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Children to challenge world leaders at Johannesburg Summit for Sustainable Development – UN

Children to challenge world leaders at Johannesburg Summit for Sustainable Development – UN

Young people from across the globe will voice their concerns about the planet's environment when the Johannesburg World Summit for Sustainable Development kicks into high gear during its high-level segment on Monday, the United Nations reported today.

Young people from across the globe will voice their concerns about the planet's environment when the Johannesburg World Summit for Sustainable Development kicks into high gear during its high-level segment on Monday, the United Nations reported today.

Three young people, representing the International Children's Conference on the Environment sponsored by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), will present a list of challenges to national leaders gathered at the Summit, which will also hear from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

These challenges, which were inspired, written and voted on by some 400 children from 80 countries, represent their hopes and fears for the future of the planet, according to the UN. Eleven-year-olds Justin Friesen from Canada and Liao Mingyu from China will be joined by 14-year-old Analiz Vergara from Ecuador in conveying the message to the Summit.

Also on Monday, two South African children, six-year-old Tiyiselani Manganyi, who was born in Soweto, and 10-year-old Julius Ndlovena from Blargowrie, will recite a poem written for the launch of South Africa's National Plan of Action for Children

Meanwhile, today in Johannesburg, the Secretary-General addressed a meeting organized by Business Action for Sustainable Development, underscoring the important contribution which corporations can make in working to preserve the global environment.