In partnership with:

Our Future is Worth It:

How YOUth can take ACTION

for Sustainable Development

A Rio+20

Toolkit Series :

Part IV

In this issue

Institutional

Framework for

Sustainable

Development

pp. 2 - 3

What is at Stake?

pp. 4

Using The Arts

pp. 5 - 6

Some Useful Links

p. 7

Where Do we Go From

here?

p. 8

Contacts

p.9

It Does Not Stop With Rio+20

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For Sustainable Development (SD) to become a reality, we need to

implement strong government structures that will benefit

everyone. Sustainable Development requires careful consideration.

All of us should take the lead to implement changes throughout our

societies.

It starts from a basic level of engagement. Each person can start to

reduce his or her carbon footprint and influence the creation of

better community policies.

Decisions that our governments make must be held accountable by

organizations, people and institutions. Whereas these entities

facilitate, regulate and ensure that processes go smoothly, it is

imperative that community members practice them.

At Rio+20, new decisions about global Sustainable Development will

be made, including how the Institutional Framework for Sustainable

Development (IFSD) will function.

In part 3 of our toolkit, we focused on the Green Economy: http://scr.bi/ToolkitPart3

Now, let us take a look at the other theme for Rio+20, the Institutional

Framework for Sustainable Development (IFSD).

The concept of IFSD is expected to guide how regional, national and international

governments implement Sustainable Development. These action guidelines should

be applicable to institutions, policy and laws on each level.

IFSD should incorporate and strengthen the principles of the Green Economy. If

IFSD and the Green Economy are well balanced, this will create incentives for

continuous cooperation of all sectors of society toward sustainability.

Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development (IFSD)

IFSD should consider

that individual countries

will need to implement

SD depending on their

needs and capacity.

IFSD should also

encourage cooperation

between nations to

achieve greater goals

for SD world-wide.

IFSD is just as much about people, public and private entities as well as governments. For example, other entities can take part in decision making, such as businesses or corporations, scientists and citizen-led organisations.

You can build momentum toward effective solutions in your community by lobbying . Even if you do not lobby, you should always be informed. Look for local meetings and events which you can attend to gain a deeper under-standing of your community and build relationships.

Things to keep in mind:

Relationship building is not a chore. Approach people with a willingness to connect. Listen to understand what people are saying instead of trying to get them to agree with your points. Do not discriminate! Keep an open mind and treat everyone with equal respect.

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Global governance institutions

include the United Nations

departments and affiliates

(like the World Bank).

National governing bodies

include: parliament, congress,

ministries, national courts,

prime ministerial offices.

There are many types of regional governing

bodies. These include: regional planning

commissions, council of governments, and

special purpose regional agencies.

HOT TOPIC!

One idea to

co-ordinate

effective global

governance for SD is

to strengthen the

jurisdiction of the

United Nations

Environment

Programme (UNEP).

International Perspectives on IFSD

3

Here are some IFSD proposals that have been suggested in the lead up to Rio+20:

Earth Systems Governance proposals (March 2011): http://bit.ly/ESGproposals

Major Group for Children and Youth proposals (November 2011): http://bit.ly/mgcyzerodraft

African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (September 2011): http://bit.ly/AMCproposals

Major Group for Indigenous Peoples comments on the Zero Draft (January 2012): http://bit.ly/MGIPproposals

Earth

Systems

Governance

African

Ministerial

Conference

on the

Environment

Major

Group for

Children &

Youth

Major Group for

Indigenous Peoples

What is at Stake?

Where does the power lie?

There are power disparities which affect how decisions are made about our different systems. Collective decisions

must be made to achieve Sustainable Development. Governments can set laws but it is up to the people to follow

them.

Conversely, if governments do not set laws, the people can influence the making of them. What is needed is for us

to shift our patterns of behaviour towards greater sustainability. If enough people are able to change , we can

create pressure to have those values codified and integrated within our ecological, social and economic systems.

To affect long-term, comprehensive change, member states at Rio+20 must secure renewed political commitment,

assess progress and remaining gaps as well as address new challenges.

Global leaders must reaffirm commitments to move negotiations beyond

talk and into action .

The international community must evaluate current progress and identify

obstacles to achieving sustainability.

The outcome of Rio+20 should establish a mechanism to evaluate, identify

and resolve new challenges to SD.

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Taken from the report

of the African

Ministerial Conference

on the Environment ,

Fourth special session,

Meeting of the expert

group, Bamako, 13 and

14 September 2011—

AMCEN/SS/IV/EG/6

Be Creative : The Arts for Sustainable Development

The Arts are a subdivision of culture, which include visual, literary and

performing arts.

Visual Arts: Includes a wide range of traditional and modern disciplines.

Examples: ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts,

often modern visual arts (photography, video, filmmaking) and architecture.

Literary Arts: Includes written work, but is not confined to published sources.

Examples: poetry, prose, fiction, and non-fiction.

Performing Arts: Art forms in which artists use their body or voice to convey

artistic expression. Examples include but are not limited to: music, theatre,

dance and film.

You can use the Arts as a unique tool to express the kind of future you want.

What you create can be an easy and fun way to have a profound message reach

a wide audience.

FILM-MAKING AND VIDEOS

Grab a digital or video camera, identify images you want to capture and film

away! Ask friends to participate in your video.

If you are good with animations, use it to enhance your message for

Sustainable Development on video.

Not sure where to start? Try out some of these suggestions:

1) Film success stories of young people working towards Sustainable

Development issues , 2) interview politicians to hold them accountable to

their promises or 3) record your own change-making journey for Sustainable

Development.

PHOTOS/PAINTINGS/DRAWINGS

A picture is worth a thousand words. Use photos, paintings and drawings to

illustrate your ideas.

Organise a photo contest or an exhibition to represent goals that you want

to see achieved for Sustainable Development. Send these pieces of art to

your politicians with a list of asks. For a reminder on how to make effective

asks, see part 2 of this toolkit series: http://scr.bi/ToolkitPart2.

Try out installation art! You can temporarily transform an environment that

people are used to (like a park, government building, or plaza) into an art

gallery. Make sure to always abide by your local laws when planning

installation art. You can create sculptures or get people to stand still and

pose as characters from a scene that reinforces your overall message.

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MUSIC

Here are some tips on using music to build

enthusiasm around Sustainable Development:

Organize a concert. Get in contact with local

musicians. Live music can make people more

interested to attend your event.

Dance performances are another way to impress and influence people.

You can choose a performance spot depending on what issue you would

like to present. Take inspiration from Project Hip Hop: http://

www.projecthiphop.org/

Write your own song. Check out these examples from the Rio+20 Global

Youth Music Contest! http://www.global-rockstar.net/

Hundreds of young people from around the world used music to share

their messages towards Rio+20!

THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES

Theatrical performances do not have to be professional productions. You

can direct, act in, or support theatre performances to help people see

Sustainable Development in a different way.

Impromptu Theatre/Role-playing

Involve the public as

participants in your show to let

them experience role-playing as

decision makers. What would be

some consequences for our

communities if we fail to move

towards a more sustainable

future?

This form of art especially can

also be applied in lobbying.

Invite politicians to watch your

performance, and get youth to

propose ideas !

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INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:

IFSD on the UNCSD website: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/isfd.html

Documents on IFSD: http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/ifsd_publications.html

Issues: http://www.earthsummit2012.org/conference/themes/institutional-framework-for-sd/243-ifsd-issues

UNEP documents on IFSD: http://www.unep.org/environmentalgovernance/

IssuesBriefsontheInstitutionalFramework/tabid/54126/Default.aspx

Article on Ecocide (crimes against the environment): http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/apr/09/

ecocide-crime-genocide-un-environmental-damage

Children and Youth article on IFSD: http://rioplustwenties.org/?p=1036

FILM-MAKING

How to Make a Short Film: http://www.ehow.com/how_2068638_produce-short-film.html

THEATRICAL ARTS

Stage Art for Sustainable Development: http://www.swedesd.se/stage-art-for-sustainable-development

An article on invisible theatre: http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/theatreblog/2009/mar/30/invisible-theatre-boal-

acconci

Invisible theatre: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisible_theater

Forum Theatre: http://www.peopleandparticipation.net/display/Methods/Forum+Theatre

HOW TO ORGANISE A CONCERT:

http://www.dosomething.org/actnow/actionguide/how-organize-a-benefit-concert

http://www.ticketboss.com.au/articles/how-to-organize-a-fundraising-concert

STARTING A YOUTH MOVEMENT:

How to start a movement: http://socialmediatoday.com/index.php?q=SMC/45510

An article on movements: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kari-henley/starting-a-movement_b_828381.html

Social media: http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/newsbyid.asp?idx=279923

Some Useful Links

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Where Do We Go From Here?

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Throughout our toolkit series we have stressed the importance of

personal and collective action. Now that we have discussed many ways

that you can address SD in your community, let us examine how to put

this toolkit series into good use..

Below is a brief personal checklist. The numbers beside each item

suggest an issue(s) of the toolkit series to refer to:

☐ Use your strengths. Are you good with people (e.g. raising awareness

face-to-face)? Do you feel more comfortable with hands-on activities (e.g. tree-planting)? Do you prefer organising, (e.g. lobbying, advocating for structural changes)? Toolkit parts: 1,2.

☐ It is important to treat people with respect throughout your journey.

Maintain integrity, professionalism and empathy. Be inclusive in your dealings with others. Toolkit parts: 1,2,3,4.

☐ Start small to have a definite impact and then branch out to larger

challenges. Toolkit parts: 1,2.

☐ It starts with you. Be sustainable even in the midst of organising. For

example: avoid using plastic, use alternative forms of transportation and use recycled paper in low quantities. Every little thing counts! Toolkit parts: 1,2,3,4.

☐ Maintain a wide perspective– your issue is likely to intersect and/or

overlap with other areas. Think about how the issues overlap and how you can build partnerships with others who work in those areas. Always try to find ways to bring new people into your movement. Toolkit parts: 1,2,3,4

☐ Keep a positive attitude and stay focussed. Remember, SD is not just

about you. Push aside ego and work in harmony with others to achieve the future we need! Toolkit parts: 1,2,3,4

☐ Set timelines and realistic, achievable goals! Toolkit parts: 2.

☐ Use your discretion. What do you want to advocate for; is your issue

something another organisation is already doing? Be strategic in your actions to make the best impact possible. Toolkit parts: 2,3.

Links to previous parts of this

Toolkit series:

Part 1

http://scr.bi/ToolkitPart1

Part 2:

http://scr.bi/ToolkitPart2

Part 3:

http://scr.bi/ToolkitPart3

If you are interested in getting involved, taking action, or simply knowing more

about what we are doing, feel free to contact any of us for more information:

MAJOR GROUP FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Website: http://uncsdchildrenyouth.org/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/UNCSDYouthCaucus

Twitter: @MGCY_UNCSD

EARTH CHARTER INTERNATIONAL

Website: http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EarthCharter

Twitter: @earthcharter

EOTO WORLD

Website: http://www.eotoworld.org/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EOTOWorld

Twitter: @EOTOWorld

CONTACT US

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Authors : Barkha Mossae (Mauritius), Sasha Pratt (UK), Neringa

Miliauskaite (Lithuania), Elischia Fludd (USA), Nora Mahmoud

(Costa Rica/USA) .

Photo Credits: Sara Svensson, Oliver Rieche, Cynthia Keza and

Vietnam Jump, Radomir Dolejsi, and Kyle Kaianaupuni Robertson.

Toolkit Series Editors: Sasha Pratt (UK) and Elischia Fludd (USA)

Thank you for making Sustainable Development your cause and

believing that a better world is possible!

THANK YOU!

This completes the fourth and final section of our Rio+20 toolkit series.

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