What a shocking surprise. Youth are already disappointed with smarmy prime minister trudeau. Does anyone remember obama?
CBC – 8 hours ago
The public display of disappointment in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau put on by the Canadian Youth Delegation didn't quite square with the impression the 43-year-old prime minister left during his brief appearance here at COP21.
Trudeau impressed many here for the same reasons he impressed many young Canadians: for his words promising action, for his own youth, for not being Stephen Harper.
But then Trudeau did not make time while here to meet the youth delegation, despite repeated requests. And the resulting complaint from the 20-somethings on Young and Future Generations Day sounded like it could be the beginnings of a chink in his appeal to some among Canada's youth, for whom fighting climate change is a priority.
"It makes me feel really disheartened," said 27-year old delegation member Aleah Loney.
"This government was elected not even two months ago on the promise of real change, and that's what we were hoping to see here.
"It's been very confusing to be told one thing, and then seeing another."
Environment minister cancels meeting
For the youth, Trudeau's decision to skip meeting them was an oversight only exacerbated by Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna's decision to agree to a meeting, and then cancel it at the last minute.
Not helping was the apparent willingness of Trudeau and others in the government to have selfies taken with youth, without making time to talk to them.
That's where the slogan comes from. They didn't think they'd have to turn blue, to give their advice on being green.
But the disappointment is specifically directed at Trudeau, whose youth and proximity to the issues that resonate with Canada's young inevitably raised their expectations. As it did with U.S. President Barack Obama. As it did with former U.K. prime minister Tony Blair.
Inevitably, as it did with both those leaders, those expectations will be dashed. And what happened, or didn't happen here in Paris, may one day be remembered as the catalyst.
"I feel that the hope that was generated around our shift in government has propelled us forward," says 25-year old activist Anjali Appadurai, who is a former CYD member and is now with Earth in Brackets, another organization.
"Sometimes there's a little bit of … naiveté with that hope.
"I know that Trudeau hasn't been very specific with his comments and his commitments in the public eye. And hasn't really engaged deeply with young people who are asking very critical and tough questions.
"So I'd like to see more of a critical eye and more of a willingness from civil society to really hold the government accountable."
Missed opportunity
Some of the young Canadians attending insist Trudeau's appearance here — at the most pivotal meeting in several years on a topic of some urgency for Canada — might have been a good opportunity to give a nod to the work young activists did to unseat the previous government and have him elected.
With their focus on the environment and indigenous and human rights issues, they believe they should have been natural allies.
Trudeau, who had several bilateral meetings with world leaders here, some for the first time, as well as meetings with premiers and mayors, did send a general note of appreciation.
"It's great to see so many engaged young people at COP21. Great work!" He tweeted on Nov. 30.
McKenna's office acknowledged a meeting with the Canadian Youth Delegation had been cancelled due to an "unexpected scheduling conflict," but that another would be scheduled on the margins of a daily negotiation briefing when she returns next week.
Some of the youth delegation members were also finally invited — nearly a week later —to a briefing with Canada's chief negotiator.
But these youth are passionately dedicated — they skipped school and work, and painstakingly fundraised money to be here. They grew up believing climate change is a reality. They came worried about their future, as many world leaders have admitted they should be.
They want them to listen.
"They haven't been meaningfully including voices outside the government, and they haven't actually been making meaningful commitments," says 24-year old Atiya Jaffar.
For the record
So what do they want to say?
For the record, among some of the other demands of the youth delegation:
- Committing to zero emissions by 2050.
- Ending subsidies for the fossil fuel industry.
- Shutting down what they call the tarsands.
Canada's youth call out Justin Trudeau before the world's cameras
CBC – 8 hours ago- CBC - Canada's youth call out Justin Trudeau before the world's cameras
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View PhotoCanada's youth call out Justin Trudeau before the world's cameras
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On a day that was supposed to celebrate the contributions of youth at the Paris climate conference, a group of young Canadians stood before the world's cameras and publicly called out their new young prime minister.
"Youth want to be heard, not just seen," they chanted, each holding up at least one placard that both hid their face and showed one of their demands.The public display of disappointment in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau put on by the Canadian Youth Delegation didn't quite square with the impression the 43-year-old prime minister left during his brief appearance here at COP21.
Trudeau impressed many here for the same reasons he impressed many young Canadians: for his words promising action, for his own youth, for not being Stephen Harper.
But then Trudeau did not make time while here to meet the youth delegation, despite repeated requests. And the resulting complaint from the 20-somethings on Young and Future Generations Day sounded like it could be the beginnings of a chink in his appeal to some among Canada's youth, for whom fighting climate change is a priority.
"It makes me feel really disheartened," said 27-year old delegation member Aleah Loney.
"This government was elected not even two months ago on the promise of real change, and that's what we were hoping to see here.
"It's been very confusing to be told one thing, and then seeing another."
Environment minister cancels meeting
For the youth, Trudeau's decision to skip meeting them was an oversight only exacerbated by Environment and Climate Change Minister Catherine McKenna's decision to agree to a meeting, and then cancel it at the last minute.
Not helping was the apparent willingness of Trudeau and others in the government to have selfies taken with youth, without making time to talk to them.
That's where the slogan comes from. They didn't think they'd have to turn blue, to give their advice on being green.
But the disappointment is specifically directed at Trudeau, whose youth and proximity to the issues that resonate with Canada's young inevitably raised their expectations. As it did with U.S. President Barack Obama. As it did with former U.K. prime minister Tony Blair.
Inevitably, as it did with both those leaders, those expectations will be dashed. And what happened, or didn't happen here in Paris, may one day be remembered as the catalyst.
"I feel that the hope that was generated around our shift in government has propelled us forward," says 25-year old activist Anjali Appadurai, who is a former CYD member and is now with Earth in Brackets, another organization.
"Sometimes there's a little bit of … naiveté with that hope.
"I know that Trudeau hasn't been very specific with his comments and his commitments in the public eye. And hasn't really engaged deeply with young people who are asking very critical and tough questions.
"So I'd like to see more of a critical eye and more of a willingness from civil society to really hold the government accountable."
Missed opportunity
Some of the young Canadians attending insist Trudeau's appearance here — at the most pivotal meeting in several years on a topic of some urgency for Canada — might have been a good opportunity to give a nod to the work young activists did to unseat the previous government and have him elected.
With their focus on the environment and indigenous and human rights issues, they believe they should have been natural allies.
Trudeau, who had several bilateral meetings with world leaders here, some for the first time, as well as meetings with premiers and mayors, did send a general note of appreciation.
"It's great to see so many engaged young people at COP21. Great work!" He tweeted on Nov. 30.
McKenna's office acknowledged a meeting with the Canadian Youth Delegation had been cancelled due to an "unexpected scheduling conflict," but that another would be scheduled on the margins of a daily negotiation briefing when she returns next week.
Some of the youth delegation members were also finally invited — nearly a week later —to a briefing with Canada's chief negotiator.
But these youth are passionately dedicated — they skipped school and work, and painstakingly fundraised money to be here. They grew up believing climate change is a reality. They came worried about their future, as many world leaders have admitted they should be.
They want them to listen.
"They haven't been meaningfully including voices outside the government, and they haven't actually been making meaningful commitments," says 24-year old Atiya Jaffar.
For the record
So what do they want to say?
Erica Violet-Lee, who, unsurprisingly, received media attention for sticking out her tongue at Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, says it's her words that matter.
"I am from inner-city Saskatoon. And I think that a lot of people don't recognize the impact of climate change on urban communities and urban indigenous communities. So it's really important for me to be here and represent people who don't get a chance to come to these negotiations."For the record, among some of the other demands of the youth delegation:
- Committing to zero emissions by 2050.
- Ending subsidies for the fossil fuel industry.
- Shutting down what they call the tarsands.
