Tarumitra student elected to the Junior Board of the UN

21 Tarumitra Students at the UN Summit in Stavanger, Norway

Stavanger, Norway: Over a thousand students, parents and teachers from 105 countries  gathered in the land of the midnight sun, Norway from June 17, 2008.

The UN selected 21 students and chaperones from Tarumitra to participate in the World summit usually called Tunza conference.

The theme this year was to “kick the CO2” i.e. opt for a less carbon intensive way of life. This melts down to a life of simplicity and closeness to the Earth. One of the dominant campaigns has been to use less electricity or alternatively look for renewable sources of energy. The understanding has been that every bulb saved or a light put off will help the earth to breath better.

According to Shweta from Carmel School , the best part of the conference was to meet hundreds of others from the rest of the world. Kristine Skjortenes, (kristine@ua21.no)  one of the local organizers who had lunch with us told the students who sat around her that the best part for her has been the physical presence of so many environmentally conscious children.  

Felix  Finkbeiner, a class 8 student from Germany pleaded at the conference that there must be “climate justice” in the world. He felt that the American who produces 19 tons of CO2 should give justice to the African who produces just half a ton of CO2.

One of the evenings there was  a meeting among the chaperones from Pakistan , Bangladesh , Sri Lanka and   Nepal . The purpose is to exchange notes and plan some common activities.

There was terrific excitement of elections to the new Junior Board on the last day.  The Junior Board consisting of seven children who help to organize the next International meeting of Children of the U.N.  Students from 105 countries usually elect the representatives to the Junior Board.

There were hectic campaigns from the previous day. Tarumitra students rallied around Yugaratna, a class 8 student from India . Short-listed for elections, Yugratna Srivastava from Tarumitra presented herself on the dais as somebody in love with Mother Earth. She instantly struck a chord with the audience on her appeal on behalf of Mother earth.

Yugratna hails from St. Francis High School , Shamli, UP. She was accompanied by her chaperone Fr. Thomas Poothara (TOR).

All the countries could cast votes for any candidate except for one from their own country. 21 of from Tarumitra gathered on the floor and voted to their favorites.

Incidentally Yugratna’s rival candidate was Tiffany from China !  It may be noted that there was a great sense of sportive spirit in the elections.

After an  hour passed after the counting of votes, Theodore Oben from United Nations appeared to announce the winners.

Suddenly there it was! Yugaratna Srivastava from Tarumitra was elected to be in the Junior board for the next two years!  Wild shouting and high decibel uproar followed.

The next UN Tunza Conference will take place in South Korea in 2010.

As it happened earlier in Japan and Malaysia , the students brainstormed and made action plans which were circulated in the student community.