Youth Prepare for a Historic Shift in Power

19/11/2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Youth Prepare for a Historic Shift in Power

Hundreds of young people across New Zealand and the Pacific are counting down the days until the biggest youth climate summit this region of the world has ever seen.

In just a few weeks, an event called Power Shift NZ-Pacific 2012 will see over 600 youth gather in Auckland to take action on climate change. It will be the first ever Power Shift to be held in New Zealand, but is based on a series of similar events that have been held all over the world over the past 5 years, mobilising more than 25,000 young people in a fight for their future.

During the three day summit, the participants will hear from inspirational speakers, learn new skills, and be a part of launching a massive campaign for next year.

The youth organisers are calling climate change “the defining issue of our time”, says spokesperson Brittany Packer.

“With the government’s recent abandonment of the Kyoto Protocol, and weakening of our Emission Trading Scheme, it’s becoming clear that climate consequences are not a priority. And with the cost of preventing and adapting to climate change increasing, and our neighbours in the Pacific islands already on the frontline of disasters, we don’t have the time to wait for them to sort it out.”

“It’s time to show New Zealand and the world that to our country’s youth, climate change is no longer a side issue, it’s not just an environmental issue, and it’s not a political game.”

More details at www.powershift.org.nz

ENDS

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