Tekst en foto’s: Jimmy Hendry Nzally, Master student in Linguistics and Literary Studies
As Student Ambassadors, we are joining a global call to seek Climate Justice
Coming from The Gambia, I can attest to the immense and immeasurable impacts climate change is having on people.
COP22 provides an opportunity to witness discussions behind the scenes while seeking ways forward to save our dear motherland “The Earth”. As a Belgium Student Ambassador, currently studying Master’s in Linguistics and Literary Studies at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, I find it a great honor to be part of the 6 lucky few to have been selected through a competitive application process. As Student Ambassadors, we are joining a global call to seek Climate Justice. Attending this summit serves as an eye opener to the world’s most pressing challenge facing humanity dubbed climate change.
Additionally, coming from one of the countries in the global south (The Gambia), I can attest to the immense and immeasurable impacts climate change is having on people both at the local and national level. Many people are migrating from distance shores because they lacked descent livings due to threatening and increasingly polluted waters, heat pressures, flooding, and endless catastrophe consequences it has on their source of livelihoods. Being a student attending this conference allows sharing experiences and also gaining new perspective moving forward.
Since our arrival on Saturday, 12th November in Marrakech, firstly, I took part in the Climate Justice March pass with hundreds if not thousands of people calling on actions to combat climate change. It was such a great moment for me. I witnessed firsthand the enthusiasm displaced by activists, artists, politicians, students, and people from all works of lives spreading messages of climate actions. During this event, I also carried a placard written “Our World” “Our Dignity” and “Our Future.” Such was remarkable bearing in mind the important role we can all play in spreading the message.
I do hope that world leaders will move from talking to more efficient, practical and pragmatic actions to save the planet for all generations yet unborn.
Furthermore, attending many different side events so far also makes it uniquely inspiring to learn fresh knowledge about climate change progresses and actions taken by different stakeholders in other countries. Meetings such as impact of climate change on least developing countries, mountain areas, role of young people in climate advocacy, reports by countries and meeting prominent leaders like Banki Moon, John Kerry, the Moroccan Prince etc. was unbelievable. Even interviewing the Belgian Minister of Energy, Netherland Minister of Foreign Trade and International cooperation the list goes on and personal discussions with people you randomly meet spark a common vision of hope for the planet. Also on our facebook page “Insiders in Marrakech” keeps people update with happenings and also documenting our activities.
My role going back to Brussels is to continue spreading the message with friends, student fraternities like De Moeial such as writing articles, poems and any other platform deemed fitting to contribute. I do hope that world leaders and key stakeholders will from move talking to more efficient, practical and pragmatic actions to save the planet for all generations yet unborn.