9/11/2016

For immediate release.

New Zealand youth stand in solidarity with the global community at United Nations conference.

The New Zealand Youth Delegation — currently in Marrakech for the 22nd annual UN climate change conference — has today been standing in solidarity with the youth of the United States and the global community in response to the announcement overnight that Donald Trump has been elected as the 45th President of the United States of America.

“The election outcome amplified my feelings of despair and overwhelming empathy for protectors at Standing Rock, my friends of colour, LBGTQI+ communities, women and indigenous peoples and groups who are marginalised by the overt injustices being experienced today”, Erica Finnie, co-convenor for the New Zealand Youth Delegation, explains.

“We’re so privileged to be at COP22, amongst young climate activists from around the world who came together in solidarity, and called for a future powered by love and connection. Today I hugged, cried with and felt the energy of hundreds of climate change activists who refuse to let a bully stop our progress. We’re lucky to be in a space that has allowed us to transition our grief into hope so easily. We hope that we can now share our experiences at COP to channel the emotions so many of us are feeling into fighting for the future that we want to share.”

Inside the conference, a protest facilitated by SustainUS — an American youth delegation — denounced the election of Trump, a climate change denier. The action opened space for representatives from across the globe to speak on the impacts of the election along with the presentation of ‘the People’s To Do List’, drawing focus to issues such as our reliance on fossil fuels and the need to work for climate justice across the globe.

Outside the conference, a collection of campaigners and activists without access to the conference formed a storytelling circle, sharing the messages of their heartbreak and the impact of this election.

The actions and protests in response to both the election and other climate change related issues will continue beyond today, with organisations such as 350.org and the Moroccan Climate Coalition announcing civil society events on the 13th and 14th November.

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