I'm now at the Global Peoples Forum working on drafting the final statement by youth to the Heads of State for Wednesday. We are trying to bring everyone in on the process by working here instead of at the government center (Sandton). This process overall is dominated by the US and Europe and those corporations which they represent. The youth have become divided between those who are priviledged (able to gain access to Sandton) and essentially from the North and those who are not (gathered here everyday at the Global Peoples Forum). This is a very poor arrangement for youth collaboration and participation, but in ways it mimics what is going on at the Summit overall with the wealthy nations making all the decisions and forcing it upon the developing countries with threats of all natures. The WSSD seems to be more of a tool for corporations to gain access to and exploit the lands and peoples of developing nations with as little regard to law, human rights, or the environment as possible. And they have powerful governments supporting this outcome. This conference is certainly about development, but I don't think it's focus is sustainability. We are doing what we can here. Hope all are well out there.

Here we are in the Indigenous Peoples Caucus discussing our own implementation document.

I sm at the WSSD in Jo'berg working within the Indigenous and Youth Caucus. I am here representing the Gwich'in Council International and the International Indian Treaty Council, also collaborating with the Indigenous Youth Delegation of the Indigenous Environmental Network. My areas of focus and expertise while here are Indigenous Rights, Food Security, Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Persistent Organic Pollutants.