Star power, artistic expression and joy of learning were combined to mark World Environment Day on June 5 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Student voices were dominant as one of the main priorities of the United Nations - global climate change - was placed in the limelight. The power of youth and future generations to make a real difference in the fight against global warming was the central theme of this year's celebration.

World Environment Day, June 5 2007 at UNHQ UN photo/ Devra Berkowitz

Together We Can Bring Our Fish Back
Elementary school children from a New York City school presented a multimedia performance, organized by Art and Science Collaborations, Inc. (ASCI) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), entitled "Fishes Feed Us". Through rhythmic movements and messages from young people around the world, the students focussed on the state of the world's marine resources. They asked critical questions to an attentive audience, sucha as: "If we can barely survive now, how are future generations going to?"

Executive Director and founder of ASCI, Cynthia Pannucci, saw the effort as evidence of the power of children—as an "intergenerational message" —and expressed the hope that the performance can become the "basis for a low-cost global model and potential curriculum for schools". She urged students to be engaged in learning and activism: "Ask how can you use your skills and talents on behalf of our environment—all of you have a role to play. Get mad, get educated and get involved! I am counting on you".

Also at the event the Conservation for Oceans Foundation honoured activists whose efforts have made a tremendous impact on the preservation of marine resources and wildlife. One honouree, Rob Stewart, director and star of the movie "Shark Water", emphasized the importance of preservation of species like sharks. "The world needs a new relationship with the oceans", he said.

Melting Ice — A Hot Topic?
The theme of this year's World Environment Day came to life with the help of high-profile special guests Terri Irwin and Bindi Irwin, the 8-year-old daughter of the late Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin. The family operates Australia Zoo and has become a spokesperson for the cause of living harmoniously with the environment. The Conservation for Oceans Foundation, Discovery Kids and Animal Planet honored Bindi with a special award and described her as an exemplary youth personality and leader—a "hero of youth".

UN Deputy-Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro (left) with Bindi and Terri Irwin UN photo/ Devra Berkowitz

Our Footprints, Our Future
The day's celebration continued with the launch of an international project "Our Footprints, Our Future: A world youth initiative on reducing greenhouse gases," organized by the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) and the International Education and Resource Network (iEARN), and the public television channel, Channel Thirteen. The event was sponsored by the UNEP and the UN Office of Sport for Development and Peace.

The project was designed to draw attention to, and educate youth about, "carbon footprint" every individual produces, symbolically represented by painted shoes. It also helped students to see the link between poverty and climate change by donating the painted shoes to children in Africa. As an educational programme, the project will use online tools to measure students' current carbon footprints and develop strategies for reducing their carbon usage.

The goal is for 1 million students in over 100 countries to join together with their families and schools, the United Nations, national governments and the private sector to reduce the total global carbon footprint. Dr. Edwin H. Gragert, Executive Director of iEARN-USA, introduced the project as an important tool to encourage action on the part of youth. "Most young people don't know what they can do when the issue is so big", he said. A thousand new shoes were donated to the project by New York Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury of Marbury Shoes, who pledged to not only donate sneakers, but also time. "The project allows children to put their own personality on the shoes [through their art]", he said.

Participating students from New York City schools shared their thoughts, hopes and appreciation for the project with the audience. One student from Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, in Queens, explained her painted shoes as "representing Barbados, my country". "I wanted to show them [children in Africa] that I'll always be with them spiritually".

Stairway of painted sneakers: Ranan Lurie's "Uniting Painting" adorned with Stephon Marbury's donated shoes. UN photo/ N. Previn

To add to the symbolism of the project, the painted shoes were placed alongside the public installation of the work of art, "Uniting Painting", by artist Ranan Lurie, which runs from inside the UN Headquarters building down to the East River and over to Roosevelt Island, which is visible from the grounds of the UN Headquarters.

Pera Wells, Secretary-General of WFUNA, explained the link between Mr. Luire's painting and the "Footprints" project as "putting together extraordinary ideas". Mr. Lurie, told the UN Chronicle that the project represents an important cause and positive development, which corresponds to the idea and mission behind his painting. The painting is representative of how students are coming together and, through the United Nations, are reaching out to their counterparts around the world.

Richard Leonard of the UN Office of Sport for Development and Peace, concluded the event on a high note: "This project represents an important step in achieving the Millennium Development Goal #7 —ensure environmental sustainability. Let's be inspired by the events today to continue to mobilize the power of sports, the power of art and culture, and the energy of youth to protect the environment, in our quest for sustainable development."