Children aged 10 to 15 will get the opportunity to speak out on environmental issues at the World Children's Summit on Taiwan, being held in Taipei from Oct. 22 to Oct. 25.
Children have an inalienable right to grow up in a good environment, said Luo Tsan-ching (羅燦慶), director of the Taiwan Children's Rights Association.
The association initiated the event four years ago as a local summit, and plans to continue giving children a chance to take the stage, he said.
"Please, adults, do not tell yourselves that disasters have nothing to do with you, because the environment that you are destroying now will be our future world," said Lu Yi-hao (陸翊豪), a participant in last year's summit, at a press conference yesterday.
Because Germany is a "model student" of environmental conservation, organizers are working closely with the German Institute in Taiwan on a special presentation to be delivered during the summit, Luo said.
A time slot will also be reserved for a delegation of German children, who will share their experiences with conservation.
A total of 40 local children will be selected to speak at the summit after completing a written test and oral interview, Luo said.
The selection process will include a section testing applic-ants' English abilities to ensure that they are equipped to communicate with their peers from around the world, he said.
According to the organizers, the children will exchange ideas in small discussion groups on topics ranging from the role families can play in conservation, to national and governmental duties.
At the end of the summit, they will present their conclusions and suggestions to President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).
Environmental protection is of particular local concern in the wake of Tropical Storm Mindulle, because much of the damage was caused by a lack of environmental awareness, Luo said.
"We hope the children will bring this consciousness home to their parents," he said.
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