Children from 80 countries are calling on world governments to sign the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.
That recommendation was one of 50 developed at the International Children's Conference on the Environment held at UVic.
Carisa Broadhead, 11, of Hay River, Northwest Territories, is enthused about the outcome of the conference and committed to working for a healthy environment.
"I came home with lots of new ideas," she said from Hay River on Monday.
The Grade 6 student is optimistic world leaders will pay attention to the proposals, while recognizing not all will be accepted at once.
"I hope they are going to listen to us and I think they will to a certain extent."
The package goes to the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, in late August.
Recommendations were developed through friendship groups that met during the conference, which drew 385 children, between 10 and 12 years old, and 251 adults, from 80 countries. The conference ended on the weekend.
Representation included Azerbaijan, Rwanda, Japan, Morocco, Uzbekistan, France, Singapore, New Zealand and Sudan as well as Canada, with Greater Victoria children among its delegates.
The children took a strong stand on environmental issues that societies are wrestling with around the globe. These include the challenge of providing clean water, putting the brakes on climate change due to industry, and the need to conserve resources.
They urged people to listen to each other, especially children.
"Stop war and return the environment to what it was 300 years ago," states one recommendation. Another said, "Make sure that everybody is healthy, has clean water and good food, and a place to live."
The children stressed the building of healthy communities through such measures as avoiding the use of pesticides and herbicides, holding international friendship and multicultural days, and forgiving the debts of developing countries.
Other recommendations include calling for a ban on clear-cutting forests in order to prevent soil erosion, protecting wetlands, conserving water and being good environmental role models.
Children tackled the use of gasoline-fuelled vehicles by urging governments to limit their use. They suggested making idling more than five minutes illegal and restricting the number of cars per family.
Money should be devoted to research on electric cars, alternative energy and eco-friendly products and technology. Also, drilling for oil should be limited.
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