The World Summit on Sustainable Development, taking place in Johannesburg in 2002, will see more youth representation as Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi calls for more youth participation at the 15th International Youth Conference called Caretakers of the Environment International (CEI), held in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal

SUNDAY, 1 JULY 2001: The Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, encouraged youth to insist on their consultation and participation in international sustainable development and environmental conventions and discussions.

Addressing 400 delegates representing youth and students as well and teachers, Mabudafhasi said: "You are a generation facing ecological injustices and environmental racism and therefore we must provide you with opportunities to present your views on the decisions we take."

"This Youth Conference takes place for the first time in Africa and Zambia was the first African country to participate in the organisation in 1990 in England. Today we say the CEI has finally arrived in Africa, and this arrival is long overdue," said the President of CEI, Mr Arjen Wals, as he welcomed the delegates.

Ms Mabudafhasi also urged the various youth organisations and students to participate in their countries' preparations for the 2002 World Summit which takes place in Johannesburg in 2002 with an expected delegation of 60 000. "I expect to meet you in Johannesburg next September, at the most important get-together which is about saving our earth," she said.

The CEI Conference takes place until from 1-5 July, at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, under the theme "Cultural Diversity and Sustainable Tourism" and is aimed to establish a process that allows youth to speak to government/s and thereby influence decision making by establishing mechanisms that permit and ease youth access to information.

The conference also intends to produce a programme of action and declaration that aims to build capacity and provide a platform for youth to showcase to their peers their environmental attitudes and initiatives which will be developed for implementation in different countries.