The effects of climate change on agriculture are expected to vary across the continent, but are likely to be most pronounced in areas where temperature and water availability are already major constraining factors.  Africa is highly dependent on rain-fed agricultural production. Many African crops including wheat, maize, and soybean are already grown close to the limits of their temperature or water stress tolerances.      

The majority Africa’s subsistence farmers are women; they are the ones that will really feel the brunt of changing rainfall and weather patterns. For many African women and girls, the situation will be exacerbated by poor access to education, health and employment.

The pressures on families to migrate to urban areas is also expected to grow further, making the challenge of tackling poverty and unemployment rates an even greater one.

Taking Action

Although climate change is already being felt across the continent, many countries are still not being spurred into action. We are urging the world’s governments represented at COP17 to listen to the people, and not the vested interests of polluting corporations; to shelve the rhetoric and create a framework for a sustainable future, by:

• Ensuring a peak in global greenhouse gas emissions by 2015
• Ensuring that the Kyoto Protocol continues and providing a mandate for a comprehensive legally binding instrument
• Delivering the necessary finance to tackle climate change
• Setting up a framework for protecting forests in developing countries
• Ensuring global cooperation on technology and energy finance
• Ensuring international transparency in assessing and monitoring country commitments and actions.

The Convention on Climate Change sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change. It recognises that the climate system is a shared resource that is affected by emissions from greenhouse gases resulting from human activity. Decisions under the UNFCCC are made on the basis of consensus according to current operating practice. This means that, rather than voting, Parties aim to reach agreement through discussion and negotiation. The main negotiating forum is sessions of the Conference of the Parties (COP), which typically take place at ministerial level. Parties also negotiate in the two subsidiary bodies of the UNFCCC, the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI). Other matters, such as the development of technical guidelines for implementing COP decisions, are dealt with at UNFCCC workshops. The administration of the UNFCCC is the responsibility of a secretariat based in Bonn, Germany. The UNFCCC secretariat is institutionally linked to the United Nations and is administered under UN Rules and Regulations. It is answerable to the COP and the subsidiary bodies, and has responsibility in three areas: executive direction, technical programs and support services for the intergovernmental process.

Our generation is unique.  Not just because of the internet, not just because of the pressing unemployment and civil unrest we have seen globally, and not just because of the threat to our future posed by climate change.

Expressing what is unique about our generation is really difficult.  It is something that has recently become a bit of an obsession of mine.  We grow up in different cultures, different economies and under different political situations.  So when I asked 9 young people from different countries to videoblog about their passion for climate activism, I got a multitude of ideas and creativity, but there was a common feeling.  There was an elastic band binding these people together, though they had never met.

courtesy of... http://drhutley.wordpress.com/

Durban - Some 1000 youth from all over the world have gathered in Durban, South Africa, for the two week long UN climate negotiations, where governments will hopefully decide on the process towards a binding global climate agreement. Young people are present here as part of the official youth constituency YOUNGO. 

 

After three days of training at the Conference of Youth taking place this weekend at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the young delegates are now well equipped to participate in the UN climate tasks and lobby for the binding global agreement we all need so badly. 

Would you like to know more about their amazing work? Check the hashtag YOUNGO (#YOUNGO) on Twitter or follow @seanamos

This is the first time that I have participated in an event of this magnitude and specifically a Climate Change conference. Young people are quite passionate about Climate Change and since this event has come to Africa, it has raised the voice of the developing countries and in essence the African countries.

I have been attending the YOUNGOs meetings since yesterday (today 29th Nov 2011 is day 2) and the young people have raised so many issues and its time for them to be heard. I will take it a few steps back and explain what YOUNGOs is and what role it plays at the COP17/CMP7.

YOUNGO is the officially recognised constituency of the Youth Non-Governmental Organisations by the UNFCCC, of which the World Oganisation of the Scout Movement is a part. The spokes council is the decision making body of YOUNGO, and is formed by representatives of the Youth Non-Governmental Organisations participating in COP17.

YOUNGO makes statements and carries out actions on behalf of YOUNGO but at the same time it is representing all of its members. The spokes council provides for a transparent and formal method of decision-making that includes all of its members in a meaningful and constructive way.

This first meeting of YOUNGO saw the constituency having to elect five of its members who would then go on to have access seats inside for the Plenary session for the official opening of the conference.

For regular updates follow https://twitter.com/#!/seanamos

or Go to Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/World-Scout-Team-at-the-Cop17/251266898264797

Leaders must have courage to take decisions, and followers must have the courage to do as they are told.



Disagreement is not disloyalty. Disobeying is. A Leader is disloyal to his followers if he does not back them up to his fullest ability. A person that has another view should be allowed to explain it.



...Indeed leaders and followers should listen. Neither should show any bias, even if the explanation is unusual and seems unsound. Attempts should be made to understand the divergent view.



Leaders should be able to manage their own emotions and those of their followers. If a leader is devastated by a failed deadline or target, he is not inspiring enought to energise his followers to better performance the next time around.



A leader should feel for the individuals in his care. By doing so, he ensures loyalty from his followers.



A leader should lead by personal example. Only an energetic leader can enthuse a group of followers to be energetic. An energetic group of followers is a dynamic, productive and result-oriented group of followers.



A successful leader is one that does well when things are going well and does better when things get rough. Persistence in the face of difficulty is essential.



A good follower performs well because he has been well lead. He performs badly because he has been badly lead. Giving all the credit to the follower is as bad as blaming him for the failure to the team. In the final analysis, the leader is responsible for the success or failure of his group.



Above all ...........

A Leader should ... LEAD....

How to Make $1 Million Before You Graduate

by Forbes Staff
Tuesday, March 22, 2011

 

http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/112341/how-to-make-1-million-before-you-graduate

First of all, to both guys and gals... read this article carefully, as it contains some potentially scary health issues related to cell phone use. And although the examples are geared towards men's issues, I wouldn't trust that it's only men that can experience health issues from heavy cell phone use.You're also going to want to pass this page on to your friends and family to help them

Dear STAFF ,Please be advised that these are NEW rules and regulations implementedtoraise the efficiency of our firm.____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __________________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ ___1) TRANSPORTATION:It is advised that you come to work driving a car according to yoursalary.a) If we see you driving a Honda, we assume you are doing

Monday:
Now home from honeymoon and settled in our new home. It's fun to cook for Tim. Today I made an angel food cake and the recipe said, "beat 12 eggs separately."
Well, I didn't have enough bowls to do that, so I had to borrow enough bowls
to beat the eggs in. The cake turned out Fine though.

Tuesday:
We wanted a fruit salad for supper. The recipe said, "serve without dressing." So I didn't dress. But Tim happened to bring a friend home for supper that night. They both looked so startled when I served them, I think it was the salad.

Wednesday:
I decided to serve rice and found a recipe which said, "wash thoroughly before steaming the rice." So I heated some water and took a bath before steaming the rice. Sounded kinda silly in the middle of the week. I can't say it improved the rice anyhow.

Thursday:
Today Tim asked for salad again. I tried a new recipe. It said, prepare ingredients, then toss on a bed of lettuce one hour before serving." I hunted all over the place for a garden and when I got one I tossed my salad into the bed of lettuce and stood over there for over one
hour so the dog would not take it. Tim came over and asked if I felt all right. I wonder
why? He must be stressed at work, I'll try and be supportive.

Friday:
Today I found an easy recipe for cookies. It said, "put all ingredients in a bowl and beat it." beat it I did, to my mum's place. There must have been something wrong with the recipe,because when I came back home again, it looked the same as when I left it.

Saturday:
Tim went shopping today and brought home a chicken. He asked me to dress it for Sunday. I'm sure I don't know how hens dress for Sunday. I never noticed back on the farm, but I found an old doll dress and it's little cute shoes. I thought the hen looked really cute. When Tim saw it, he started counting to ten. Either he was really stressed because of his work, or he wanted the chicken to dance. When I asked him what was wrong he started crying and shouting out "why me? why me?". It has to be his job.

These questions about South Africa were posted on a South African Tourism Website by foreigners around the world and were answered by the website owner (great sense of humor!).

Q: Does it ever get windy in South Africa ? I have never seen it rain on TV, so how do the plants grow? ( UK )
A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.

Q: Will I be able to see elephants in the street? ( USA )
A: Depends how much you've been drinking.


Q: I want to walk from Durban to Cape Town - can I follow the railroad tracks? ( Sweden )
A: Sure, its only two thousand kilometers take lots of water...


Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in South Africa ? ( Sweden )
A: So its true what they say about Swedes...


Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in South Africa ? Can you send me a list of them in JHB, Cape Town , Knysna and Jeffreys Bay ? ( UK )
A: What did your last slave die of?

Q: Can you give me some information about Koala Bear racing in South Africa ? ( USA )
A: Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the pacific. A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe which does not...oh forget it. Sure, the Koala Bear racing is every Tuesday night in Hillbrow. Come naked.


Q: Which direction is north in South Africa ? ( USA )
A: Face south and then turn 90 degrees. Contact us when you get here and well send the rest of the directions.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into South Africa ? ( UK )
A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.


Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys Choir schedule? ( USA )
A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is....oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Hillbrow, come naked.


Q: Do you have perfume in South Africa ? ( France )
A: No, WE don t stink.


Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in South Africa ? ( USA )
A: Anywhere where a significant number of Americans gather.


Q: Can you tell me the regions in South Africa where the female population is smaller than the male population? ( Italy )
A: Yes, gay nightclubs.


Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in South Africa ? ( France )
A: Only at Christmas.


Q: Are there killer bees in South Africa ? ( Germany )
A: Not yet, but for you, well import them.


Q: Are there supermarkets in Cape Town and is milk available all year round?
A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter-gatherers. Milk is illegal.


Q: Please send a list of all doctors in South Africa who can di spense rattlesnake serum.( USA )

A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca, which is where YOU come from. All South African snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.


Q: I was in South Africa in 1969, and I want to contact the girl I dated while I was staying in Hillbrow. Can you help? ( USA )
A: Yes, but you will probably still have to pay her by the hour.

Q: Will I be able to speek English most places I go? ( USA )
A: Yes, but youll have to learn it first.

They are not dead,
Who leave us this great heritage of remembering joy.

They still live in our hearts,
In the happiness we knew, in the dreams we shared.

They still breathe,
In the lingering fragrance,windblown, from their favourite flowers.

They still smile in the moonlight’s silver,
And laugh in the sunlight’s sparking gold.

They still speak in the echoes of the words we’ve heard them say again and again.

They still move,
In the rhythm of waving grasses, in the dance of the tossing branches.

They are not dead;
Their memory is warm in our hearts, comfort in our sorrow.

They are not apart from us, but part of us,

For love is eternal,
And those we love shall be with us throughout all eternity.
Anon