security check fuzz and the called-off meeting with the Chinese delegates, everything went fine and well. Today was a really busy day all filled with meetings with country delegates and UN officials, as well as people from major groups, and I am actually very pleased to see the enthusiasm from young people trying hard to lobby for changes - they sacrificed lunch time and the opportunity to explore NYC to help create a better world, what passion!!!
The first meeting was with Ms. Federica Pietracci, the Sustainable Development Officer Division for Sustainable Development Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Ms. Pietracci has been working with the UNCSD Youth Caucus for a few years already, and is really in a position trying to understand youths' participation in the UN issues. She told us a lot about how the UN and youths are connected, as well as a few country delegates to lobby to.
Mr. Rasio Ridho Sani, Assistant Deputy Minster for Management of Hazardous Substances and Hazardous Waste in Indonesia, was the second person we had a meeting with today. He and his colleague were both very friendly to us and spent almost two hours trying to help us understand the Sustainable Development situation in Indonesia and provided answers to our other questions. Mr. Sani claimed that it's not because Indonesia does not want to engage youth in the UN issues, however, issues such as waste management and mining are too complicated to be understood by youth and children, and that they also experience shortage of financial aid in promoting these aforementioned issues. Although the promotion in Sustainable Development is being hampered by various reasons, the Indonesian government is constantly working their way on providing youth and children a better place to live in.
After the formal meeting, Mr. Sani and his colleague also spent time in just chatting with us on different topics, for example, what our dreams and ambitions are.
It's a pity that I couldn't finish the entire meeting with the Indonesian delegation as the TYN delegation had earlier on arranged a meeting with Mr. Jan-Gustav Strandenaes - Senior Consultant of the United Nations, at 15:00 in the Austria Café. Mr. Strandenaes is very approachable and interactive, he did not only answer our questions and provided us insights on the topic on Sustainable Development, he also suggested a few professionals for us to contact for lobbying, and even more, he was interested in being one of the guest speakers for the 2010 TYN Summer Symposium J Before Mr. Strandenaes left, he reminded us, as youth, should never give up and be optimistic about the future; when we look back later, we'll see there is indeed a change.
I was actually very happy to see how these adults and professionals in the top of the hierarchy value youths' ideas and participation in important decision-making process, although sometimes we may sound too ideal and unrealistic and perhaps stupid to them?!
After the long and tiring working day, I just sat in the side-event in Mining and Indigenous People, which I found it very interesting and had learnt a lot from the Human Rights Lawyer.
UNCSD has been beyond fun and inspiring so far, however, there's a concern as to whether we will actually have time to see the exciting city or not, if me and Natalie could hunt down to Times Square for shopping, and if Vicnan could ever have a chance to visit the Statue of Liberty after three times of participating at CSD.
And finally, the long-awaited delegation pizza dinner took place in Central Park, and very unluckily, Matt had to rush to work and couldn't join us; and we, the girls of this delegation, are still very curious in understanding some of the secret words used within the group. I propose a motion to explain these 'jargons' to us!!
This is not the end. I can't end this blog by not mentioning the fact that I actually met the Secretary General of the UN today after printing off some copies in the main building. It was short, but it made my day.
Angie Lai
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