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Johannesburg, August (GYRP) – Rhys Davies, 17, and Peter Burton, 11, are two of the UK's Earth Champions, who have come to the World Summit on Sustainable Development to represent the voices of the national youth. There are four Earth Champions in total. They were chosen after their schools won a competition for an idea for putting sustainability into practice. Peter's school in Northern Ireland plans to develop the school grounds with an orchard, weather station and sensory garden. Rhys's school in Wales has already put on a play about sustainability that they have performed at other local schools.
How did you first become interested in sustainable development and what does ‘sustainability’ mean to you?
Rhys: When I studied geography at school I was really interested in learning about the developing world. When we entered the WWF competition, I had no idea that we would win. A lot of people have no idea what sustainable development means. For me, it means something that will last, and help the world well into the future. Yesterday when we went to Soweto the children did a web-of-life game. Each of the children represented an animal and they were all tied together by a piece of string. They made the noises of the animals, and then when it came to the human he said "I am a human and I affect all these animals." Then they all fell down. We can help the web of life or we can destroy it, and at the moment we are destroying it.
Peter: When I was nine I was voted onto our school eco-committee. ‘Sustainable development’ means ‘carrying on’ and helping the environment.
Do you think it is possible to integrate the environmental and social aspects of sustainable development?
Peter: It's a hard thing to do but it is possible. Everything's possible if there's the money and if you really want to do it.
Do you think that when everyone goes home from the Summit they will continue to make sustainable development a priority?
Peter: After Rio in 1992 everyone thought that was a great idea but not much happened. People think that this one might do the same, but it won't if people put their minds to it.
Rhys: In Wales I think they will. Wales has just been named as the fasted country in the world to put sustainable development into practice. I think this might be because there is so much green in Wales. There are a lot of clean energy initiatives like wind farms.
When you met Tony Blair, did he seem interested in what you are doing and are you disappointed that he's only coming to Johannesburg on one day?
Peter: Blair did agree with everything we said but I think he's wasting his time coming just for one day. He should come for at least three or four days.
Do you think the media in the UK give enough attention to sustainable development issues?
Peter: Since we've been chosen they have!
Rhys: The broadsheet papers are quite good, but I think the tabloids are more interested in asking for attention.
What are the issues that you think are really important at the summit?
Peter: For me, water. About 80% of the world's illnesses are caused by drinking water, with thousands of children dying each day.
Rhys: Poverty. It's not fair that I have a four bedroom house while in Soweto they are living in huts.
What do you think are the barriers to sustainable development?
Peter: People think that if you look after the environment that means less pollution. And that means less development. Especially for the US - they are one of the world's biggest polluters and so George Bush should be here.
Rhys: I think that the US are scared that some agreement might be reached that won't help them. They don't want to give.
A lot of people wonder what a meeting of up to 60,000 delegates from around the world can achieve. Do you think summits like this are important?
Rhys: When I found out how many people were coming I thought they would all be in one meeting and it would be chaos. But now I've realised that there are lot of smaller meetings, and in that way I think things will be changed.
© GLOBAL YOUTH REPORTERS PROGRAMME
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Annabel Short
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