On January 20, 2007, the Global Young Greens were fortunate enough to hold a joint conference with the members of the European Parliament (MEPs).
Marie-Hélène Aubert is a representative of Les Verts, the French Green party, in the European Parliament. She demonstrated her particular passion for the future of Africa and its cooperation with Europe by holding a joint workshop with African youths.
Alain Lipietz, also from France, is an economist and member of the European Parliament who leads its delegation to the Andean Community: Equateur, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia and Bolivia. With a strong interest in the rights of Indigenous people and international trade as well as grassroots activism, Alain provided a truly global perspective.
Carl Schlyter represents the Swedish Green party, Miljöpartiet De Gröna, says that industry lobbyists influence legislation in Europe, leading to environmental degredation. Carl supports fair trade as a way to combat global inequality.
All three of these MEPs are members of the Greens/EFA. The Greens/EFA is a European parliamentary group made up of Greens and representatives from regional parties. It is composed of 42 MEPs from 13 countries.
Global Challenges – Green Responses:
Parliamentarians meet Youth Leaders to discuss Globalisation
Nairobi, 20th January 2006
3 Green MEPs (Marie-Hélène Aubert, Alain Lipietz, Carl Schlyter) discuss with global youth activists the role of youth in Globalisation.
Panel 1:
9:00 – 9:15h: Introductory words
9:15 – 10h: What Youth expects from Global leaders: results of the Youth Forum
Panel 2:
10h – 11h: Green youth movements in the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Africa and Europe: an overview and comparison + discussion
11h – 11:30 Coffee break
Workshops:
11:30h- 12:30:
Workshop 1: Alain Lipietz: How Youth can contribute to Environmental Protection on the Local Level
Workshop 2: Marie-Hélène Aubert: Which prospects for the Youth of Africa? The role of Education
Workshop 3: Carl Schlyter: It is still possible to act local and think global
Panel 3:
12:30- 13h Results of the workshops and final debate: Future cooperation of Parliamentarians and Youth