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BALI,
Indonesia—Children are often referred to as the “future”
of the country. And 15-year-old Hezel Candelario from
Masbate believes that children have the right to be heard in
the ongoing climate-change negotiations here in
Bali.
“We want
to let everybody know that even the smallest child can
participate in the global effort to combat climate
change,” said Candelario, a third-year high-school
student and a leader of the Paraiso Active
Youth/Children’s Organization in Masbate.
Candelario and three other children from Sweden, the
United Kingdom and Indonesia spoke to some delegates and
journalists about the effects of climate change on
children and the youth.
Through
the support of Plan International, they shared their
views on the impact of climate change in their lives and
that of their peers and communities; as well as ideas on
how the people can educate and inspire others to work
together to address the challenges brought about by
climate change.
“The
unprecedented pace and intensity of climate change
becomes more pronounced every year not only in the
Philippines but in other poor countries,” said
Candelario, the youngest of five children.
She is
worried about the bleaching of coral reefs, melting of
ice in Antarctica, the rising sea level in low-lying
islands and the health of children caused by changing
climate.
“We
recognize that the current extent of climate change is
human induced. And we no longer have the luxury of
continued debate. The time for action is now,” said
Candelario, whose father is a teacher and mother, a
janitress.
“I want
to tell [our] government to take decisive action now
before it’s too late. I want to tell them that my future
is at stake if climate change is not mitigated,”
Candelario said. |
