A Climate Change Story (1)

Last week, COP 15 or International Climate Change Conference were held. The declaration has been made and we will wait for the impact to our beloved earth. Climate Change itself is a serious problem that threat all of the earth residents. Me, you, our family, our community, our pets, plants, animals, everything. Then, maybe you'll ask, what is climate change? Why it is very important for me?

Climate change is connect with the earth temperature. The Sun keep shines us everyday, it send its heat energy to the earth continually. The heat comes in through a thin layer that cover earth named Atmosphere. The heat keep it through until it reach earth surface, sea, plants, mountain, our skin, etc. It makes the earth warm and the live keep going.

As the temperature increases the earth send the heat energy (infrared radiation) back into the atmosphere (it was just like mirror reflect your face). Some of this heat absorbed by gases in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapour, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and halocarbons.

The Greenhouse Effect
These gasses, which are all naturally occurring act as blanket, preventing the heat energy to comes out from our atmosphere. They keep the earth's average temperature at about 15 degrees Celsius: warm enough to keep humans, plants and animal to live. Without these gasses the temperature will drop to -18 degrees Celsius . . . . too cold for most life forms. This natural warming effect is called The Greenhouse Effect.

To understand the greenhouse effect, see the picture below.



Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Carbon dioxide is the most significant gas to keep the earth warm. Four billion ago the concentration of CO2 was much higher than today - 80% compared to today's 0.03%. But most of it was removed through photosynthesis over time. All this carbon dioxide became locked in organism and then minerals such as oil, coal and petroleum inside the Earth's crusts.

The natural carbon dioxide cycle
A natural carbon dioxide cycle keep the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere balance. Decaying plants, volcanic eruptions and the respiration of animals release natural CO2 into the atmosphere, where it stays for about 100 years. It is removed again from the atmosphere by photosynthesis in plants and dissolution water (for instance in oceans).

The amount of naturally produced CO2 is almost perfectly balanced by the amount naturally removed.

Source: WWF

Youth Challenge European Union Environment Minister to "Create a Better World"

As part of engaging activities of the COP 15, on December 15th, 2009, Delegation of the World Organization of Scouting Movement (WOSM) delegates had an opportunity to discuss the latest positions on the climate agreement with the European Union's Environment Ministers. This meeting provided close insight of the policies each of the countries within this region are fighting for.

Issues such as legal binding agreement, food and water security, short-term financing for adaptation, and research and development were debated. It is important to note the openness of many delegations to youth, as well as their awareness of our input. As young people, we must strive to offer new perspectives and constructive alternatives for a deal that will be handed over to our generation. Events such as this give youth an opportunity to interact directly with decision maker, and share with them their views in both national and international context. Scouts engaged actively the governmental representatives to share their perspectives and offer constructive alternatives to 'Create a Better World.'

Danish Scouts and Guides Climate Camp receives a Royal visits

On Sunday 13th, Climate Camp was visited by HRH Princess Benedikte. The Princess made a tour around the camp to see a different activities on offer and then attended a special reception where she met Scouts and Guides delegations from all over the world. Attending the reception was the Scouts and Guides delegations all over the world and thirty two Danish Scouts and Guide Scouts for the Climate Summit.

At the reception young representatives from this group and also from the Climate Camp spoke about the role that Scouting and Guiding has to play in tackling the climate change and gave some personal experiences of how their involvement in Scouts and Guides has support them in their life.



The Climate Camp itself was hold by Danish Scouts and Guides and has been running until now. The Camp will end when the COP 15 over. The aim of the camp is to highlight the importance of climate change and the need for everyone to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. It does this by engaging adults and young people in a variety of fun, Scouting activities.




The Climate Camp is open for all, provide free activities and has a climate cafe serving hot drinks and food. It is situated in Højbro Square in central Copenhagen and is open from 10.00am to 10.00pm every day until 18th December 2009. - www.scout.org

Scouts Contribute in United Nation Climate Change Conference (COP 15)

Do you know, that know in Copenhagen, Denmark, United Nations is held a conference about climate change? It is United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15). The conference will be held for the next to weeks. It was started on December 7th, 2009, it was just 3 days ago. The conference itself will focus to set a strong, ambitious, just, equitable, effective, operational, exclusive and transparent agreement.

Climate change is a serious problems for us. Our humanity will extinct if we don't care about this problem. Flood, landslides, melting ice in the north pole, typhoon, hunger, dry land, will be a monster that keep haunting us if we don't do anything to prevent that happen.

Scouts, the largest global organization in the world, who has a key role in educate young people for the better future, send delegates at the conference. We have a mission in Copenhagen to send our clear message: Climate Change: Scouts are part of the solution.

Do you know that:

• The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) is the world's biggest youth movement with over 30 million members in 160 countries.
• Scouts have over 100 years of experience in connecting young people to nature and taking responsibility for the environment.
• Scouts tackle environmental challenges from the local community to global initiatives.
• Scouting prepares today's youth to be leaders in combating climate change.

We hope, scouts will increase its positive contribution to the world, so people still have positive perception about us.

Do you agree with me?