Graz is where Young Greens meet next summer

Graz is small but beautiful. A perfect place for young Greens meeting. This is where the second Global Young Greens (GYG) congress will be held next year in summer. Young Greens in Austria are all set to take on this challenge. Both the environment and spirit of young greens there assures for a successful congress.

I visited Graz, Austria this week to observe the national conference of the Austrian Greens and to hold preliminary meeting for next congress. Fruitful discussions took palace and optimistic message has been gathered for a good gathering of young greens next year. Christina, Stefan, Lucas along with the local team are ready to go into action. Of course, now they are busy with the national election campaign to be held in two weeks time.

The streets were full of political advertisements for up coming election. Some sounded quite radical, the Austrian Communist Party referred in their slogan to the Himalayan state being communist, probably it was indicated to Nepal which is the latest republic in the world and is govern by the Maoist (this put me to read the message as I come from Nepal). But of all signs, this one caught my eyes "No kangaroos in Austria," I think I liked it. I was wondering if our Australian friends can bring some next year................

Stefan has a rally cool place to live, just below the hills. It is quiet and beautiful. Thank you for sharing your wonderful house. I was also really excited to see Christina and Stafan coming to the train station to bid goodbye. Thanks for all the support.

On my way back I was in Vienna for a day, it was a beautiful city with lots of historical museums. Next year people could also see bit of Vienna on their way back home. It's worth visiting once.

For a successful congress, I know we need to work hard and I am sure with high motivation and support from all sides we will be able to hold a successful congress. But we should not wait too long to kick start the preparation.....................!!!!

For more info http://www.globalyounggreens.org/

Green Greetings!!!!!

Raju Pandit Chhetri
rajupc80@yahoo.com
GYG Steering Committee Member

GYG taps the Opportunity !!!!!

The Green European Summer University ended last week with a grater hope for European election next June. The European Greens are all set to plunge into election campaign with many great ideas drawn from the Summer University. Around 800 participants from 43 different countries participated in the ever first summer university held between the border of Germany and Poland.

Global Young Greens took this opportunity to organise a workshop at the Summer University. The topic chosen was Natural Resource Governance with much focus on forestry issues. The workshop drew attention as cases from Cameroon, Brazil, Nepal, and Congo were to be discussed. Thanks to Mariana and Franklin who joined us from Brazil and Cameroon.

Finnish Member of Parliament Satu Hassi chaired the session while other speakers Janna, Judith and Paul shared their concepts. I too shared a case on community forestry from Nepal.

O yes I did enjoy the GMO tour. By the way we also got free organic lunch there..... Yummy..(Boiled potatoes with insightful lectures)..... Well people did go to canoe tour as well.....many offered their tickets to someone interested as it was bit raining and chilly but many beat the weather.

I am sure Franklin and Janna enjoyed the bicycle tour along the rive Oder.

Mariana, how was Poland? You were excited to be on the bridge between Poland and Germany, weren't you? If not other things I am sure you enjoyed staying in the hostel rather to camping. But Camping was fun, wasn't it Franklin? I can imagine what you went through.

Juliana from Brazil (who was on a Europe tour) came to the summer university with her mother and paid lots of money. I think the organisers were happy but not Juliana and her mother. Do you still have the lunch, dinner and tour vouchers?

It was also fun to see Stefan from Austria and Miren from Ireland again in Germany.

In the beginning GYG workshop looked shaky as it was not confirmed and we lacked resources to invite GYG members from other regions, however, this worked out well as we received support from the Green Group in the Parliament and MEP Satu Hassi. As an organiser I was really happy to see the number of people turning to the workshop. The room was full and exciting discussions took place.

For more info also http://www.thegreensareunited.eu/ or http://www.green-summer-university.eu/

Green Greetings!!!!!

Raju Pandit Chhetri
rajupc80@yahoo.com
GYG Steering Committee Member

Time, Team and Energy Japanese way....

Unexpected!! Going to Japan!! Very Excited!! I was right into the Japanese way of working when I received an invitation to attend the World Youth Forum and Alternative Summit towards G8 starting from 27 June to 08 July 2008. The place was Tokyo and Sapporo, Japan. The Japanese Young Greens and A SEED Japan managed to get two of us, me and Hannah (Australia) to their forum.

I was thrilled to see Hiroki, who attended the first GYG congress in Nairobi had managed to get a one and half year project after he returned from Kenya. He was the chair of the Japan Youth Project towards G8. Of course, Megumi with many other young greens were there too. A Seed Japan was the co-host of the program.

I had heard a lot about Japanese time keeping, food, culture among many other things but I was right into it. Every second counts. The international participants were finding themselves to keep up with the time schedule. Very tightly organised and everything needed to fit in. Some didn't hesitate to complain as well. Many times I felt the Japanese youths don't sleep and they always put themselves together. Every work they did team work came first. Worked very hard and ensured all the time things were in place.

The program was well organised. Many volunteers, staff and volunteer translators were well prepared to perform their role. Interestingly, all the international participants were followed by one translator each. Everything organised by the youth and for the youths.

Very productive and lively discussions took place; however, Japanese youths seemed quite cautious to debate or disagree. This truly seemed cultural issue. Youth experience sharing, talk on issue of climate change, etc took place. Finally, a statement on climate change and sustainable development was agreed upon and submitted to the G8 meeting through the vice Minister for Environment.

The program included press conference, interactions with government officials and Ministry for Environment.

The Sapporo visit was all about actions and demonstration. Japanese looked very cautious in any form of pubic demonstration or protest. We practiced several times for the actions. The security was too tight.

We also attended the alternative summit and NGO programs on various issues but the participants seemed far too less than expected. As it was in the isolated island many international participants could not make it to the venue and most of the Japanese needed yet more push for such things. The peace march was a good one.

I learnt a lot about Japanese culture, way of life and especially about youths on how they perceive things and interact. They are really helpful and sincere.

Japanese are very emotional too. They really care for what they do. And if things didn't go the way they want, it could be clearly observed on them. Not just an individual but on the entire team.

During our stay we also had meeting with the member of Japan young Greens and older green members. They really seemed to be interested in global Young Greens. We have also invited them to next Global Young Greens congress to be held in Europe.

The food was just amazing, very fresh and tasty. Want to keep eating and eating. Sushi...Ramen...Japanese white noodles....fish and rice....Shakya.... And chopsticks, did it the Japanese way finally learnt it.

I will write some of the interesting parts in my next blog. This is just an overview.

Spread the GREEN news.

Raju Pandit Chhetri

rajupc80@yahoo.com

GYG Steering Committee Member