On Monday 21st August 2006, in the convention room of the Marina Hotel in Benin, the 1st International Youth and Environment Forum hosting delegates from Germany, Belgium, Benin, Burkina-Faso, France, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Romania, Serbia and Togo was officially opened, chaired by Mrs Amelie HOUNDEKON ASSOGBA, representing the Environment Minister and co-chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of Calavi University, Mr Brice SINSIN.
After speeches by the President of the Benin Young Greens, Miss Marie-Madeleine BONI , Miss Marina BARBALATA of the FYEG (Federation of Young European Greens) and Mr Aleksandar JOVANOVIC of Green Forum, Sweden, Professor Brice SINSIN spoke on « the Challenges of Democracy and Natural Resource Conservation in Benin », followed by fruitful and satisfying exchanges. The Environment Minister’s representative solemnly opened the 1st International Forum on Youth and the Environment.
A cultural performance followed.
The President of Benin Nature, Mr Toussaint HINVI thanked all participants, the FYEG and the Global Greens and called on young people to be more dynamic in facing great environmental challenges. Cocktails and lunch ended the day.
The Forum continued in Bohicon at the headquarters of Benin Nature and in the forest of la Lama, beginning with self-introductions by all participants, to promote a sense of belonging. In an atmosphere of unparalleled friendship, greens delegates shared experiences of life, activities, successes and difficulties in their countries (see program in the annex).
Miss Marie-Madeleine BONI, current president of the Benin Young Greens spoke on behalf of our hosts, and then we sang the Benin Greens song. Mr Georges ADEYE, current vice-president of the Benin Young Greens explained practical details of the Forum. Each panel was chaired by a moderator and assisted by a scribe and a translator-interpreter. Delegates from each country gave speeches about the greens in their countries (see annex). Then, representatives of those organizing the Global Young Greens and African delegates gave speeches.
On the second day, Tuesday 22nd August there were workshops and a plenary session (see annex). The draft agreement attesting the establishment of the FYAG (Federation of Young African Greens) was read and signed, and a Coordinating Committee was set up.
Miss Aissata TRAORE asked Mr Maarten COERTJENS to talk about the young Belgian greens. They are fighting for equality in everything, despite individual differences and dealing with issues such as legalizing homosexual marriage and forest protection, destructive government policies and demanding the closure of all nuclear power plants over the next 20 years.
Miss Silke GEBEL spoke brilliantly about how young German greens constantly oppose the proliferation of nuclear energy and the consumption of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Miss Sarah TRICHET-ALLAIRE and Mr Yoann HENDRYCKX spoke about how the young French greens train young people to use computers as a management tool and to organize political chatlines.
Aleksandar JOVANOVIC told us how the young Serbian Greens are re-planting pine trees after they are cut for Christmas and about repeated campaigns to protect parks and educate people that combining work with educating children is possible.
After a coffee break, there was a question and answer session.
Miss Marina BARBALATA spoke about the greens in Romania.
For Panel 2 the moderator was Akou NANEH from Togo and a delegate from Niger was scribe.
Miss Sarah TRICHET-ALLAIRE told us about the SPIP and the Linux system, both free operating systems set up with other people’s welfare in mind.
Then Miss Marina BARBALATA and Mr Maarten COERTJENS talked about the FYEG, which has existed for 18 years and has about 40,000 members spread all over Europe. They focus on a platform where various countries collaborate and exchange via election.
As with everything, greens politics also includes leisure time, so we finished the day with a visit to the Archeological Site of Agongointo.
The 3rd day, Wednesday 23rd August began with breakfast and a chat. Then the participants were sent into the la LAMA for the day’s work. At 11:58, Mr COERTJENS invited us to play one of the many games he uses in between activities, then Georges ADEYE started the day’s work. Panel 3 was led by Mr COERTJENS, as moderator with Aleksandar JOVANOVIC as scribe.
Miss Aïssata TRAORE from Mali spoke about the disastrous environmental consequences of poverty in her country, which had led NGOs and CEGs to take control of the environmental issue, while young people are more interested in cleaning up the cities.
Miss Fatou BOUSSIM spoke about the greens party in Burkina-Faso. They face enormous difficulties running stable activities, for lack of funds.
Mr Victor K. TENU from Togo brilliantly spoke about their beginnings,various events and future projects.
King Roselin MONLOGLA from Benin spoke vehemently about the movement’s early days, strategic action in the field, such as awareness campaigns in schools, open-air activities, environmental street campaigns, youth training and especially eco-shows. He mentioned events run in 8 out of 12 different districts, including Atlantic, Ouémé, Plateau, Zou, Coast, Mono, Couffo and the hills. After mentioning some of the problems they face, he talked about funding projects, such as odd jobs and community banks for women and other projects, such as the greens newsletter, a greens web site and especially how he hoped the next global greens meeting would be held in Benin.
Finally Georges ADEYE of Benin and Miss Lucy AGHARESE of Ghana mentioned how the young African greens would like to organize their effective participation in the 2007 Forum in Nairobi, Kenya. They talked of clean-up and reforestation campaigns, setting up an institution for young African greens, campaigns to protect endangered species, being taken seriously by government and setting up a web site to publicize group activities.
After a question and answer session, we had lunch for 45 minutes.
Panel 4 took over, with Français JUAAN as moderator and the German delegate, Silke GEBEL as scribe. The delegates from Nigeria talked about planting trees, combatting soil erosion, organizing health campaigns and teaching children in primary schools about environmental issues.
Then Mr Mohamed A. MURTALA equipped us with six recommendations to effectively fight desertification:
Then Mr MURTALA spoke of reforestation following gold mining, funded by sales and training young people from a very young age. If they had more money they would like to organize regional and even international seminars.
The delegates from Niger spoke about Arbor (Tree) Day and awareness campaigns held on environmental issues since they were founded.
The Global Young Greens reps, Marie-Madeleine BONI and Maarten COERTJENS disclosed their project for Africans to participate in the 2007 Global Greens Youth meeting in Naïrobi, KENYA, and spoke of difficulties they are facing in managing this project, which has led them to ask us for a lot of advice. We made suggestions.
We returned to the centre for dinner. Finally the day ended with friendly cultural performances by each country.
The 4th day, Thursday 24th August began as usual with breakfast.
Mr Aime PADONOU explained how to form 5 working groups around the 5 focal points.
1) The environmental education committee proposed to :
2) The regional network committee made recommendations under 3 headings:
objectives, action and future plans.
Objectives included :
Planned actions include:
This group also plans to :
3) The Federation of Young African Greens network will function with the organizing country as a focal point.
A draft agreement was signed, creating the "Federation of Young African Greens″ (FYAG), with participants present at this forum as the founding members. The FYAG will function by relying on the support of regional networks. Our European hosts then showed their appreciation.
4) The Nairobi conference committee had to devise major themes for discussion.
Their 2 objectives were:
1) Set up a Young Global Greens Network.
2) Share greens experiences, ideas and knowledge
They would like all members to make suggestions, and so add colour to conferences. They also propose the following measures to support the environment Africa-wide:
5) The developed-developing countries cooperation committee discussed cooperation between youth in developed and developing countries:
Then we went to the Abomey museum to see the rich culture left by our ancestors. We broke for lunch and an hour’s rest and then resumed debate to clarify various points. Désiré AFFOGNON read out the general report on the forum and asked for comments. The day ended with a dinner and a colourful Eco Show. Thank you.
DRAFT AGREEMENT SETTING UP THE YOUNG AFRICAN GREENS FEDERATION (FYAG)
The young greens movements which are parties to this agreement,
-Remembering the first Global Conference of the Young Greens Movement held in SYDNEY, on the fringes of the Global Greens meeting in Canberra, Australia in 2001.
-Remembering one of the resolutions of that conference regarding setting up a Global Federation of Young Greens.
-Remembering also one of the resolutions of the Regional Forum of African Greens Movements and Associations, held 8-13th January 2006 in the forest of la LAMA , calling for an African Network of Young Greens Movements to be set up.
Confirming the necessity for young African greens to set up a network to foster harmony and strengthen individual action,
-Aware that Africa can only participate in global greens debate through a credible network for sharing, solidarity and common action,
- Persuaded that acting in isolation is a serious handicap for common defense of greens ideals on the African continent and around the world,
- Considering that establishing such a network will not affect the internal affairs of network member movements, nor will it replace those movements,
We agree that:
Article 1 :
Participants attending the International Youth and Environment Forum adhere to the present accord and expressly agree to set up the " Fédération de la Jeunesse Africaine″ in English: « The Young African Greens Federation » (FYAG), as founding members.
Article 2 :
Each national movement concerned will take appropriate measures for its members to participate in FYAG functioning.
Article 3:
The aforesaid movements commit themselves to communally seek the necessary funding for activities and the survival of the FYAG.
Article 4 :
a)The FYAG will be managed and led by the West African young greens network.
b)The FYAG must defend the interests of each youth movement, which is a party to and signatory of the present agreement.
Article 5 :
The mission of the FYAG is to defend greens ideals of protecting nature, social equity and solving all kinds of problems in Africa and elsewhere around the world.
Article 6:
The FYAG welcomes membership of other young African greens movements, wishing to join current members of the FYAG.
Article 7:
The FYAG confirms links of solidarity and common action with the Young European Greens Federation (FYEG), mutually respecting their differences.
Article 8:
The FYAG further confirms it will participate actively in the Global Greens Youth Forum planned for Naïrobi, KENYA in January 2007, indicating that it belongs to the global network.
Article 9:
The youth movements, which are parties to the present agreement will give thought, during future meetings to the legal form and type of organization and functions of the proposed federation, as well as the character of future memberships.
Article 10:
The means of communication between members and mutual action remains the Internet and the FYAG’s website.
Signed (see list in the annex)
Coordinating Office of the FYAG
Coordinator: Marie-Madeleine BONI
Permanent Secretary: Désiré AFFOGNON
FOCAL POINTS
BENIN: Georges ADEYE
NIGER: Oumarou MOUSTAPHA
BURKINA-FASO: Fatou BOUSSIM
MALI: Alassane m.a TOURE
TOGO: Victor K. TENU
NIGERIA: Mohamed A. MURTALA
GHANA: Michael KORLETEY