Earthodyssey 2020 - 2022 - Dr. Mahendra Shah

Earth Odyssey 2020-2022
Mobilising the World Community for Sustainability Actions Leaderships

An Imperative for Sustainable Development
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KWXpRUBZRI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrAWZlEX91I&feature=emb_logo
We undertake this global LinkedIn announcement to attract people with passion and commitment for
a sustainable world of Humanity and Nature. Our vision is to inspire men, women and Youth as action
oriented leaders for sustainable development
Your suggestions and ideas to make the attached pdf Earth Odyssey draft an inclusive document would
be most welcome. Please share this Earth Odyssey 2020-2022 draft with friends, family, colleagues and
activists. We are seeking members for our Advisor Board as well as activists and volunteers to
participate in Earth Odyssey Webinars and on location Panel Discussions around the world.
Please send us your contact details, Resume and your Sustainable Development interest details. We look
forward to your participation in the Earth Odyssey Project
Mahendra Shah
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahendra-shah-89483b2a/?originalSubdomain=id
Yuri Sanada
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuri-sanada-79077721/
Ukpeme Akpan Okon

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ukpeme-okon-4ab41715/

We undertake this global LinkedIn announcement to attract people with passion and commitment for
a sustainable world of Humanity and Nature. Our vision is to inspire men, women and Youth as action
oriented leaders for sustainable development
Your suggestions and ideas to make the attached pdf Earth Odyssey draft an inclusive document would
be most welcome. Please share this Earth Odyssey 2020-2022 draft with friends, family, colleagues and
activists. We are seeking members for our Advisor Board as well as activists and volunteers to
participate in Earth Odyssey Webinars and on location Panel Discussions around the world.
Please send us your contact details, Resume and your Sustainable Development interest details. We look
forward to your participation in the Earth Odyssey Project
Mahendra Shah
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahendra-shah-89483b2a/?originalSubdomain=id
Yuri Sanada
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuri-sanada-79077721/
1
Ukpeme Akpan Okon
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ukpeme-okon-4ab41715/

www.earthodyssey.org
1. Executive Summary
2. The Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

2.1 Mobilizing Youth: Sustainable Development Actions for a Progressive World
2.2 Inspiring Women: Sustainable Development Actions for a Just World
3. Earth Odyssey 2020-2022 Project

3.1Earth Odyssey Act 1: A Worldwide Social Media Campaign – The Main Sustainability issues
3.2Earth Odyssey Act 2: Compilation of Available Sustainable Development Videos and
Documentaries
3.3 Earth Odyssey Act 3: Production of Panel Videos
3.4 Earth Odyssey Act 4: Panel Debates around the World
3.5 Earth Odyssey Act 5: Major Outcomes and Productions
3.6 Earth Odyssey Act 6: World of Music and Events Producers - Mobilizing Youth and
Women for Sustainable Development Actions
4. Earth Odyssey Sponsorship Opportunities
5. Earth Odyssey Contact Information
6. Earth Odyssey Introductory Videos: Sustainable Development-Sustainable Lifestyles
7. Annex A: A Brief History of Sustainable Development, 1972–2019
8. Annex B: Six Selected Speeches, Sustainable Development Challenges, 1972 – 2019
Annex B1: Sustainability and Poverty-Environment Nexus

Indira Gandhi (Speech Excerpts), Stockholm Conference on Human Environment, June 1972
Annex B2: Sustainability and Development Actions
Severn Suzuki (13 Years), Rio Earth Summit, Rio De Janeiro, June 1992
Annex B3: Sustainability and Children’s Pleas
Mingyu Liao (11 Years), World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, July 2002
Annex B4: Sustainability and Humanitarian Response
Angela Merkel, Bundespressekonferenz, Berlin, August 2015
Annex B5: Sustainability and Children’s Concerns
Kehkashan Basu (16 Years), Kindred Spirits, April 2017
Annex B6: Sustainability and Terrorism Response
Jacinda Ardern Speech at Christchurch Memorial, Christchurch March 2019
Annex B7: Sustainability and Climate Actions
Greta Thunberg (16 Years), UN Climate Action Summit, New York, Sept 2019
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1. Executive Summary
Human emotions and ambitions are intertwined with a universal truth: we have inherited this planet
from our ancestors while concomitantly borrowing it from our children, and we must sustainably
safeguard it. We are confronted with a worsening environmental crisis: climate change and extreme
events, extinction of species, atmospheric and oceanic pollution, land degradation and water scarcity
and pests and diseases, all occurring at a rate many fold more rapidly than in the last century. We
have the responsibility to leave a Planet that is healthy and habitable for all species.
We stand at a defining moment in time and unless governments, businesses and civil society commit
to implementing actions for sustainable development, especially environmental restoration and
protection, the very survival of future generations will be put at risk. Sustainable development
problems transcend nation-states and international collective partnerships are essential to meet the
needs of peace, security, social and economic development, whilst protecting the natural world. We
must begin to act as one world with one single goal of sustainable development for all.
The grid lock against change in society is leaders in positions of policy making and funding
commitments are preoccupied with maintaining their own self-interests. The short term perspectives
of Politicians is getting re-elected, Corporations strive to maximize investments and shareholder
profits, Scientists are constrained to discuss the implications and impacts of their research as that may
put at risk their public and private sector funding. And in general People accept the status-quo since
their priority is make a living and care for their family.
Sustainable development is no longer an option, it is an imperative but that cannot be realised unless
human beings themselves live sustainable lifestyles. The rampant worldwide adoption of modern
lifestyles, driven by materialism, greed and power, is resulting in escalating pollution and waste and
in an emerging human health crisis of lifelong diseases, for example diabetes, cardiovascular and
cancer for which thus far we have no cure. Most of the our waste ends up in the water word,
especially seas and oceans which are our most precious natural resources.
Women, accounting for half the world’s population, in most countries have yet to break free from the
societal, environmental, economic and religious conditions that keep them discriminated, suppressed
and unable to participate as equals in making our world sustainable. For decades the mantra of “We”
must commit to women’s empowerment and equality. Who is “We” ? Are they, the political and
corporate leaders who comprise some 85% of Heads of State, 75% of Members of National
Parliaments and 90% of Corporate Business Leaders.
If we wait long for these leaders to respond to the inequities of gender participation, we will run of
time to put our world on a pathway to sustainable development. It is time for women themselves to
mobilize their own self-awareness, self-education, self-development and self-empowerment and
educate and inspire their daughters and sons to be conscious, compassionate, committed and action-
oriented leaders of tomorrow.
The youth in a matter of years will have the power of their thumb to vote and the power of their wallet
to force Governments and Businesses respectively to act in the interest of a sustainable world. The
youth of today are historically the first generation on whose shoulders, the responsibility to secure a
sustainable world has been placed. They are our hope, and if they fail to act in time, then we all will
have to live with the sorrow of sacrificing our future generations and damaging the life supporting
capacity of our Planet Earth.
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Our divided world of developed and developing countries, in a currently emerging era of nationalism
and unilateral self-interest decisions based on economic and military power, need to appreciate and
realize that climate change and extreme events, air and water pollution as well as pests and diseases
will not recognize any political or geographical boundaries. Genuine international development
partnerships with real commitments by the developed countries, that historically developed with
polluting technologies, such as coal-based energy, are essential to share their safe and sustainability
enhancing technologies, knowledge and wealth in a concessional and affordable manner with the
developing countries.
The 1992 Rio Earth Summit endorsed Agenda 21, a comprehensive and systemic sustainable
development plan with a global road map of integrated coordinated actions and funding required. The
Rio Earth Summit also adopted two principles, namely “the polluter pays principle” and, “the
precautionary principle” and both are simply common sense to put into practice.
The year 2022 will be the 30th anniversary of Rio 1992. What has improved and what has worsened
in the past 30 years? What was neglected from Agenda 21? What happened to the principles in the
Rio Declaration? What are the challenges we face today? What will be the consequences of inactions?
We have the knowledge and we understand what needs to be done? Thus we must mark the 30th
anniversary of Agenda 21 in 2022 with policy commitments, means and actions for genuine progress
towards sustainable development.
The Earth Odyssey vision and mission is to inspire and mobilize the youth, women and men to
participate in all spheres of sustainable development and trigger policy actions and implementation
by Governments, Business and Civil Society.
The Earth Odyssey project comprises of six steps, namely

 Act 1: A Worldwide Social Media Campaign –Awareness of the Major and Priority
Sustainability Challenges;
 Act 2: Compilation of existing Films and Documentaries that present social, environmental
and economic issues and challenges;
 Act 3: Selection of Priority Topics and Issues for Debate - Production of related Panel Videos;
 Act 4: Selected Issues Debates in selected countries between Youth, Government, Business,
Scientists, Technologists and Civil Society representatives including Religious and Indigenous
Community leaders with moderated discussions highlighting actions for
implementation....Video and Audio Recorded
 Act 5: Analysis of Debates and Compilation of Major Outcomes, and Actions: Production a
Global Sustainable Development Documentary to trigger worldwide public demand for
policies, actions and implementation for sustainable development from Governments,
Businesses and Civil Society
 Act 6: World of Music and Events Producers around the world to organize concerts and
musical debates targeting the youth, women and mento embrace the challenges and become
the action leaders of change for a sustainable and progressive world.
The Earth Odyssey vision and mission is to mobilize the youth and women to participate actively and
contribute to establishing road maps of actions in order to secure the future and the future of
generations to come. This will require concerted and collaborative efforts with the active participation
of Governments and policy makers, Business with their social and corporative responsibility, safe
Science and Technology in support of humanity and protection of nature with development of
affordable and viable sustainability enhancing products and services, as well as mobilising civil
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society for wider public commitments to adopt sustainable human lifestyles and responsible
consumption.
We earnestly call upon all Governments, Corporations, Foundations, Scientists, Technologists and
Individuals and all citizens, with consciousness and commitment to make our one Earth and one
World sustainable to join and take part in Earth Odyssey 2020-2022. We are all in this together. This
is our story. It will be told for generations to come. So let us secure the sustainable future for all and
that of Mother Earth and realise what has been a mere possibility into a reality.
2. The Global Partnership Challenges of Sustainable Development
Human emotions and ambitions are intertwined with a universal truth: we have inherited this planet
from our ancestors while concomitantly borrowing it from our children, and we must sustainably
safeguard it. We are confronted with a worsening environmental crisis: climate change and extreme
events, extinction of species, atmospheric and oceanic pollution, land degradation and water scarcity
and pests and diseases, all occurring at a rate many fold more rapidly than in the last century. We
have the responsibility to ensure a Planet that is healthy, habitable and sustainable.
In the last twenty years, our hopes and aspirations on the eve of this 3rd Millennium for a sustainable
world have been shattered by an increasingly inequitable, fragmented, and disenfranchised human
world. We also face escalating and multiplying consequences of the emerging environmental, social
and economic crisis that will undermine the life supporting capacity of our Planet.
By the 2050s there may be an estimated 1 Billion people displaced by serious environmental
pressures, including air and water pollution, droughts and flood disasters as well as societal conflicts
and wars. People facing famines, water scarcity, clean air to breathe and livelihoods crisis will have
no choice but to migrate and no walls, or risk of being imprisoned, or even being shot dead at borders
will be able to stop these destitute masses.
We cannot continue with business as usual, often with denial and the assumption that we have all the
time to act, when the impacts are rapidly intensifying and multiplying in front of our very eyes as well
as being reported by the scientific community and highlighted by news media around the world. We
are running out of time and the need sustainability actions is now or else we put at risk the very
survival of our future generations and all species that inhabit our Planet.
We now stand at a defining moment in time and unless governments, businesses, scientists,
technologists and civil society commit to implementing actions for sustainable development and
sustainable human lifestyles, the survival of our interdependent world will put at risk.
Sustainable development problems transcend the sovereign powers of the nation-states and equitable
international sustainable development partnerships are essential to meet the collective needs of
humanity for peace, security, economic welfare and stability, whilst protecting the natural world. We
must begin to act as one world with one single goal of progressive and sustainable development whilst
protecting the life supporting capacity of our one Earth and its millions of species including the one
human species that is directly or indirectly responsible for emerging the environmental, social and
economic crises around the world.
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Our divided world of developed and developing countries, in a currently emerging era of nationalism
and unilateral self-interest decisions based on economic and military power, need to acknowledge
that the on-going environmental crisis of climate change, atmospheric and oceanic pollution as well
as pests and diseases do not recognize political or geographical boundaries. We need genuine
international development partnerships with the developed countries, that historically developed with
polluting technologies, such as coal-based energy, to share their safe and sustainability enhancing
technologies, knowledge and wealth in a concessional and affordable manner with the developing
countries which are already to develop sustainably.
The grid lock against change in our society is that those in power and positions of policy making,
funding and implementing actions in Governments and Business have often been preoccupied with
maintaining their own self-interests as well as the international status quo. The short term perspectives
and priority for many political leaders is getting re-elected, for business leaders increasing short-term
shareholder profits is the priority, for scientists reliant on public and private sector research funding,
they tend to be constrained from stating the implications of their research as that would be
“speculation” and not science and for the working adults around the world, the first necessity is to
earn a livelihood for their families and thus they are restricted from taking a stand on unsustainable
social, environmental and economic policies in their places of work.
Business is the driving force of economic growth and prosperity as well as generating Government
revenues. Thus, awakening the consciousness of the world of Business as well as Governance to
ensure socially, environmentally and economically sustainable polices and actions is an imperative
for all concerned. We must not forget the power of the public’s wallet to support Business and the
power of the public’s voting thumb to elect Governments as real mechanisms that can force and bring
about changes for sustainable development.
This status quo situation of self-interests and priorities cannot go on and we urgently need to question
and find solutions to reform our world at the mercy of widespread materialism, greed, jealousy,
power and fear. The coming decades must be different and we need to decisively adopt an odyssey to
build genuine development partnerships with compassion, sharing, perseverance, peace, harmony and
fulfilment in order to build a sustainable future for all with explicit recognition and consciousness
that protecting the environment and sustainable use of natural resources is paramount.
Over period of some 50 years of world summits including Stockholm 1972, Rio De Janeiro 1992 and
Johannesburg 2002 as well as the Millennium Assessment 2001 and the Millennium Development
Goals 2015, whilst Governments unanimously endorsed sustainable development programs and
priorities the international community invariably failed to deliver the financial, scientific and
technological means and policy actions.
The 1992 Rio Earth Summit was a major event held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. For the first time
representatives of 172 countries united to cooperate to solve issues of sustainability. At the same time,
seventeen thousand NGO representatives debated the challenges of sustainable development at the
parallel NGO Forum in Rio.
The 1992 Rio Earth Summit endorsed Agenda 21, an integrated and comprehensive global assessment
of the social, environmental and economic challenges facing the world community in the 21st Century,
put forward a comprehensive sustainable development plan with a road map of specific actions and
funding required. The Rio Earth Summit also adopted two declarations which today are valid and
essential to implement. The first principle, namely “the polluter pays principle” would be
economically a strong deterrent, and the second principle, “the precautionary principle” in all we do,
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simply makes common sense. The world community celebrated Rio1992+5 in New York,
Rio1992+10 in Johannesburg, Rio1992+20 in Rio and kept alive the hopes and promises of the
1992Agenda21 and the Rio principles.
The year 2022 will be the 30th anniversary of Rio 1992. What has improved in the past 30 years?
What was neglected from Agenda 21? What happened to the principles in the Rio Declaration? And
what are the new challenges we need to face to continue to live sustainably on Earth?
We want to mark the 30th anniversary of Agenda 21 with a global Earth Odyssey 2020-2022 initiative
mobilizing the world community, especially the youth and women to begin a journey of commitment
for actions with a movement that will drive positive change and a global compact for sustainable
development.
2.1 Mobilizing Youth for Sustainable Development Actions for a Progressive World
Sustainable Development in no longer an option, it is an imperative. We must build a sustainable

development platform that empowers youth around the world to become the conscious and committed
sustainability actions-oriented leaders and policy makers in Governments, Business, Science and
Technology and Civil Society. They will have to act responsibly with timely actions and with fairness
in confronting our divisive world of haves and haves not as well as protection of the environment and
natural resources.
The Youth are the first generation in the history of human beings on whose shoulders, we have put
the responsibility to secure a sustainable world. They are our hope, and if they fail to act in time, then
we all will have to live with the sorrow of sacrificing future generations and damaging the life
supporting capacity of our Planet Earth.
The youth of today are growing up in a world of modern lifestyles, driven by materialism and greed,
are rampantly being adopted. This is already resulting in an emerging burden of modern lifestyles
ailments and diseases, including diabetes and obesity, mental stress and depression and blood pressure
and heart disease as well as cancer. This human health crisis is on the horizon. Most healthcare
authorities around the world simply do not have the budgets and healthcare resources to respond.
Furthermore the modern lifestyles culture of “throw-away” is also resulting in unprecedented
pollution and waste and most which ends up in the seas and oceans, our most precious natural
resource.
The consciousness and commitment of today’s youth who will be the leaders and policy makers of
tomorrow to make our world sustainable will be critical to securing a progressive future for all. Thus,
they will need “real situation” training on the tables of negotiations, as well in bringing the voices
and the consciousness of the world’s youth and young adults to become the force of change and
actions to secure a sustainable world.
University and college education and training as well as international negotiations skills are critical
to the development of sustainable and democratic societies; shaping minds, promoting diversity,
ethical leadership and social responsibility. Higher education institutions must play a key role in
addressing the societal, environmental and economic sustainable development, and global
development partnerships and transformations that are critical to secure a progressive and sustainable
future for all. This will also entail giving the highest priority in our educational institutions, through
the digital media, as well as in our homes and places of work, to introduce pertinent educational
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reforms and practical knowledge for environmentally, socially and economically sustainable
development, including responsible use of natural resources and safe technologies.
Over the next 3 years we must intensively educate and train the youth and young adults in schools,
colleges, universities, and public and private institutions  not only with regard to the priority actions
for sustainable development, but also in skills of negotiations for developing genuine regional and
global sustainable development actions partnerships.
The Youth must harness their ambitions and challenge those in power to implement decisive actions
for a sustainable world. We, ethically and morally, have no choice but to bring the youth to the
negotiations tables of sustainable development policy making and actions for a world of conscience
sustainable development in all we do.
2.2 Inspiring Women: Sustainable Development Actions for a Just World
At the Rio1992 Earth Summit, Johannesburg 2002 World Summit and the 2019 Climate Summit,
three young girls, all under the age of 16 years, pleaded tenderly that their future was being stolen
and they called for concerted actions to make the world sustainable for “us” and the generations to
come. Also in 1972, 2015 and 2019 three women national political leaders decisively responded
respectively to the humanitarian plights of the poor, of the refugees fleeing war and of the victims of
terrorism. These six examples, (See Annex B), highlight that girls and women by nature, in their roles
as daughters, sisters and mothers are naturally endowed with characteristics to be empathetic,
sensitive, mindful, patient, caring, conscious, considerate, compassionate and altruistic. These
characteristics well position women with traits, qualities and emotions relevant to societal equity,
Nature protection and sustainable development.
For decades it has been repeatedly stated by political, business and civil society leaders and policy
makers that “We” must commit to women’s empowerment and equality to facilitate their
participation in all aspects of development. Who is “we” ?If it is men who traditionally have held
leadership positions in decision making positions in Governments and Business, then it is time to
realize that we have failed to promote women in policy and decisions making positions such that their
unique potential and capabilities to contribute toa socially, environmentally and economically
sustainable world has been hindered. Women also the nurture the next generation especially in the
context of education for the school of life to be good and fair citizens of the future. This situation calls
for urgent rectification as women, accounting for half the world’s population have much to contribute
for a just world, and yet they continue to suffer from gender discrimination and inequality in a world
dominated by men, who for example today account globally for some 85% of Heads of State, 75%
of Members of National Parliaments and 90% of Business Leaders.
The highest priority worldwide is to create the enabling environments for women to break free from
the societal, environmental, economic as well as religious conditions that have kept them suppressed
and unable to participate in achieving a sustainable, equitable and progressive world. It is time to
realize that women themselves must mobilize their own self-awareness, self-development, self-
empowerment to be the driving force to bring an end to the prevalent human suffering in our divisive
human world as well as the destruction of nature and its millions of animal and plant species, all of
which is putting at risk peace and harmony as well as life supporting capacity of our Mother Earth.
Women as mothers of the future generation more than men understand the importance of what it stake
to nurture with patience, understanding and care the next generation of leaders and policy makers.
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Women give birth to the next generation especially the youth who in matter of years will have the
power of the thumb to vote and power of their wallet to force Governments and Business to adopt
policies and implement actions and thus it is women and youth as the committed action-oriented
leaders of tomorrow to deliver on the imperative of sustainable development to secure the future for
all. Understanding and appreciating the need for policy decisions towards reducing the gender
imbalances and inequalities and empowering women and youth are key conditions in “meeting the
needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
The full potential of girls to shape the future of societies, eliminate obstacles they face and create
social awareness on gender equality must begin in the homes and schools at an early age. Every
mother should encourage her daughters to be best they can and fathers, who generally are a strong
role model for their sons, also need to be the same for their daughters.
We must dismantle the patriarchal, discriminatory gender norms and the inequalities they sustain.
These norms especially affect girls, preventing them from claiming their rights, exposing them to
harmful practices in their homes, relationships as well as in the community. It is essential to change
these stereotyped social norms and prejudices that prevent today’s girls from improving themselves
in education, sports, arts and science and from turning into tomorrow’s powerful and influential
women. Educational reforms initiatives including character-based leadership development -- where
girls are taught core concepts of leadership, including advocacy, collaboration, integrity, authenticity,
resiliency and courage are essential for developing their own voice and leadership and thus fully
participating in the pressing needs of worldwide sustainable development.
Empowering women is a process that needs to be taken seriously forward through joint gender actions
as well as commitments by Governments, Business and Civil Society. Equal participation in decision-
making and a balanced involvement of both men and women in sustainable and progressive
development and especially actions and implementation is essential to ensuring that they together
take equal responsibility for the equitable distribution of resources, over the course of people’s lives
and between present and future generations.
In 1992, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development made important
provisions for the recognition of women’s potential and their full participation in sustainable
development. The Agenda 21 “Global Action for Women towards Sustainable and Equitable
Development” is indispensable to strengthening women’s participation. This issue is very much at
the core of all the aspects of the Earth Odyssey 2020-2022 project.
3. Earth Odyssey 2020-2022 Project
The Earth Odyssey vision and mission is to mobilize the youth and women to actively participate with
men and together contribute to development of policies and implementation of actions to secure the
future and the future of generations to come. This will require concerted actions and commitments by
the current generation of leaders and policy makers in Governments , Business, Science and
Technology as well as Civil Society. This will entail giving priority to developing affordable and
innovative sustainability enhancing products and services, as well as mobilising civil society for wider
public support and commitments to adopt sustainable human lifestyles and responsible consumption.
We earnestly call upon all, with consciousness and commitment to make our one Earth and one
World sustainable, to join us and take part in Earth Odyssey. We are all in this together. This is our
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story. It will be told for generations to come. So let us secure our sustainable future and that of Mother
Earth and thereby realise what has been a mere possibility into an essential reality.
3.1 Earth Odyssey Act 1: A Worldwide Social Media Video Campaign - Main
Sustainability Issues
The first phase of the Earth Odyssey 2022 project will launch an online worldwide campaign to find
the main sustainability issues that afflict us. This will be accessible on the internet as a smartphone
app to receive video collaborations from all around the world. Anyone can use their cell phones to
make a short video highlighting local social, environmental and economic challenges as well as
innovative solutions and ideas. These videos uploaded on the web will integrated by Earth Odyssey
to compile major subject-wise sustainable development challenges and actions as seen at the local
level.
3.2 Earth Odyssey Act 2: Compilation of Existing Sustainable Development Films,

Videos and Documentaries
We seek collaboration to compile major social, environmental and economic challenges footage from
News Media, for example BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera as well the United Nations System, Scientific and
Technological Institutions, National Geographic, IUCN, WWF, Business Corporations and
Foundations as well as Individual Documentary and Film Makers and other Relevant Entities.
3.3 Earth Odyssey Act 3: Production of Panel Debates Videos
The main issues prepared in Act 1, based on the many personal videos from around the world
reporting local social, environmental and economic sustainability challenges and envisaged actions
in combination with Act 2 Existing Videos, Films and Documentaries will be integrated with Act1
Videos by Earth Odyssey in Act 3 to produce sustainability issue-wise summary 30 minute Earth
Odyssey Panel Debates Video Documentaries with a focus on actions and implementation ideas,
for example Climate Change, Extinction of Species, Air Pollution, Oceanic Pollution, Human Health,
Modern Lifestyles, Food and Water Security and International Migration and Refugees etc
3.4 Earth Odyssey Act 4: Panel Debates around the World
The Panel Documentaries in Act 3 will form the foundation of Sustainable Development Action
Panels debates in Act 4 between Youth, Scientists and Technologists, Governments Policy Makers,
Business Corporation and Foundations, Scientists and Technologists and Civil Society
representatives in selected countries, for example Brazil, China, India, Russia, South Africa, United
States, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom, Kenya, Nigeria, Qatar, United
Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Argentina, Chile and other
selected countries. The Panels sessions will be video recorded and broadcasted on the internet from
the Earth Odyssey 2022 Project online platform.
Each panel on a specific subject and in a specific country will comprise of about twenty eight
participants, with half of them Youth representatives of the country’s social diversity as well as two
Government policy makers, two Business Leaders, two Scientists, two Technologists, two Civil
Society Leaders, two Indigenous Community Leader and two Religious Leader. In addition some
twenty members of the public will be accommodated as observers on the side and they will have an
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opportunity to ask questions to the panel members at the end of the session. We will ensure gender
balance in Panel membership.
We seek collaboration with high level educational institutions, science and technological research
organizations, business corporations, foundations as well as for example, Model UN High School
Program, the Young Scientists Summer Program at IIASA, Global Youth Action Program,
Kaospilot Enterprising Leadership Program, UN Youth Delegate Programme, UNICEF Youth for
Youth, Young Professionals Program at the World Bank, Qatar Foundation and especially the
International Association of Universitiesto advise and partner us in hosting Earth Odyssey Panels
debates.
The academic and research environment in colleges and universities will be an ideal independent and
public entity to discuss the major issues the world is facing. This would be very much in line with the
founding missions of high level educational institutions that in the past have been at the core of
societal, environmental and economic debates and a source of independent advise to all spheres of
public and private sector development.
3.5 Earth Odyssey Act 5: Major Outcomes and Productions
The Act 4video productions will form the major outcomes of the Earth Odyssey Project. Earth
Odyssey secretariat members will be traveling to different parts of the world to present policy and
implementation lessons and actions with regard to social, environmental and economic responsibility
and sustainability challenges, comparing what the nations endorsed in the Rio1992 Agenda 21 and
Rio Declaration and what has really happened around the world in the past 30 years, with a view to
developing a road-map of international partnerships, policies and actions on the journey ahead for a
sustainable, just and progressive world in harmony with Nature to secure the future for all.
At Earth Odyssey we also plan to present outcomes and productions to bring practical sustainability
actions and implementation to help communities everywhere through sharing projects and ideas that
are being successfully executed around the world. Shot in ultra-high-resolution 4K, the production
will result in a 70 minutes documentary movie and a TV Series with some six episodes of 30 minutes
each. Both the outcomes and productions will have a free worldwide distribution, for film festivals
and special events, and streaming over the Project online platform and on public and educational
services.
3.6 Earth Odyssey Act 6: Mobilizing the World of Music Events Producers: Actions for a
Sustainable World
In 1984 the images of a “Biblical Famine” in the BBC broadcast from Ethiopia triggered a worldwide
Governments and public response for emergency relief aid. Thirty five sub-Saharan were facing
severe food shortages as a result of several years of persistent droughts. Mahendra Shah, Director of
Information for Mobilizing and Delivering International Aid, UNOEOA stated in 1985, “The world
needs to recognize that the significant role of the World of Music, including Live Aid and Band Aid
that awakened the whole world to give generously and more than that triggered Governments and
Business into commitments that aroused the conscious of the world community to provide and
delivery timely emergency aid amounting to over USD 4 Billions that saved the lives of a million
people in Africa.
Over the years, the world of music and events producers has supported numerous other humanitarian
and environmental crisis around the world, savings millions of lives and relieving the suffering of
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hundreds of millions more. Music more than any other medium has the potential to empower the
youth, and men around the world to become the conscious and committed action-oriented leaders for
a sustainable world.
We earnestly call on musicians and events producers to join hands with Earth Odyssey to organise
concerts and make an imperative call for a world of sustainable development with a focus on
mobilizing Youth and Women. This is a unique opportunity to show solidarity with our children
around the world on school strikes and marching for climate action. Let us come together and enhance
the collective needs of humanity and Nature for Peace, Security and Sustainability.
Musicians, you are ideally positioned to be the driving force to arouse the conscious and commitment
to empower “We are the World”. Please join us at Earth Odyssey and let us save Our One World and
One Earth for generations of humans and all species that inhabit our beautiful and unique planet in
the Universe.
4. Earth Odyssey Sponsorship Opportunities
You can make a difference. There is an opportunity for an individual or a company or a foundation
to be the main sponsor of the Earth Odyssey 2022 Project, showing the world the urgency of
sustainability actions for the Planet Earth and for the future generations. The sponsor will benefit from
the Worldwide Campaign Online; events in India, China, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, the USA and
elsewhere; and the sponsor will be the participating presenter of the Documentary Movie and the TV
Series for Worldwide distribution. The whole project will have a positive impact in the lives of
millions of people around the world, perpetuated by the resulting productions.
Benefits to the Sponsor:

● Status of Sponsor and company logo in all promotion material related to the Social Media
Campaign, the Debates in the BRICS countries, the USA, and elsewhere, in the Documentary Film
and TV Series, and in other channels;
● Mention of the sponsorship in the website of the Campaign, in all Debates, in the Documentary
and TV Series, and in other channels;
● Area for promotion in the Debates;
● Opening of Documentary and TV Series as “Sponsor Presents”;

● Mention of sponsorship and thanks in all interviews, press releases, and other opportunities of
public communication;
● Special conference event in the company with the producers;
● Invitations for the Debates in the different countries, and for premieres of the Documentary and
TV Series;
● Other relevant opportunities for exposure of the sponsor in accordance with the producers.
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5. Earth Odyssey Contact Information
Earth Odyssey Host Mahendra Shah
Mahendra Shah has dedicated his life to Sustainable Development with multiple decades of work with
the United Nations, the World Bank, International Science and Policy Research Institutions, as well
as investment policy adviser to Governments and private sector funds. In 2002 while participating in
the UN preparatory meeting for the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development,
he realized that the world cannot be sustainable without human beings themselves being sustainable.
Mahendra Shah is now prioritizing the sustainability of lifestyle through his resort in Bali: “Zen
Resort Bali”, a holistic and wellness sanctuary where worn out bodies, minds and souls can rejuvenate
and find harmony with themselves, others and nature. Mahendra Shah coordinated and prepared the
final agenda 21 report of Rio1992. Earth Odyssey 2022 will mark 30 years of that event that brought
global awareness of the urgency of confronting environmental problems.
Dr Mahendra Shah
Zen Resort Bali, Desa Ume Anyar, Seririt, Bali, Indonesia
Tel +6281238307390
Skype Shahmmr
E Mail shahmmr@gmail.com
Earth Odyssey Host Yuri Sanada
Since 1995, Yuri Sanada at Aventuras Produções has developed and produced high quality
programming for cinema, television and the internet. Aventuras co-produced the first Brazilian IMAX
movie, Amazon Adventure 3D, a factually-based historical drama, winner of 7 international awards,
including 2 Lumiére awards from the Hollywood Advanced Imaging Society. Aventuras Sustainable
studio in Brazil is made of thousands of old tyres, green roof and other environmental solutions.
Yuri Sanada
Rua Coronel João Leme, 460, sala 905, Bragança Paulista
São Paulo, Brazil
Studio +55(11)944.780.969
Phone +55(11)3403.0552
skype: aventuracombr1
Earth Odyssey Host Ukpeme Akpan Okon
Ukpeme Akpan Okon is the author of award-winning The Values String: A book on Transitional
Life, Compelling Fulfillment, & Profound Peace. A lawyer, arbitrator, mediator, speaker,
Ambassador for Peace & singer. She is the Executive Secretary of Mediators & Advocates of Peace,
Founder Guild of Adjudicators in Nigeria (GAIN) & Pioneer Coordinator of Justice, Development
& Peace Commission of the Twelve Apostles Parish, Nigeria. She is the Convener of The Peace
Agenda, a platform for strategizing sustainable agenda & action & organizer The Peace Agenda
Summit. Ukpeme is a member of Women, Peace & Security Network, as well as other peace-
focused organizations. She is a former Assistant General Secretary of the International Federation of
Women Lawyers (FIDA), Abuja Branch. Ukpeme is the National Director - Administration of
FIDA U.S.A. Branch. She has served on the Zero Draft sub-committee of Non-Governmental
Organization / United Nations Convention on the Status of Women. She is a Rotarian, a member of
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other organizations & a multi-awardee musician known as UkpEmem. Ukpeme has served as
Rapporteur on various assignments, & was a panellist at a High Level event of the United Nations
General Assembly — Mobilizing Generation Zero Hunger.
Ukpeme Akpan Okon

Email address: values@thevaluesstring.com
Skype: ukpeme.akpan1
6. Earth Odyssey Introductory Videos: Sustainable Development-Sustainable Lifestyle
6.1 Earth Odyssey Project Introductory Video

Please Click Link,
https://youtu.be/SrAWZlEX91I
7. Annex A: A Brief History of Sustainable Development, 1970 to 2019
During the last three decades of the 20th century we have failed to trigger Governments, Business and
Civil Society to commit the necessary resources and actions requisite to confronting the emerging
sustainability crisis in front of our very eyes. The coming decades must be different and decisive with
conscious and compassion. We must adopt an action driven odyssey of partnerships, sharing,
perseverance, peace, harmony and fulfilment to build a sustainable future for all and with explicit
recognition that protecting the environment and sustainable use of natural resources is paramount.
Sadly we live in a world driven by materialism, greed, jealousy, power and fear. There can be no
Sustainable Development unless human beings themselves become sustainable and humane in all
they do.
Sustainable development problems transcend the sovereign powers of the nation-states, and concerted
and coordinated regional and global actions are essential to meet the collective needs of humanity for
peace, security, financial stability, economic welfare and sustainable development.
The world of Governments, Corporate Business and Governments in their self-interest need to
recognize the need for responsible and timely actions. We have the means and knowledge to facilitate
safe, responsible timely actions to confront the emerging worldwide societal, environmental and
economic crisis.
Around the world in many places we see increasing human suffering, extinction of species and
destruction of nature and these crisis are intensifying and geographically worsening. Over the last 50
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years, from Stockholm Conference in 1972 to Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992 to the
Johannesburg World Summit in 2002,the international community have been presented with scientific
knowledge, often evidence-based, underlining the sustainable development challenges we face as well
as the priority actions we must implement.
The 1972 Stockholm Conference on Environment and Development presented a framework for
integrating the challenges of environmental protection and sustainable development. The developed
countries had called for the Stockholm conference as they were concerned that, if the developing
world adopted the same polluting technologies that had empowered the development and economic
prosperity in the developed countries, there would be worldwide environmental consequences that
would threaten future prosperity and human wellbeing in our interdependent world. In the corridors
of the conference, delegates highlighted the divide between the rich and poor countries - for
“developing countries the priority was development to reduce poverty” and for “developed countries
the focus was on protecting the environment, nationally and globally.”
The Rio 1992 Earth Summit presented an integrated assessment of the social, environmental and
economic challenges facing the world community in the 21 st Century and put forward a
comprehensive sustainable development plan and a road map of the actions and funding required.
This was unanimously adopted by 178 Nations, albeit without any funding commitment except for a
request to the United Nations to continue to discussions on financing options of Agenda21. These
discussions have continued over the last two decades and the nations of world have yet to awaken to
fund the implementation of Agenda 21, which still remains the best and valid assessment of the
sustainable development challenges we face and the policy actions that the world community must
fund and implement.
In recent years some have labelled Agenda21 as a conspiracy. If securing a sustainable future for all
is a conspiracy, then it is time to recognize that we adults are inhumane as we sacrifice the future of
our own next generation, and yet we give birth to our children with a prayer and a promise for a future
better than the one we had.
At the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, the dominating major voice of a developed nation stressed “our
way of life is not negotiable ”whilst a developing nation pleaded, “the industrial countries of the world
have an ecological debt to pay to Mother Nature”. The Rio Earth Summit also adopted two
declarations which today are valid and essential to implement. The first principle, namely “the polluter
pays principle” would be economically a strong deterrent and the second principle “the precautionary
principle” in all we do, simply makes common sense.
A welcome outcome from 1992 Earth Summit was that it triggered cities and towns around the world
to develop green city agendas, many of which have been implemented in urban areas around the
world. This has enhanced societal, environmental and economic quality of urban life, important in
view of growing rural-urban migration all over the world. The population in urban areas are
politically, ecologically and economically a force for change that must be mobilized to influence
Governments, Business and Civil Society funding for sustainability actions.
In 2002 at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development, the mantra was that
Business, generated the economic wealth and livelihoods and the taxes that provide the bulk of direct
and indirect Government revenues. Whilst Business had the financial and technological capacity to
invest in sustainability actions, this required long-term foresight for corporate and social
responsibility rather than maximizing short-term profits. The Johannesburg summit concluded with
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endorsement of some 550 private-public sector sustainable development partnerships. Alas three
years later in 2005, only a handful of agreements were still functioning.
In all the three world summits, Governments unanimously endorsed development plans and adopted
declarations with empty promises of financial and technical support by rich countries, especially with
regard to sharing “clean” technologies.
The objective of the 2005Millennium Ecosystem Assessment was to assess the consequences of
ecosystem changes for human well-being and to establish the scientific basis for actions needed to
enhance the conservation and sustainable use of ecosystems and natural resources. The Millennium
Development Goals agreed to globally included eradication of extreme poverty and hunger,
enhancing primary education, promoting gender equality and empowerment, improving maternal
health and confronting diseases as well as ensuring environmental sustainability and developing
global partnerships for development.
The eight Millennium Development Goals were further detailed and formulated as seventeen
sustainable development goals. These ambitious 2015 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
have been criticized for being inconsistent, difficult to quantify, implement and monitor. Disparaging
analysis suggests that there exists a potential inconsistency in the SDGs, particularly
between the socio-economic development and the environmental sustainability goals. Critiques
also raise questions on the measurability and monitoring of the broadly framed SDGs. Furthermore
the goals are non-binding, with each country being expected to create its own national or regional
plans. Moreover, the sources and the extent of the financial resources and investments for the SDGs
remains uncertain.
Agenda21 in 1992 put forward a comprehensive worldwide sustainable development plan and if that
had been turned into implementation actions with a global partnership for sustainable development,
then we would have not lost 30 years of international dialogue and deliberations with literally no
progress to speak of in making sustainable development a reality.
The world community celebrated Rio1992+5 in New York, Rio1992+10 in Johannesburg,

Rio1992+20 in Rio and kept alive the hopes and promises of the 1992Agenda21 and the Rio
principles. The Year 2022 will be RIO1992+30 Years and there is no mindful talk of celebrating
Rio+30 Years.
We need to act decisively to implement a strategy that can force Governments, Business, Scientists
and Technologists and Civil Society to make an actions compact for sustainable development. It is
essential to mobilize and involve the youth and young adults worldwide in sustainable development
decision making such that they are positioned to be the catalyst for change, implementing
sustainability actions starting 2022 and beyond.
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Selected Shah References: Sustainable Development Publications
1. Shah M. M, Coordinating Author, “The Global Partnership for Environment and Development - A
Guide to Agenda 21”, 1992 Earth Summit Report, Rio de Janeiro The United Nations Press, New
York, June 1992
2. Shah M. M. and Strong M, “Food in the 21st Century - from Science to Sustainable Agriculture”,
ISBN 0-8213-4757-8, World Bank, Washington, April 2000,
3. Shah M. M, “Human Diversity, Nature Diversity and Sustainable Development”, Opening Plenary
Presentation, Global Science Open Conference, Amsterdam. July 2001
4. G Fischer, M M Shah, H van Velthuizen, Climate Change and Agricultural Vulnerability, Climate
Change and Agricultural Vulnerability, World Sustainable Development Summit, Johannesburg,
August 2002
5. Lutz W and Shah MM, “Population should be on the Johannesburg Agenda, Global Science Panel”,
Nature, 4th July 2002.
6. Shah M. M, “Food in the 21st Century: Global Climate of Disparities”, House of Commons,
www.paliament.the-stationery office.co.uk/pa/cm200102/cmselect/cmitndev/5, London, 2002
7. Shah M M, European Forum on Sustainability of the Club of Rome - Sustainability Creates
Prosperity, “The Climate Change – Mitigation and Adaptation”, Peter Lang Publishers, ISBN 3-
631-51973, Frankfurt, 2004.
8. Shah MM, Coordinating Lead Author Chapter 5 Food and Ecosystems, Millennium Ecosystems
Assessment, Ecosystems and Human Well-being, Volume 3 Policy Responses, Island Press, ISBN-
1-55963-269-0, 2005
9. Shah MM, Co-author, “Socio-economic and climate change impacts on agriculture: An integrated
assessment, 1990-2080”, Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society, Biological
Sciences,2005
10. Shah M. M, Pontifica Academia Scientiarvm, Interactions between Global Change and Human
health, “Food, Water and Infectious Diseases”, Scripta Varia 106, ISBN 88-7761-085-9, Vatican
City 2006
11. Shah M M, Ecology and Sustainable development, Ecology Encyclopaedia, Elsevier Press, London,
UK, 2008
12. Shah M M , “Sustainable Development and the Future of Peace Building: From Agendas to Policy
Actions”, Alpbach European Forum - Preventing Conflict, Creating Resilient Societies, Alpbach,
Austria,2008
13. Shah M. M, Co-author, Biofuels and Food Security, The OPEC Fund for International
Development, Vienna, Austria, 2009
14. Shah M. M, “Gulf Cooperation Council food security: Balancing the Equation”,
East,http://www.nature.com/nmiddleeast/2010/100425/full/nmiddleeast.2010.141.html,Nature Middle
East, 2010
15. Shah M. M, Sustainable Development and Survival of Nature, Visions of the Living Earth, Book
Project of Shumei and Navdanya, ISBN 978-4-903930-03-9, Japan, 2012
16. Shah M. M, Integrative Medicine in a Resort Setting, Journal of Medical Tourism,2016
17. Shah M. M. The Wealth of World Diversity - Humanity, Nature and Sustainable Development, Open
Science Conference, Amsterdam, July 2001
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1QFM8jyvHcJfpGrBCtOr9c2aotutdKZ1J
18. Shah M. M. The Wealth of Diversity: Humanity, Nature and Sustainable Development, Open
Science Conference, Amsterdam, July 2001
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1UcUSXS0X8eKGhIaxnMvqMDROWxFrveEM
19. Shah M, M,, Earth Odyssey Project Sustainable Human Lifestyles Video
https://youtu.be/ghsD90h0Pq0
20. Shah M M, The Quest for Sustainability and Earth Odyssey.org
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1266&v=urjTIaolvC4&feature=emb_logo
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8. Annex B: Selected Speeches, Sustainable Development Challenges, 1972 – 2019
Annex B1: Sustainability and Poverty-Environment Nexus

Indira Gandhi, Stockholm Conference on Human Environment, June 1972
It is indeed an honour to address this Conference-in itself a fresh expression of the spirit which created
the United Nations-concern for the present and future welfare of humanity. It does not aim merely at
securing limited agreements but at establishing peace and harmony in life-among all races and with
Nature. This gathering represents man's earnest endeavour to understand his own condition and to
prolong his tenancy of this planet.....
Twenty two centuries ago, Emperor Ashoka defined a King's duty as not merely to protect citizens
and punish wrongdoers but also to preserve animal life and forest trees. Ashoka was the first and
perhaps the only monarch until very recently, to forbid the killing of a large number of species of
animals for sport or food, foreshadowing some of the concerns of this Conference..........It is said that
in country after country, progress should become synonymous with an assault on nature. We who are
a part of nature and dependent on her for very need, speak constantly about "exploiting"
nature........We are gathered here under the aegis of the United Nations. We are supposed to belong to
the same family sharing common traits and impelled by the same basic desires, yet we inhabit a
divided world.
How can it be otherwise? There is still no recognition of the equality of man or respect for him as an
individual. In matters of colour and race, religion and custom, society is governed by prejudice.
Tensions arise because of man's aggressiveness and notions of superiority. The power of the big stick
prevails and it is used not in favour of fair play or beauty, but to chase imaginary windmills--to assume
the right to interfere in the affairs of others, and to arrogate authority for action which would not
normally be allowed.
Many of the advanced countries of today have reached their present affluence by their domination
over other races and countries, the exploitation of their own natural resources. They got a head start
through sheer ruthlessness, undisturbed by feelings of compassion or by abstract theories of freedom,
equality or justice. The stirrings of demands for the political rights of citizens, and the economic rights
of the toiler came after considerable advance had been made..... It is an over--simplification to blame
all the world's problems on increasing population. Countries with but a small fraction of the world
population consume the bulk of the world's production of minerals, fossil fuels and so on. Thus we
see that when it comes to the depletion of natural resources and environmental pollution, the increase
of one inhabitant in an affluent country, at his level of living, is equivalent to an increase of many
Asian, Africans or Latin Americans at their current material levels of living.
The inherent conflict is not between conservation and development, but between environment and
reckless exploitation of man and earth in the name of efficiency. Historians tell us that the modern
age began with the will to freedom of the individual. And the individual came to believe that he had
rights with no corresponding obligations. The man who got ahead was the one who commanded
admiration. No questions were asked as to the methods employed or the price which others had to
pay. The industrial civilization has promoted the concept of the efficient man, he whose entire
energies are concentrated on producing more in a given unit of time and from a given unit of
manpower......The environmental problems of developing countries are not the side effects of
excessive industrialization but reflect the inadequacy of development. The rich countries may look
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upon development as the cause of environmental destruction, but to us it is one of the primary means
of improving the environment for living, or providing food, water, sanitation and shelter; of making
the deserts green and the mountains habitable.........
It is clear that the environmental crisis which is confronting the world, will profoundly alter the future
destiny or our planet. No one among us, whatever our status, strength or circumstance can remain
unaffected. The process of change challenges present international policies. Will the growing
awareness of "one earth" and "one environment' guide us to the concept of "one humanity"? Will
there be a more equitable sharing of environmental costs and greater international interest in the
accelerated progress of the less developed world? Or, will it remain confined to a narrow concern,
based on exclusive self-sufficiency?
It would be ironic if the fight against pollution were to be converted into another business, out of
which a few companies, corporations, or nations would make profits at the cost of the many. Here is
a branch of experimentation and discovery in which scientist of all nations should take interest. They
should ensure that their findings are available to all nations, unrestricted by patents. I am glad that the
Conference has given thought on this aspect of the problem. Life is one and the world is one, and all
these questions are inter-linked. The population explosion; poverty; ignorance and disease, the
pollution of our surroundings, the stockpiling of nuclear weapons and biological and chemical agents
of destruction are all parts of a vicious circle. Each is important and urgent but dealing with them one
by one would be wasted effort. It serves little purpose to dwell on the past or to apportion blame, no
one of us is blameless. If some are able to dominate over others, it is at least partially due to the
weakness, the lack of unity and the temptation of gaining some advantage on the part of those who
submit......
We want new directions in the wiser use of the knowledge and tools with which science has equipped
us. And this cannot be just one upsurge but a continuous search into cause and effect and an unending
effort to match technology with higher levels of thinking. We must concern ourselves not only with
the kind of world we want but also with what kind of man should inhabit it. Surely we do not desire
a society divided into those who condition and those who are conditioned. We want thinking people
capable of spontaneous self-directed activity, people who are interested and interesting, and who are
imbued with compassion and concern for others......
Annex B2: Sustainability and Development Actions

Severn Suzuki (13 Years), Rio Earth Summit, Rio De Janeiro, June 1992
“Hello, I am Severn Suzuki speaking for E.C.O – the Environmental Children’s Organization. We are
a group of 12 and 13 year-olds trying to make a difference, Vanessa Suttie, Morgan Geisler, Michelle
Quigg and me. We’ve raised all the money to come here ourselves, to come 5,000 miles to tell you
adults you must change your ways. Coming up here today,
I have no hidden agenda. I am fighting for my future. Losing my future is not like losing an election,
or a few points on the stock market.” “I am here to speak for all generations to come. I am here to
speak on behalf of the starving children around the world whose cries go unheard. I am here to speak
for the countless animals dying across this planet, because they have nowhere left to go. I am afraid
to go out in the sun now, because of the holes in our ozone. I am afraid to breathe the air, because I
don’t know what chemicals are in it. I used to go fishing in Vancouver, my home, with my Dad until,
just a few years ago, we found a fish full of cancers.
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And now we hear of animals and plants going extinct every day, vanishing forever. In my life, I have
dreamt of seeing the great herds of wild animals, jungles and rainforests full of birds and butterflies,
but now I wonder if they will even exist for my children to see.” “Did you have to worry of these
things when you were my age? All this is happening before our eyes and yet we act as if we have all
the time we want and all the solutions.
I’m only a child and I don’t have all the solutions, but I want you to realize, neither do you. You don’t
know how to fix the holes in our ozone layer. You don’t know how to bring the salmon back up a
dead stream. You don’t know how to bring back an animal now extinct. And you can’t bring back the
forest that once grew where there is now a desert. If you don’t know how to fix it, please stop breaking
it.” “Here you may be delegates of your governments, business people, organizers, reporters or
politicians. But, really, you’re mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles and all of
you are someone’s child. I’m only a child, yet I know we are all part of a family, 5 billion strong, in
fact 30 million species strong. And borders and governments will never change that.
I’m only a child, yet I know we are all in this together and should act as one single world towards one
single goal.” “In my anger, I am not blind and in my fear I am not afraid of telling the world how I
feel. In my country we make so much waste, we buy and throw away, buy and throw away, buy and
throw away and yet Northern countries will not share with the needy. Even when we have more than
enough we are afraid to share, we are afraid to let go of some of our wealth. In Canada, we live the
privileged life. We’ve plenty of food, water and shelter. We have watches, bicycles, computers and
television sets. The list could go on for 2 days.
Two days ago here in Brazil, we were shocked when we spent time with some children living on the
streets. This is what one child told us, ‘I wish I was rich and if I were, I would give all the street
children food, clothes, medicines, shelter and love and affection’. If a child on the street who has
nothing is willing to share, why are we who have everything still so greedy? I can’t stop thinking that
these are children my own age, that it makes a tremendous difference where you are born. And that I
could be one of those children living in the favelas of Rio. I could be a child starving in Somalia, or
a victim of war in the Middle East or a beggar in India. I am only a child, yet I know if all the money
spent on war was spent on finding environmental answers ending poverty and in finding treaties, what
a wonderful place this earth would be.”
“At school, even in kindergarten, you teach us how to behave in the world. You teach us to not to
fight with others, to work things out, to respect others and to clean up our mess, not to hurt other
creatures, to share, not be greedy. Then, why do you go out and do the things you tell us not to do?
Do not forget why you are attending these conferences, who you are doing this for. We are your own
children.
You are deciding what kind of a world we are growing up in. Parents should be able to comfort their
children by saying ‘Everything is going to be all right, it’s not the end of the world, and we are doing
the best we can’. But I don’t think you can say that to us anymore. Are we even on your list of
priorities? My dad always says, ‘You are what you do, not what you say’. Well, what you do makes
me cry at night. You grown-ups say you love us. But I challenge you, please, make your actions
reflect your words. Thank you.”
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Annex B3:Sustainability and Children’s Pleas
Mingyu Liao (11 Years), World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, July
2002
Hi! My Name is Mingyu Liao from China and we are three children from 3 different continents to
talk to you about children's concerns for the environment. I would now like to introduce you to Justin
Friesen from Canada and Analiz Vergara from Ecuador. We are representatives from the International
Children's Conference of the United Nations Environment Programme that took place in Victoria,
BC, Canada just over three months ago.
More than 400 children from over 80 countries attended the conference. We all had plenty to say, but
the number one thing that all delegates were concerned about is that most leaders don't listen. We
were just babies when you met 10 years ago in Rio. What we are about to say is basically the same
thing you heard then, and many times since. This is because children are close to the ground and to
the environment and suffer more from problems in the world. The children of the world are
disappointed because too many adults are too interested in money and wealth to take notice of serious
problems that affect our future.
Think about your children, nieces or nephews and maybe even grandchildren - what kind of world do
you want for them? Should they not have the same or even better opportunities that you had? Our
voices should not go unheard. Today we are gathered here because we want you to listen - to listen
to everybody. We need you to put aside your differences. Make those choices that will allow ALL of
us to live happily. At the end of the International Children's Conference, all delegates came up with
many challenges. Here's what the children of the world are saying:
Governments of the world must:
 Ensure that all people from developing countries have free access to clean drinking water
Sign and act on the Kyoto Protocol - we are tired of wondering whether it will snow in the
middle of summer!
 Limit the number of cars per family
 Provide free primary health care for all children
 Stop cutting down trees without replacing them
 Spend more money in helping the poor people and children around the world, rather than on
attending too many meetings
 People of the world must make use of alternative transportation such as walking, biking and
car-pooling
 Reduce, reuse, recycle and compost as much as possible.
We are worried that many governments are easily bought off by those who care very little for the
environment and people. Remember, we cannot buy another planet, and our lives and those of future
generations depend on this. We know that when people commit crimes, they are sent to jail. Why is
it so difficult to punish countries and people who damage the environment and harm us?
Can you look in the mirror and say, `Children will have future, will have access to clean water, will
not live poverty, will not live in polluted areas - because of actions I have taken'? We are not asking
too much! You said this Summit is about taking action! We need more than your applause and
21
comments of `well done' or `good speech'. We need actions. We need more than just your commitment
- we need actions. We need more than just your motivation - we need actions. What we now have is
`us versus them'. This needs to become `us and them' - young people and adults, rich and poor people,
and rich and poor countries. Thanks for having us here and for recognizing the importance of listening
to the voices of children. Don't walk off and forget about the challenges. We finally challenge you,
the leaders of the world to accomplish them.
Annex B4: Sustainability and Humanitarian Response

Angela Merkel, Bundespressekonferenz, Berlin, August 2015
Ladies and gentlemen, what is currently happening in Europe is not a natural disaster, but there are a number
of catastrophic situations. An infinite number of tragedies are taking place and there are also incredible
horrors, such as a few days ago in Austria, when over 70 people were found dead in a truck, unscrupulous
smugglers. These are atrocities that you cannot believe and for which you simply have to say: These are
images that exceed our imaginations. All of this happens while we live here in very orderly conditions.
We will also talk about initial reception facilities, processing time, returns, fair distribution in Europe, safe
countries of origin, combating the causes of flight. We have to. But we'll have to talk first about what should
actually guide us and what moves me when we talk about up to 800,000 people coming to us this year.
Fortunately, most of us do not know the state of complete exhaustion on the run, combined with fear for our
own life or the life of children or partners. People who set out from Eritrea, Syria or northern Iraq, for example,
often have to overcome situations or endure fears that probably just caused us to collapse. That is why we
have to apply some clear principles when dealing with people who come to us now. These principles are no
more and no less than our constitution, our constitution.
First. The basic right of the politically persecuted to asylum applies. We can be proud of the humanity of our
basic law. In this article, it is particularly evident. We also offer protection to all those who flee to us from
war. They are also entitled to this protection. The second principle is human dignity. This is a principle that
Article 1 of the Basic Law gives us. Regardless of whether he is a citizen or not, regardless of where and why
he comes from and with what prospect of being recognized as an asylum seeker at the end of a procedure - we
respect the human dignity of every individual and we address with the utmost rigor The rule of law against
those who abuse other people, who attack other people, who set fire to their accommodations or who want to
use violence.....
We are against those who call for demonstrations with their hate chants. There is no tolerance towards those
who question other people's dignity. As I said at the beginning of this year in my New Year's speech, I also
say today to those who, for whatever reason, are taking part in such demonstrations: do not follow those who
call for such demonstrations! Too often there are prejudices, too often there is coldness, even hatred in their
hearts. Keep your distance! But I also say: Despite all of this, our country is still a good country. It is in good
shape. The often invoked civil society, it is a reality for us, and it makes me proud and grateful to see how
countless people in Germany react to the arrival of the refugees.
The number of those who are there for refugees today, the number of helpers, the number of those who even
accompany foreign people through the cities and offices, exceeds the number of agitators and xenophobes
many times over, and it is still growing, also - I would like to expressly mention this here - thanks to many
wonderful reports about it from you, the media, especially in the last few days. For once, I take the liberty of
encouraging them, exactly.
Citizens have the opportunity to watch their peers in reporting, so you show role models and examples, and
you encourage others again. The overwhelming majority of our people are open to the world. Our economy
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is strong, our job market is robust, even receptive. Let's think of the area of skilled workers. When so many
people take so much to fulfil their dream of living in Germany, it really does not give us the worst testimony.
Our freedom, our constitutional state, our economic strength, the order in which we live together - that is what
people dream of who have experienced persecution, war and arbitrariness in their lives. The world sees
Germany as a country of hope and opportunity, and it really wasn't always that way.
Now the question arises: What do we have to do in such a situation, in which we are of course facing a huge
challenge? I want to say something about this. At the meeting of the Prime Ministers with the Federal
Government and the local umbrella organizations in June, we jointly stated: We are facing a major national
task; it concerns everyone. And this will be a key challenge, not just for days or months, but, as far as you can
tell, for a long time. It is therefore important that we say: German thoroughness is great, but German flexibility
is now needed. We are now facing such a challenge again. Past examples show us that whenever it matters,
we - the federal government, the states and the municipalities - are able to do the right thing and the necessary
thing. But we have to speed things up now. We have to temporarily override what prevents us from doing the
right thing and therefore have to show a bit of courage. So we have to do that in the country........
We need integration efforts if the applications are processed more quickly, also for those who have a high
prospect of staying here, especially refugees from Syria or from other civil war regions. Then it's about finding
teachers who can give German lessons that the children teach. We have more than 400 new classes in cities
like Berlin or Munich alone. As you can imagine, it is not possible to work alone with the teachers currently
on duty. We will have to take courses quickly when it comes to knowledge of German and many other things.
You can't do that with the normal German approach. This also applies to the care of minors, if you think about
it alone that there are 4,000 in Munich and that it takes years to train teachers. We have to find ways and
means to find interim solutions. All of this needs to be discussed........
Then there is the European dimension, and here I believe that we can say that Europe as a whole must move.
States must share responsibility for refugees seeking asylum. Until now, universal civil rights have been
closely linked to Europe and its history. That is one of the founding impulses of the European Union. If Europe
fails on the refugee question, this close connection with universal civil rights breaks down. It will be destroyed
and it will not be the Europe that we imagine and not the Europe that we, as the founding myth, must continue
to develop today.......
We have to consider and that is to combat the causes of flight. This shows the importance of foreign policy
and the importance of international cooperation. We are now experiencing that the Syria conflict is not far
from us, but that a situation has now arisen in which all neighbouring Syrian countries are overwhelmed,
whether it is Lebanon, whether it is Jordan or whether it is Turkey. Now that this issue has reached us, it
should encourage us to give even more force to diplomatic efforts to resolve this conflict. I know what thick
plank that we have to drill, but it is essential.
Annex B5: Sustainability and Children’s Concerns

Kehkashan Basu (16 Years), Kindred Spirits, April 2017
Keshastan’s, as recipient of the 2016 International children’s Prize, emphasized that” children have
the power and ability to achieve whatever they set their sights on. We have a right to live in a clean
environment, the same as our forefathers. There are more children and young people in the world than
ever before. The future belongs to us, but we are helpless to change or influence the way we live now.
“Our planet is a wonderful and vibrant kaleidoscope of species that have evolved over the ages. In
the past, the process of natural selection has ensured that our biodiversity continues to flourish while
maintaining a balance between the various forces of nature. Sustainability has been at the core of our
being since the beginning of time, when the three pillars of environment, society and economy thrived
in mutual harmony. However, over the past few decades, unbridled economic growth, uncontrolled
23
depletion of resources in the name of progress, global conflicts and an exploding human population
have combined into a deadly cocktail that is disturbing the natural balance of our planet and pushing
us on an accelerated self-destruction path.
The global population has crossed 7 billion and the strain on natural resources is increasing by the
day. Millions die of hunger while one-third of the world’s food production rots in warehouses or is
lost in transit. The issue here is not, therefore, of resources but of utilization. This resource constraint
is entirely man-made, and thus the onus lies on us to be more proactive and less self-centred.
The well-being of humanity, the environment, and the functioning of the economy ultimately depend
upon the responsible management of the planet’s natural resources. Evidence is building that people
are consuming far more natural resources than what the planet can sustainably provide. Many of the
Earth’s ecosystems are nearing critical tipping points of depletion or irreversible change, pushed by
high population growth, wastage and overconsumption. By 2050, if current consumption and
production patterns remain the same and with a rising population expected to reach 9.6 billion, we
will need three planets to sustain our ways of living and consumption.
We are the last generation that has the opportunity of tackling and resolving these issues before it is
too late. The children of today face a bleak future and risk inheriting a hot, barren planet unless they
take actions to combat this. But most children are either unaware of these challenges or unsure of how
to take action. Children need to be empowered, and the first step in this process is creating awareness
about the environmental challenges that are threatening our well-being.
With this objective in mind I founded Green Hope on my return from the Earth Summit held in Rio
de Janeiro, when I was 12 years old, as I realized that young people of our region did not have a
platform through which they could learn about the environmental challenges and take actions to
mitigate them. Our organization is run “by youth—for youth,” because we feel that the message is
conveyed seamlessly when peers talk to each other. We organize and hold environmental academies,
which are tailor-made workshops, varying from two-hour sessions to full-day events that target youth
from across the country.
Participants learn to calculate their carbon footprint, identify ways to stop land degradation, and
understand the concepts of sustainable consumption, climate change impacts, biodiversity
conservation and the need for future justice. Since our inception, we have also been spreading
awareness about the United Nation’s sustainable development goals.
I started Green Hope with just three of my friends, and in a short span of four years we have now
grown to over 1,000 members working in 10 countries. At Green Hope we believe in the old saying:
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” This philosophy is
at the core of all our campaigns. We believe that we cannot be a responsible citizen of our planet if
we live only for our own selves.
As I write this blog, I am reminded of a story my grandmother narrated to me long ago. She was
explaining to me that our world is full of different cultures and ethnicities. Seeing the bewildered look
on my 2-year-old face, she asked me to show her my hand. She spread my fingers palm outward and
said each finger was differently sized but each was equally indispensable. All five fingers together
made up a functional hand. The same applied to our planet. The five continents were the five fingers—
each of varying size and strength. Individually, they were useless even to hold a pencil, but when
connected they could perform amazing things. So it was with the world we live in; our strength lay in
our diversity. Wars and conflicts decimate our fingers, leaving us mutated and incomplete.
Since then I have believed that my role as a global citizen should essentially be to live by the simple
philosophy underlying my grandmother’s story about the human hand. Its symbolism of coexistence
24
in harmony must be our mantra for the future. As a global citizen, I need to see myself in others—
only then can I truly fulfil my role as a responsible resident of this planet.”
Annex B6: Sustainability and Terrorism Response

Jacinda Ardern speech at Christchurch Memorial, Christchurch March 2019
“E rau rangatira mā, e ngā reo, e ngā mana. Tēnā koutou katoa.
(I acknowledge amongst us today our distinguished leaders, speakers and those who bear
authority.)
Ngāi Tahu Whānui, tēnā koutou.
(My greetings to the whole of Ngāi Tahu.)
E papaki tū ana ngā tai o maumahara ki runga o Ōtautahi.
(The tides of remembrance flow over Christchurch today.)
Haere mai tātou me te aroha, me te rangimārie, ki te whānau nei, e ora mārire ai anō rātau, e ora
mārire ai anō, tātou katoa.
(So let us gather with love, in peace, for this family, so that they may truly live again, so that we all
may truly live again.)
We gather here, 14 days on from our darkest of hours. In the days that have followed the terrorist
attack on the 15th of March, we have often found ourselves without words.
What words adequately express the pain and suffering of 50 men, women and children lost, and so
many injured? What words capture the anguish of our Muslim community being the target of hatred
and violence? What words express the grief of a city that has already known so much pain? I thought
there were none. And then I came here and was met with this simple greeting. As-salaam Alaikum.
Peace be upon you.
They were simple words, repeated by community leaders who witnessed the loss of their friends and
loved ones. Simple words, whispered by the injured from their hospital beds. Simple words, spoken
by the bereaved and everyone I met who has been affected by this attack. As-salaam Alaikum. Peace
be upon you.
They were words spoken by a community who, in the face of hate and violence, had every right to
express anger but instead opened their doors for all of us to grieve with them. And so we say to those
who have lost the most, we may not have always had the words.
We may have left flowers, performed the haka, sung songs or simply embraced. But even when we
had no words, we still heard yours, and they have left us humbled and they have left us united.
Over the past two weeks we have heard the stories of those impacted by this terrorist attack. They
were stories of bravery. They were stories of those who were born here, grew up here, or who had
made New Zealand their home. Who had sought refuge, or sought a better life for themselves or their
families.
These stories, they now form part of our collective memories. They will remain with us forever. They
are us. But with that memory comes a responsibility. A responsibility to be the place that we wish to
be. A place that is diverse, that is welcoming, that is kind and compassionate. Those values represent
the very best of us.
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But even the ugliest of viruses can exist in places they are not welcome. Racism exists, but it is not
welcome here. An assault on the freedom of any one of us who practices their faith or religion, is not
welcome here. Violence, and extremism in all its forms, is not welcome here. And over the last two
weeks we have shown that, you have shown that, in your actions.
From the thousands at vigils to the 95 year old man who took four buses to attend a rally because he
couldn’t sleep from the sadness of seeing the hurt and suffering of others. Our challenge now is to
make the very best of us, a daily reality. Because we are not immune to the viruses of hate, of fear, of
other. We never have been. But we can be the nation that discovers the cure.
And so to each of us as we go from here, we have work to do, but do not leave the job of combatting
hate to the government alone. We each hold the power, in our words and in our actions, in our daily
acts of kindness. Let that be the legacy of the 15th of March. To be the nation we believe ourselves
to be.
To the global community who have joined us today, who reached out to embrace New Zealand, and
our Muslim community, to all of those who have gathered here today, we say thank you. And we also
ask that the condemnation of violence and terrorism turns now to a collective response. The world
has been stuck in a vicious cycle of extremism breeding extremism and it must end.
We cannot confront these issues alone, none of us can. But the answer to them lies in a simple concept
that is not bound by domestic borders, that isn’t based on ethnicity, power base or even forms of
governance. The answer lies in our humanity. But for now, we will remember those who have left
this place. We will remember the first responders who gave so much of themselves to save others.
We will remember the tears of our nation, and the new resolve we have formed. And we remember,
that ours is a home that does not and cannot claim perfection. But we can strive to be true to the words
embedded in our national anthem.
Men of every creed and race,

Gather here before Thy face,
Asking Thee to bless this place
God defend our free land
From dissension, envy, hate
And corruption, guard our state
Make our country good and great
God defend New Zealand
Ko tātou tātou
As-salaam Alaikum
Annex B7:Sustainability and Climate Actions

Greta Thunberg (16 Years), UN Climate Action Summit, New York, Sept 2019
"My message is that we'll be watching you.
"This is all wrong. I shouldn't be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean.
Yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you!
"You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. And yet I'm one of the lucky
ones. People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the
26
beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic
growth. How dare you! This is all wrong.”
"For more than 30 years, the science has been crystal clear. How dare you continue to look away and
come here saying that you're doing enough, when the politics and solutions needed are still nowhere
in sight.
"You say you hear us and that you understand the urgency. But no matter how sad and angry I am, I
do not want to believe that. Because if you really understood the situation and still kept on failing to
act, then you would be evil. That I refuse to believe.
"The popular idea of cutting our emissions in half in 10 years only gives us a 50% chance of staying
below 1.5 degrees [Celsius], and the risk of setting off irreversible chain reactions beyond human
control.
"Fifty percent may be acceptable to you. But those numbers do not include tipping points, most
feedback loops, additional warming hidden by toxic air pollution or the aspects of equity and climate
justice. They also rely on my generation sucking hundreds of billions of tons of your CO2 out of the
air with technologies that barely exist.
"So a 50% risk is simply not acceptable to us — we who have to live with the consequences. “To
have a 67% chance of staying below a 1.5 degrees global temperature rise – the best odds given by
the [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] – the world had 420 gigatons of CO2 left to emit
back on Jan. 1st, 2018. Today that figure is already down to less than 350 gigatons.
"How dare you pretend that this can be solved with just 'business as usual' and some technical
solutions? With today's emissions levels, that remaining CO2 budget will be entirely gone within less
than 8 1/2 years. "There will not be any solutions or plans presented in line with these figures here
today, because these numbers are too uncomfortable. And you are still not mature enough to tell it
like it is.
"You are failing us. But the young people are starting to understand your betrayal. The eyes of all
future generations are upon you. And if you choose to fail us, I say: We will never forgive you. "We
will not let you get away with this. Right here, right now is where we draw the line. The world is
waking up. And change is coming, whether you like it or not. "Thank you”.
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Earth Odyssey 2020-2022

Mobilising the World Community for Sustainability Actions Leaderships

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