“When I was five years old, I discovered that something is seriously wrong with the way people treat our planet.”

Sara from Sweden is one of four young environmental activists taking part in the Elders+Youngers debate leading up to the Rio+20 summit. In this blog she writes of her inspiration and experience advocating for practical solutions to environmental issues – with governments and at a grassroots level.

“When people ask me what I do for a living I like to present myself as a socio-environmentalist.”

Pedro shares his experience working towards overcoming the social, economic, environmental and political issues facing Brazil and the wider world. As Rio+20 approaches, he argues that the Elders+Youngers debate will be another step towards the solution.

“We believe that when young people know the urgency of the climate crisis they will act.”

Esther is one of the four Youngers taking part in the Elders+Youngers debate ahead of the Rio+20 summit. She describes how health and education issues in Nigeria motivate her work on environment and sustainable development in Africa.

“I believe in the power of each individual no matter how cruel the political and economical system may be.”

As he joins the Elders+Youngers debate ahead of the Rio+20 summit in June, climate change activist Marvin talks about his experience of promoting sustainable development in China and his efforts to raise awareness about these issues among students and young people.

“It may be hard to measure their direct impact on the global task of ending child marriage, but this visit, for me at least, has me convinced that The Elders are creating a real tipping point.”

Pam Omidyar, founder of Humanity United and member of The Elders' Advisory Council, blogs about joining the Elders in India and their efforts to elevate the issue of child marriage.

Idil Cazimoglu, who appears in The Elders' documentary about the search for missing persons in Cyprus, reflects on growing up on a divided island and says it is up to ordinary Cypriots to build a shared future in which both communities live together in peace.

17-year old Michael is a member of the Cypriot Friendship Programme, which brings together Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot teenagers to promote coexistence between their two communities. Here he blogs about the challenges he faces from people who don't think peace is possible - as well as his experience meeting the Elders and featuring in their documentary, “Cyprus: Digging the Past in Search of the Future”.

Gazan rapper Ayman Mghamis explains how learning hip hop has empowered young people to speak out about their life behind the blockade.

Hanar Shaat, a 21-year-old student from Khan Younis, describes the needs and aspirations of young Gazans.

Eman Mohammed is a 21 year old photojournalist and blogger based in Gaza City. She seeks to portray the positive potential of the Gaza Strip despite the harsh realities she documents through her photography.