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WANTED: The Next Generation of ‘Green’ Entrepreneurs
Climate change has been identified as one of the biggest
global threats of our time. Scientists agree that global warming and extreme
climate phenomena can be increasingly attributed to human activity - in
particular, heavy emission of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide,
resulting from industrial processes.
Solutions to those pressing problems could lie in the
rapidly growing ‘green economy’: environmentally sustainable enterprises,
technological innovations (new sources of clean, renewable energy), energy
efficiency measures, economic incentives for low-carbon choices, etc. How can
youth contribute?
The Essay Competition 2009 invites youth to share ideas
on:
How does climate change affect you?
How can you tackle climate change through
youth-led solutions?
Please answer both questions:
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How does climate change affect you, your country, town
or local community? How do you think it will affect you in the future? Think
about the consequences for employment, health, security and other areas of
your life.
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What can you do, working together with your peers, to
address the problem of climate change in your country, town or local
community? Think specifically about the role of youth-led initiatives in the
‘green economy’.
Enter
the Essay Competition
CIPE Youth Essay Competition: Only a Month Left!
As part of CIPE's ongoing effort to reach out to young
people, we are conducting the 2009 Youth Essay Competition. The competition is
an opportunity for youth around the world to get involved in a global civic
discussion on issues that concern them. The contest is open to young people
ages 18-30 and has three general topics: Citizenship in a Democratic Society,
Educational Reform and Employment Opportunities, and Entrepreneurship &
Leadership. Essays should be 2,000-4,000 words in length and must be submitted
by March 1, 2009. Please visit
www.cipe.org/essay for
more information. CIPE is offering a $1,000 honorarium for the winners, and
will publish the top three winning essays via its Economic Reform Feature
Service, which is distributed to more than 3,000 subscribers.
Essay topics and questions:
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Citizenship in a Democratic Society
What needs to be done to develop a sense of citizenship in young
people and help them realize their role in a democratic society?
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Educational Reform and Employment Opportunities
How can you reform your country's education system so that graduates
have the necessary skills for employment in the public and private sectors?
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Entrepreneurship and Leadership
What needs to be done in your country to provide youth with the
opportunity to become entrepreneurs and/or leaders in their communities?
Some comments from a few of the 2007 Winners:
"I entered the competition as a means of drawing
attention and creating awareness to the need to constantly interact with the
youth so as to identify their challenges, potentials, and visions for
self-development."
Chinwe Miriam Onwubiko - Nigeria
"Along with all the flashing stories of "India is
booming" with 9% GDP growth, I have seen, first hand, the plight and
difficulty of my young friends in getting a decent job after finishing higher
education and their despair and frustration, which sometimes lead to many
negative outcomes. This essay contest came as a wonderful medium to express my
opinions and views on this issue and prompted me to write about them."
Tirthajyoti Sarkar - India
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