Nearly 100 young people - aged from 15 to 24 - gathered from over 60 countries to identify a concrete agenda for youth and the environment at the Tunza International Youth Conference in August. Coming from countries as distant as Ecuador and Australia, Canada and Benin, they met at the Dubna International University of Science and Culture in Russia.

'We are all united by one concern, we all love nature,' Valery Prokh, the Mayor of Dubna - 120 kilometres from Moscow - told delegates. 'I hope this will be preserved in your countries.' Prof. O. Kouznetsov, the Rector of the University, added, 'We need to begin searching for a solution from here to the torturing of the environment and the world.'

The delegates drew up a ten-point commitment (see page 11), to protect and wisely manage the environment, to be implemented in their own countries, and planted trees in the university campus making sure that their stay at Dubna would be long remembered. They got to know each other at a discotheque continuing into the early hours of the morning and through matches of football, volleyball, basketball and table tennis. The Russian hosts put on a working boat ride on the Volga Lake and cultural shows with colourful dances and vibrant music. On the last evening the sky was lit by the bright red, orange, green and purple of a fireworks display.

PHOTO: SUVECHA PANT

Those who came from each region met in separate meetings to work out action plans and set up regional networks to exchange information. The African group suggested educating young children to care for the environment, and promoting campaigns like 'Tree Africa'. The Europeans suggested maintaining a website to spread the Tunza message to the world, and focused on fundraising activities and approaching corporations for resources. The Latin American and Caribbean group wanted to alert governments by holding debates on environmental issues, and thought of holding a sub-regional conference.

West Asia concentrated on the 'Clean-up Arabia' campaign and January's Dubai Youth Conference. 'Clean-up campaigns have been successful in other parts of the world and should be adopted as a good way to raise awareness,' said Lara El-Saad of the United Arab Emirates.

To get all agencies, companies, children and women enthusiastic about cleaning up our countries will lead to a better Arabia.'

Those from Asia and the Pacific wanted to concentrate on communication through their large region by building networks and bridging the information gap. 'We need to use the media and utilize communications facilities to spread our message to the people,' said Sixuan Li of China. 'It is through communicating with each other that we will be aware of the environmental problems and solutions learned by different organizations in our region.'

PHOTO: UNEP