During the year 2015 global leaders will hold two important summits for both the people and the planet. This will represent a great opportunity to end all forms of poverty and inequality and tackle environmental destruction. Later this year, in December world leaders will meet to adopt a new global agreement on climate change, which also will represent a crucial step towards a safer planet.
Since it is important to raise awareness of citizens around the summit, the Action 2015 has been launched all around the globe which is a worldwide coalition united by the idea that 2015 presents a real opportunity to change our future. In South Africa Action 2015 Africa Unite together with other partner organisations launched the campaign in Soweto Johannesburg on 15th January 2015. The Honorable Minister of Sport and Recreation “Mr Fikile Mbalula” and South African Celebrity “Boity Thulo” attended the event and interacted with more than 180 15 year old.
Leaners from Zonnebloem Nest Senior School holding the Finance placards.
To follow up on this on the 5th June, Africa Unite in partnership with African Monitor, United Nations Association of South Africa (UNASA) and One Africa organized an Action 2015 picketing campaign at the Cape Town International Convention Center (CTICC) in the middle island between Heerengracht and Walter Sisulu Road. This was a strategic position since South Africa hosted 25th World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa from the 3rd to 5th of June 2015 in Cape Town under the theme, ‘Then and Now: Re-imagining Africa’s Future.’ The Forum convened regional and global leaders from business, government and civil society to take stock of progress over the last 25 years, shared insights on the present landscape and identified innovative approaches to accelerate inclusive growth while bringing about sustainable development in the future.In light with these proceedings the purpose of the picketing was then to:
• To remind World Leaders the need to raise their ambitions by financing the Sustainable Development Goals which will affect the world in which young people are growing in
• To raise awareness on the issue of illicit financial outflows in Africa – Africa loses more than US$ 50 billion annually and large corporations are by far the biggest culprits responsible for these illicit outflows, especially given their ability to retain the best available professional legal, accountancy, banking and other expertise.
From left, a student from Stellenbosch University together with Africa Unite peer educator calling for leaders to finance the future of the youth
Africa loses more than US$ 50 billion annually and large corporations are by far the biggest culprits responsible for these illicit outflows, especially given their ability to retain the best available professional legal, accountancy, banking and other expertise.
Over 50 young people, including Zonnebloem Nest Senior School, showcased the need for world leaders to “Finance our Future” and remind them about the hopes and expectations of the youth. They demanded that the finance ministers
All the young people standing with placards as delegates were passing.
meet outstanding spending commitments, fight the structural injustices of unfair tax and many other issues.
For more pictures click here.
Africa Unite Blog 