“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.

“Non-violent grassroots actions by Israelis and Palestinians need support if they are to succeed and grow.”

Julia Bacha, filmmaker and Media Director at Just Vision, blogs about their new short film series telling the stories of Israelis and Palestinians involved in an ongoing non-violent campaign in Sheikh Jarrah, Jerusalem.

February 19th saw a double celebration at the weekly protest that has become the hallmark of the popular struggle against the Wall and the settlements. Emily Schaeffer describes this major victory for the movement and explains why the non-violent demonstrations will continue.

Emily Schaeffer, an American-Israeli human rights lawyer, accompanied the Elders on their visit to the Palestinian village of Bil'in in the West Bank. Here, she describes how the villagers are using non-violent protest as a means to oppose the Israeli soldiers' acts of brutality.