NI WAKATI WA KUTENDA!
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
In Swahili, radiant young Ann of Kenya tells us the title of this post is what the youth today are demanding from their elders: Ni wakati wa kutenda means "It's time for action!" Ann's smile is as bright as the sun and she probably has the same amount of energy too... By the way, the earrings Ann is wearing she made herself, fashioned out of the logo of Solar Generation, the fine, rapidly growing global youth group Ann belongs to...
For young people who have gathered in Nairobi, action means saying no to the things that harm our planet, such as fossil fuels. Action also means embracing solutions, such as wind power.
Wind is common to us. Winds bring change. Wind brings power. Wind brings hope -- renewable hope through renewable power.
I asked some members of the historic first African Youth Summit on Climate Change keeping a watchful eye over the Nairobi climate negotiations what the equivalent of the word "wind" was in their native tongues. Here is what four of them said:
Elom from Togo: in Ewe, wind is Eya!.
Catherine from Uganda (right most): in the Runyankole language, wind is Omuyaga!.Golam (between Ann and Catherine) from India: wind in Hindi is Pavan!.
Richard from Kenya: in Swahili, wind is Upepo!.Wind power is a huge part of the solution to climate change. In addition, wind power can provide much-needed jobs while significantly addressing the energy security needs of developing countries such as the Philippines, India and China.
Elom, Catherine, Ann, Richard and Golam want to know what "wind" is in your language. And while you're at it, maybe you can also tell us what place reminds you best of a memorable breeze that passed your way, whether recently or sometime ago... No secrets ;-)What say you?
posted by Redster @ 5:01 AM,
1 Comments:
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At 1:58 PM,
said...
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i looove her earrings.
