Youth make big climate splash in Oceania

A powerful video thank you to Caritas from Martin Leung-Wai, one of 14 young people Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand helped attend the biggest youth climate summit in New Zealand: PowerShift NZ-Pacific 2012

[youtube=http://youtu.be/y1MNIUMH_lU]

While the Doha climate talks were wrapping up, over 700 young people from throughout the Pacific came to this event in Auckland, to learn, be inspired, have fun and take action. Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand sponsored 12 from New Zealand and two from Vanuatu to attend.

Here are comments from some of those young Catholics on the event:

‘As Catholics we are called to be aware of what’s going on in the world and to expand from just thinking about what is good for “me” and instead thinking about what is good for us and the environment. It is also our calling to be stewards of the Earth.’

– Kaisa Beech

‘It is important to create awareness of the climate change issues and to move away from this vision of “heaven” where we live in a clean, green world with no side effects. Instead it is time to face the reality and even though the effects of climate change aren’t as obvious in Aotearoa we need to be aware of the Pacific Islands such as Tokelau and Kiribati where the shoreline is dramatically receding as an effect of climate change.’ – Regina Sandrine.

The event also kick-started the ‘100% possible campaign’ [to move beyond fossil fuels].

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand works with communities in the Pacific to build greater resilience in the face of climate change, and advocates for environmental justice and care of God’s creation.

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