Solar Generation

Friday 14 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

This morning, I walked from the bus stop towards the conference centre, cannot really believe that it is the last day. Suddenly, there was some sort of empty feeling inside. Before I know, I have had such a happy time with these new friends and all the activities we had done together. We work together; we eat together; we play together; we laugh together; we stay up late and feel tired together….for a common goal to urge action against climate change. Some permanent stamps onto the heart are certainly there, at least for me.

The feeling was greatly intensified when listening to the international youth speech in the main plenary. One American, one Canadian, and one Indonesian represented voices of all the youth in this conference.

“…I have a coin here. The flip of this coin represents gambling with our future…Our future is at stake. As climate change accelerates, and your decisions unfold, we will look back at this moment, this conference. History will judge whether you did enough to give us a planet worth living in.

…The climate emergency is our best and possibly last opportunity to create a global consciousness. We are inspired by those of you who taking true leadership, both at home and internationally. We are ashamed of the so-called “leaders” who are delaying action in this UN process and who are actively compromising our future.

…Youth around the world are raising to the challenge…But all this will not be enough without strong action from you. We have put our trust in you. We need a Bali Breakthrough – now…The world is watching, the youth is rising. Join us.”

Such strong statement ended with little voice of a small girl reading out her poem…

“It’s haunting me A crowd of he’s and she’s I’m not a hero I’m not even a big show Every time I look cameras as flashing me in the eye.

It would surprise them if they knew
I was only a little girl who is scared
the world will die.”

Wonderful speech inside was followed by another action outside. All the youth gathered with huge banners and flags of countries around the world. Thousands photographers squeezed in to take shots of youth messages and send them out to the world.

Photograph by Woon Pattamon Rungchavalnont

The last day seemed to end early. We wrapped up our booths by 2pm. Everyone now separates to finish up what they have to do; and this is mine to finish. This blog has taken a fair amount of my time here; I sometimes stayed up late having to finish the stories. Sometimes, I feel so tired of it but it has become a part of my life here, my invaluable experience which would like to share with others whom I may not even know. Yet, that fact does not matter because we share the same ideal…the same future. I only hope that the story of SolarGeneration at UNFCCC Bali 2007 will inspire some to join us. It does not matter who you are, what you are good at, or how much you know. We have learnt so much from coming here, attending the events and doing all the activities. What we learnt is not only scientific facts about climate change but what we learnt includes unexplainably a lot more. It is very interesting to listen to ministers discussing the fate of the world, to see how many people are out there trying to save the planet through various means, and most importantly, to know what we are capable of to make a change.

This is an end but is also a beginning. After this conference, we all still have a lot more to do back home…a long path lay before us…

Posted by Woon at 8:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Thursday 13 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

Normal sleeping hours were not really enough to recharge my battery after a long day like yesterday; but excitement of the morning got me up back on track again.

This morning, we were trying to find possibility to meet the president of COP again. We waited in front of the plenary room for a big while but when he came, there were swarming people around him. Impossibility, we had to accept.

On the other hand, I found myself so lucky during the disappointment. Standing around the plenary hall’s entrance, I finally met the head of the delegation from Thailand! His Excellency Yongyuth from the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment. I was so excited to talk to him but he was very nice in explaining how we support the Kyoto Protocol. Energy efficiency is the main focus for us while a few projects on alternative energies are in process. Although it was a brief talk with him, I had a chance to discuss with other delegates in the team as well. One of them is actually a lecturer in my university; she is also a member of the National Legislative Assembly. A good response, I felt. More works will has to be continued after getting back home…

Coming back to the booth with a big smile, we were thinking hard for other alternatives to meet the president of COP. Suddenly, our photographer ran in and gave us a great news. “He is out! Come on quick!” Without any further words, we all ran to the front entrance. I actually put on our uniform, the red “Kyoto Just Do It!” t-shirt, while running. And there, we got him! Galih presented him a big postcard bearing a message from SolarGeneration, the lanyard, and the Kyoto fan. Great shots, we got out of that as well as big smiles on everyone face. We did it finally! Finally.

Photpgraph by Paul Hilton

Posted by Woon at 8:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wednesday 12 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

My day started off really early. Last night before going to bed, we all hoped not to get a call from Clem meaning everything is fine and we can sleep until 7am. Yet, life is always tough. I did got a call from Clem at 5am. In less than half an hour, 5 of us left to the Greenpeace office to join Res who was the first one to check the situation. A few of the small balloons were falling, so we produced another set to add in. Although feeling very sleeping on the way there, once started working, I felt pretty happy. Indeed, it is these late night and early morning working experience we share that will remain when we are apart. Everyone joined effort and gave up personal wants to pursue a common goal. Plus, early morning is a nice time when everything starts fresh and peacefully. My walks to transport the balloons from the office to the activity area (between security check and the conference centre) were delighting with the sun rise.

Photograph by Woon Pattamon Rungchavalnont

We continued to prepare more balloon as we knew more would be needed by noon before we start our activity. Also, we lined up to give invitations right after delegates passed the security check point. Then, it came the time: 1pm. An array of balloons with eyes on them greeted delegates as they enter the path way. A huge banner being held up by 2 big eye balloons was located at the end of the line making a statement “WE ARE WATCHING YOU”. We stood beside the banner in the hot sun. For more than an hour, we waited there…and the most important expected guest did not come: Mr.Rachmat Witoelar, the president of COP/MOP. Under a tight schedule and a slight delay in his previous activity, he was unable to join us any longer.

There is no need to say how disappointing it was. A feeling of being left unheard made me have lunch in silence. Yet, I must admit that the disappointment was not everything; it was not the worst possible feeling we had because, as Res mentioned in the debriefing later at night, we achieved our internal success: team spirit.

Posted by Woon at 4:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tuesday 11 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

Today should be marked for a few reasons. It was today ten years ago that the most essential legally binding agreement to address climate change received its name from where it was founded: Kyoto. It is today that the Kyoto protocol celebrates its birthday for the first time. It is today that one of the Greenpeace International members mentioned to me, “I have never seen so many presses in Greenpeace event before.” Thus, today is truly a remarkable day for us all.

By 1pm., we were already preparing a huge birthday cake behind the booth area. Indeed, it was the biggest cake I have ever seen in my entire life: comparable to a height of a person! Soon, it was time to move the cake to the side entrance of the auditorium. Three people were required to move the cake although it was already on a movable plate. Thus, it was striking enough to draw public attention and automatically invite them to join our special event at 2pm.

Photograph by Paul Hilton

In particular, the presses were very excited about the cake; in a few minutes, we were surrounded by cameras and news reporters. Yet, the excitement peaked when we entered the auditorium and invited Mr.Ichiro Kamashito, the Environment minister of Japan, to cut the cake. The media on the ground and on the stage formed a circle embracing us. At the moment, if the Kyoto protocol was to have feelings, it must have felt a warm welcome mankind has for its existence. We all came to honour and cherish it as I addressed in my speech after we moved out and settled at the side entrance once again.

"I stand before you today as a representative of SolarGeneration, an international youth group initiated by Greenpeace, embracing renewable energies in addressing climate change. We all gather here today to celebrate the Kyoto protocol’s birthday.

Ten years ago, the protocol was agreed upon to battle the most dangerous threat to our planet: climate change. Today, we challenge government to honour the Kyoto protocol. It has passed its childhood years and is now entering its teen years. Thus, it is our responsibility to ensure its mature growth. Industrialized nations must take a deeper commitment now while developing countries should decarbonize their growth in the 2nd commitment period.

The youth expects nothing less than leadership from Japan, as the host country ten yeas before, in honouring the protocol. Thus, on this occasion, I would like to invite the Environment minister of Japanese to sing a birthday song to the Kyoto protocol with us."

Photograph by Paul Hilton

Ministers, delegates, youth, media, and other participants joined in singing such a lovely birthday song. The cake was then distributed to everyone on a plate made of leaves with a little flag of SolarGeneration-Greenpeace on it; the queue kept continuing for more than an hour. From this event, I came to realize that cutting and distributing cakes could be a tiring task when the cake was so huge and the queue was so long. Nevertheless, we were so happy about people’s participation that we forgot that we needed a rest. All we hope is that people will stand by side of the Kyoto protocol, what they came to celebrate and honour today.

Photograph by Paul Hilton

Posted by Woon at 3:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Monday 10 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

It was an unexciting but good day for me. My morning task along with Res and Christy was a factory work to produce a thousand small flags of SolarGen to be put on the Kyoto protocol’s birthday cake. This kind of brainless work might be boring for some but it gave me a free space to rest my mind as well as to talk to my fellows while the hands kept working.

After that, I attended couples of side events. The Bali Convention Centre is where formal meetings and discussions of parties occur while most of the side events offered by various organizations take place in the Grand Hyatt Hotel, 15 minutes away by foot. I paid my visit to the Plenary I on my very first day here; yet, this was my first time to the Subsidiary Body of Implementation (SBI) in Plenary II. Subsidiary bodies exist for parties to discuss more in details and settle specific issues. Today’s issue was the drafting paper on the timetable by Ad-Hog Working Group (AWG).

This is by no mean to make anyone understand what I am talking about. Rather, I want to show how complicated it is and share my feeling. I sat in the room listening for more than half an hour and was lost in the conversation. The pattern reminded me of law drafting where at all the time, people referred to specific paragraph or phrase and fight over it. Without solid background understanding, it is very difficult to know what and why they are talking about that issue.

On the contrary, a side event by World Trade Organization (WTO) was much easier to understand. WTO presentation and criticisms from Q&A seemed to battle over the role of WTO in fight against climate change. Some blamed the trading sector and urged it to stay as far away as possible. However, it might be the time when every sector has to cooperate to achieve a common goal of humanity. Certainly, I need to learn more about this issue.

Posted by Woon at 3:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Saturday 8 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

It was a relatively light day we had. The morning was spent with skill sharing workshop on communication with delegates. Many difficulties each of us faced during the past week were raised and discussed. Then, the afternoon was an open slot. I planned to attend a side event while others would join the parade of the Global Day of Action. Yet, today is not our day. I forgot my badge and had to give up my initial plan. Join others, I changed my mind but we all were too late for the parade too! Thus, we ended up enjoying ourselves at the Renon park; it was actually great as we had a chance to talk and know each other outside the working realm.

Soon, it was time to join other volunteers at the warehouse to do a debriefing about our activities, especially the Solar Festival. I realized how important briefing and debriefing are; they are a significant process of learning. We were under a time constraint though. By 9pm., we left to visit the Rainbow Warrior.

Photograph by Woon Pattamon Rungchavalnont

The first thing we did was putting our hands on the ship as if we shake hand and say hi. For some reasons, I felt at ease on this ship and I believe many of us share such feeling. The captain was also very welcoming; he gave us a tour around. After half an hour, a few people already asked him how to be a part of the crew and I was one of them. The Rainbow Warrior has gone through battles by peace to save our world from human hands; the spirit is there, we can feel.

Photograph by Clementine Thierry

We all had our packed meal there and enjoyed ourselves around. It was an unforgettable scene but I was particularly enchanted by the starry night above and totally forgot that I was so tired.

Posted by Woon at 8:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Friday 7 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

As we had such a limited time yesterday, we hoped to discuss the main issues more in details today at our 3pm. meeting. The main concerns are the kind of organization we want to have and the mission statement. Having so many interesting events going on here, I initially wished the meeting to be brief. However, it did not seem to be so.

We started off being a bit loss in direction. Yet, the reason soon revealed why it was so. When we do not know what we need, it was naturally difficult to know what we want to have. Thus, we stepped back to have a more firm foundation; the first step is to identify the needs, looking from bottom up. Our special guests from the International Youth Group made a significant contribution as well. “Don’t rush it. Do it when the time is right, not when the time is convenient.” That was the words of advice from their personal experience. Definitely, more research on existing organizations and their needs must be done and that will be the purpose of our network’s existence. For this initial stage, we see that basic skill sharing and capacity building among existing organizations will help us to perform better. Also, we can be another step toward the establishment of International Youth Network as now, we have American, African, and Australian network already. Asian ones should get united too in order to work our way up to international level.

The picture became much clearer. A long path lays before us to walk on. Yet, for now, I walked away from the meeting into the plenary hall with a light smile.

Posted by Woon at 2:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Friday 7 Dec 2007
by Razceljan SG-Philippines

Mr. Solarsunshine painted the surrounding scene when we arrived at the fishing community to join the fishermen for the flotilla together with SV Rainbow Warrior – the “legend”, according to Chris, one of the SolarGen from Indonesia.

The outrigger boats were colorful with the banners on each of them that states: SAVE THE OCEANS; SAVE THE CORAL REEFS; and SAVE THE CLIMATE. Some were translated in Balinese language. The local fisherfolks have already felt the impact of climate change (like coral bleaching, sea level rise, sea water encroachment) to their livelihood and they want to raise this concern to the ‘authorities’ to do something. It was the reason why they joined the flotilla to support the organization’s action to help ‘save the climate’.

After attaching all the banners on the boat, each of us boarded to separate boats and off we went all to sea to convene with the ‘mother ship’.

The Beaufort level was 1 – meaning, the sea was choppy, but big waves curl up upon hitting the coast to the surfers’ delight. The colorful little boats floating in unison towards the emerging silhouette of the Rainbow Warrior was a wonderful sight of collective force.

Photograph by Ivy Londa

As we got closer to the Rainbow Warrior, the Beatles’ song “Magical Mystery Tour” streamed into my brain and I started singing it. But I was actually listening to Jack Johnson’s “Bubble Toes” with my mp3. Our outrigger boat finally got too close to the ‘mother ship’ and the boatman drove in circle of the Rainbow Warrior to my delight seeing the “flagship of Greenpeace”.

The crew members of the boat were working on putting the big banner. They were climbing the mast head. And then I saw Jay from the Philippines (obviously recognizable with his ‘Pilipinas, Go Renewable! Shirt) – the fantastic master chef at the Skill Share last October and now cooking for the crew of the ship.

Photograph by Razcel Jan Luiz Salvarita

I found out that we were not the only group joining Rainbow Warrior. The Indonesian POLISI (police) and Navy’s boat were also around us. A little later, the Rainbow Warrior started moving fast past most of the boats and the police intervention began.

The armed policemen riding the dinghy asked us to move back and not to follow the RW. The dinghy tried to swerve right in front of us to create waves for us to change course, which we did not do. We still pushed through towards the coast though not to the port to land and go back to the guest house. We had a quick debriefing with Mark Dia from the Philippines – the regional coordinator for the Road to Bali project.

All of us enjoyed the excitement in the morning’s action, especially the police intervention. The encounter with Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior sparked great inspiration upon me to keep on with the movement and become one of the ‘flagships’ of my generation.

Rainbow Warrior brings a symbol of hope for a colourful and positive future.

Long Live Rainbow Warrior!

Posted by Woon at 2:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thursday 6 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

It was such a busy day where I participated in the face painting activity, helped with our P-Bear wandering activity, and joined an Asian Youth meeting right before the youth side event started at 8pm. The activities were as long as the given sentence. I must admit that after the meeting, I felt totally tired but I was scheduled to deliver a short presentation about SolarGeneration along with Razcel at the youth side event. At the point, I really wondered whether I will be able to speak properly for the presentation. Well, the show must go on; and it was not that bad. We gave the over all picture of SolarGeneration and selected 3 countries to show our activities: SG-Philippines, SG-Thailand, and newly launched SG-Indonesia.

Yet, more interestingly, we all had a chance to know many other youth groups from all around the globe. Different continents, different cultures, different activities, we all share the mission to protect our future from climate change threats. Some groups are rather advanced in their organizations and projects while some others are struggling to lay down foundation. Regardless location and level of experience, we were willing to listen and share what we have. Lessons learnt were shared. Connections were made.

Posted by Woon at 2:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thursday 6 Dec 2007
by Woon SG-Thailand

Photograph by Woon Pattamon Rungchavalnont

After join the international youth activity, we had another activity of own on this early evening. The P-Bear was out wandering once again. He is now a homeless because his icy home in the Artic is melting. The P(oor)-Bear becomes a climate refugee who wants to participate in this conference and demand his home back. To do that, he needs a room to share; he wandered around asking delegates for a little space for him at night. Whether or not he got a room to share, Ivy soon had to take off the suit before she would actually melt! The journey of the P-Bear is yet to be continued…

Photograph by Woon Pattamon Rungchavalnont

Posted by Woon at 2:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)