In 1995 the World Programme of Action for Youth points out 10 priority areas the UN define as most important when it comes to youth policies. Among topics as education, employment , health, hunger and poverty, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, leisure-time activities, girls and young women and participation, environment takes its place too. Although in year 2007, five additional areas has also been adopted, environment goes in the first roud. Even back then, in 1995!

Well, what I asked myself when getting familiar with the programme is why there weren`t real action in youth education throughout these years...

If you take a look into the "Environment" chapter in the WPAY, you`ll read nice sentences as:

"[...] training programmes should be provided to inform teachers of the environmental aspects of their subject-matter and to enable them to educate youth concerning environmentally friendly habits.[...]"

"[...] 69. Governments and youth organizations should initiate programmes to promote participation in tree planting, forestry, combating desert creep, waste reduction, recycling and other sound environmental practices.[...]"

"[...]4. Enhancing the role of the media as a tool for widespread dissemination of environmental issues to youth [...]"

And more, and more.

All of the above said sounds great, isn`t it? Especially when it has been stated almost 15 years ago. Truly speaking, I was impressed. Because if these words were put in real actions, there would probably be no Th!nk About It II. Or there would be one, but not on Climate Change, and especially not with a goal of raising awarness concerning climate change. Just because we all would have been involved with this issue since the first day we go to school.

But isn`t that what policies are doing- hiding behind nice words and doing...nothing.

At least in Bulgaria, though, because your case may be different. For sure there were some small local initiatives, but nothing more than that- no changes in the curricula, no more easy to find and easy to participate in NGOs dealing with environment issues, no media reporting constantly what is going on with the environment, surrounding us.

Why? Who`s the one to blame? NGOs not persistant enough or government which don`t want to hear about none of this?