Expressez-Vous

By Ban Ki-moon (United Nations Secretary-General)

I am regularly inspired by the good will, talent and idealism of the young people I meet across the world.

This year’s commemoration of International Youth Day also marks the launch of the International Year of Youth, under the theme “Dialogue and Mutual Understanding”.

Today’s challenging social and economic environment warrant a special focus on youth. Eighty-seven per cent of people aged 15 to 24 live in developing countries. The global economic crisis has had a disproportionate impact on young people; they have lost jobs, struggled to find even low-wage employment and seen access to education curtailed. As economies slowly begin to stabilize, the needs of young people should be paramount.

This is a moral imperative and a developmental necessity. But it is also an opportunity: the energy of youth can ignite faltering economies. I am regularly inspired by the good will, talent and idealism of the young people I meet across the world. They are making important contributions to our work to eradicate poverty, contain the spread of disease, combat climate change and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. I call on Member States to increase their investments in young people so they can do even more.

During the International Year, the United Nations and its youth organization partners will focus on the need to encourage dialogue and understanding across generations, cultures and religions. In a world in which different peoples and traditions are coming into closer, more frequent contact than ever before, it is crucial that young people learn how to listen intently, empathize with others, acknowledge divergent opinions, and be able to resolve conflicts. Few endeavors are more important than nurturing these skills, and educating young people about human rights, for in them we not only see the next generation of leaders, but also crucial stakeholders of today. Let us also recognize that older generations themselves stand to learn a great deal from the experiences and examples of young people as they come of age in a world of accelerating interconnectedness.

As we launch this International Year, let us acknowledge and celebrate what youth can do to build a safer, more just world. Let us strengthen our efforts to include young people in policies, programmes and decision-making processes that benefit their futures and ours. 

(Source: http://www.un.org/en/events/youthday/sg.shtml) 

Today, one of the most inspiring youth climate activists Sara Svensson addressed the opening plenary of the UNEP Governing Council meeting/Global Ministerial Environment Forum. She Said:

Thank you Mr Chair.

Distinguished Delegates,

My name is Sara Svensson, and I will be 65 years old in 2050. I’m here as a representative for half of the world’s human population, Children & Youth.

We are desperately aware that humanity is on track of driving ourselves into extinction. Millions of species with intrinsic value have already gone extinct because of shortsighted human activities. Pushing the deadline for biodiversity targets literally means crossing the line to death. Despite this, 2010 is called the International Year of Biodiversity.

Where is our reason to celebrate?
In 2009, millions of people all over the world mobilised in the lead-up to Copenhagen. Personally I was fasting for climate justice. I spent 43 days and 44 nights eating nothing and drinking only water. I felt a moral response was needed to an immoral situation. COP15 didn’t give us the climate deal we need. United Nations became the Divided Nations and observers were locked out of the room.

Where is our reason to celebrate?
In desperate urgency, we now have a choice. We can raise to the challenge, restructure our economies, redefine our common values and do what is best for the greater good. The world needs a a total paradigm shift, and we have the tremendous opportunity to make it happen.

That is our reason to celebrate.

Children & Youth announce with confidence that the sustainable future is coming. We’re not pleading for change anymore, we’re creating it ourselves. Over the next 40 years we’re committing our entire working lives to gradually transform our societies and create a sustainable future.

If we can’t trust you – as our appointed leaders – to save the world, it won’t take long before Children & Youth kick you out of office and take your place.

You can speed up the process by showing bold leadership today. Give us the green jobs we want. You have the power, we have the energy. Use your power to give us the framework we need, and we’ll use our passion to steer the world on course.

Thank you.

By:Rieman Rudra

In the male-dominated society of Bangladesh, a female has three appearances: a daughter, a wife and a mother. She is brought up caged in religious and social barriers and garlanded with various do’s and do-not (rules and regulations). This system has passed through thousands of years, and today even though women’s rights are clearly stated in Bangladesh’s constitution; women are still being part of the deprived part of Bangladesh’s society.

A tale from Sheikhati village of the Narail district……

A man brutally beating his wife!

On my last trip to my village, I came across an 18-year old boy named Shumon. Currently, he neither studies nor works, but last year he married a teenage girl. The girl’s father is a poor village farmer and had to sell his land to give a sum of money as part of the dowry to Shumon’s family. Shumon’s family consists of Shumon and his parents. Throughout the day the he and his mother dominated the life of the under-aged wife. She had to do all the house chores (including washing, cooking, etc), take care of her husband and mother-in-law. Close-by villagers say she was a good wife. However, Shumon’s mother beat her, kicked her, or pulled the tuft of her hairs whenever she was little late in finishing her work or talking to outsiders or resting; Shumon was also involved in these activities. On one occasion, Shumon grabbed a thick piece of wood and struck her relentless with it till he and his mother was satisfied. The beaten girl left their house soon and got a divorce.

In this devastating marriage, Shumon and his family lost nothing. Shumon is now excited to marry a second time. The girl? Her father no longer possesses his land and would anyone ever want to marry a divorced girl in rural Bangladesh? This is just one simple story of last year but there are more tragic stories which are yet to be unveiled.

Violence in the family is no longer a myth but a reality. It seems to be an endemic phenomenon. People who abuse their women exist in all ethnic, geographic, religious, educational, occupational and socio-economic groups. This cuts across all socio-economic barriers but the kind of violence and the degree of violence may vary according to the socio-economic and cultural beliefs of the family and the community. Acid throwing and burning is one type of violence that is increasing in Bangladesh; family members do it for family quarrel over non-payment of dowry or disobedience, disrespect shown to husband or other in-laws in Bangladesh. Often these are reported as accident or suicide. Stringent laws have been enacted in Bangladesh but so far no noticeable change has occurred.

Violence against women is not just an assault against an individual but against woman’s personality, mental or physical integrity or even freedom of movement on account of their gender. It is any act of gender based violence that results or is likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering to women including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life. This is clearly based on the unequal power relations between men and women who are built upon the patriarchal social structure; constructed, reinforced and perpetuated by socio-political institutions, put in place by men.

By Protim Mallick

It’s mid February and by now everyone can smell the sweet scent of love in the air. Yes, if you have seen weak bonds between couples, it’s all going to be strengthened this month, and especially by 14th February. It’s Valentine’s Day and flower stalls, gift shops are expecting a good business (even though the global financial crisis may lead to fewer sales than a year before!). Sales of roses, especially the red ones, greeting cards and gifts would have been higher on this day all over the world.

From my balcony, I see people with bunch of roses in their hands, rushing to their schools, meeting places or a friend’s place. Today, many of them will express their feelings to their loved ones. Some of them will confess for the very first time and it would be a big day for them. Former pairs will deepen their feelings for each other, and advance their feelings to the next level. Even husbands and wives have something to celebrate on this day. To where the eyes reach today, it is only the essence of love that is going to come in the view.

Love, a universal emotion, binds people together. It influences people to a relationship in sharing, caring and expressing oneself. No wonder, everyone wishes to experience love. But my question is why only one day in a year to project love for some one you like most? Why only on this day your love reaches to its zenith?

It’s the day when you respect love itself and envy it. It’s not necessary to pick up flowers and give them only to the ‘special ones’. We need to express love for everyone. Seriously, how many of us have wished our parents a “Happy Valentine’s Day” today? Yes, just as the old saying goes, “Charity begins at home”, and love also begins at home. We have our parents and siblings to love, who are closer to us. Then comes our best friends, we can show our love for them; after all it binds us together. Then why should this day be dedicated to just one person? What if Valentine’s Day was not there, would there not be the love? Or, does this day just promote the commercialized and fantasy love?

I am not against any proposals or confessions. These are also important, but I am not happy that the meaning of “Valentine’s Day” has shifted to a much this side in the past few years. Love is unique; it is what the world needs most today. We all need to express our love for each other- every race, religion, nation and cast –to attain peace and harmony. I believe we can all win over wars by love.

Let this Valentine’s Day be a message to the world to stop conflicts, animosity and crimes and make everyone realize that “Love” stands for all. Wishing you all a happy and peaceful Valentine’s Day!

Share love and care love!

Hey guys!

How are you getting on? Welcome to the world of blogging!

It is true that we live in an era of breathtaking change. Everyone has ideas of making ‘CHANGE’ and each of them wants to make a difference in today’s contemporary world. But it is not easy, is it? For this it is necessary always to walk together with joy, hope and courage.

That is why Expressez-Vous exists. The reason is simple: Expressez-Vous (EV) advocates freedom, democracy, peace, prosperity and justice around the globe. Indeed EV is a global blog managed and run by a global team of youths. It means EV is a diary of global youths.

We want wireless discussion in different topics that matters in today’s world among global youth. For this, internet is almost an only independent source. That’s why like-minded youth from around the world, all with diverse and interesting views came together to start a new initiative of positive change through the series of discussions.

EV believes that the young people can play an important role in the continuous changing of the world. EV has been targeting youth to express themselves around the globe. EV believes it is good to have different perspectives on the same problem. So you can share different views, and ideas with making a difference. EV also believes this is our (youth) time to bring new ideas to face challenges we have. We have innovative ideas, will power and more than that the global coalition. So we hope we will able to make a real positive difference around us.Hopefully this blog will open a new era in the blog history.

We expect strong and critical views on certain issues from intellectual readers like you. Let’s unite to make the differences devoid of boarders where cultures, languages, races, ethnicities and nationalities interact freely. People from all walk of lives who believe in positive change in the world and also who are willing to do something about it can join EV. The running of EV is very simple: we post two articles every week(it keeps on increasing as we get more writers),then you comment and tell us what you think.

The first post at EV is in your desktops. We look forward to your constructive feedback and guidance in the days to come. Comments and suggestions on what we write are very welcome. Finally, once again we would like to welcome you all. Have a great reading. Be Youthful Forever…..