PEACE BOAT - Voyage 47


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October 29, 2004

Youth, Environmental Action and the Future of Viet Nam – Pham Thi Thanh Nhung

Nhung (left) speaking with Peace Boat web reporter Kerys Williams

Otherwise known as the Green Ocean Princess among her circle of friends back home, 22 year old environment activist and youth leader Thanh Nhung may be petite in size but her message is huge; responsibility and opportunity in the hands of youth is a powerful source of contributions to society. Her powerful personality, infectious smile and vibrant intellectual energy in telling her story of becoming conscious of environmental issues and efforts to build a substantial youth-driven environmental movement left Peace Boat participants deeply moved. During the two days between the Philippines and Viet Nam, Nhung introduced participants to the new face of Viet Nam and its youths' energy.

Nhung with volunteer interpreters Hide, Motoko and Miyuki

Nhung is the founding president of the youth-based organization "Green Ocean", based in Da Nang, where a group of around 300 hundred youths, none over the age of 22, implement environmentally friendly projects to "Keep Da Nang Beautiful." First started in February 2002 with three people picking litter up off the local beach, the organisation, now recognised by the UNDP Viet Nam (United Nations Development Programme) has grown to be one of the most successful youth-driven environmental conservation initiatives Viet Nam has ever seen. Green Ocean activities include raising public awareness on environmental issues by organizing city and beach clean-up campaigns, educational training courses, art and song competitions, eco-tours, forums, workshops, and conferences. Their main environmental focus is on forestry conservation, waste management and sanitation.

The team of Peace Boat participants who helped organize the lecture program

Humble in the face of her achievements, yet using them to inspire others to do the same, Nhung explained that the most unusual aspect of her initiative is that all members are between the ages of 9-22 (including executive board members). This is practically unheard of in a country where age is considered to be a deciding factor for respect and success. Convincing local authorities of her vision has been a great struggle, but she added that it is getting the youth of today interested in environmental issues that has required the most effort. "At first it was such a failure. So I used English as a tool of bringing people together by advertising English at the beach, with the chance of meeting new people and having fun. I organised games and refreshments and at the same time used English to organize beach clean-up tasks. It was amazing! Over 170 people came and I didn't have enough bags for them to put all the rubbish in." She went on to explain that at the end of the day, friendships had been formed and the beach was much cleaner. This was the real start of Green Ocean.

The solid network of dedicated environmentalists in Da Nang means that each university, school and college has its own team leader, who promotes and encourages others to join Green Ocean, through songs, games and wilderness travel and other activities. "We take them into the heart of the jungle to let nature whisper to them. We let them feel the beauty all around. On our way back home we by pass an extremely polluted river and we don't need to say anything. They smell the change and they see the river crying. They immediately want to clean it up and before long they are leading the tours themselves." Nhung makes it clear that the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow and that we need to help them reach their full potential with continuous encouragement and support.

Nhung talking to Peace Boat participant Manami

Still in the early stages of its formation, Green Ocean has great vision for the future. Nhung spends a lot of time travelling within Viet Nam promoting Green Ocean as a model framework for environmental activism and youth organization. With financial assistance from the Colenco and Swiss Development Cooperation, Green Ocean is set to be replicated in three other provinces of Viet Nam. Nhung explains that this project will include poverty reduction programs, through basic skills training in handicrafts, and gradually introduce environmental awareness. She maintains that environment and poverty are inseparable issues. Following considerable national media coverage and attendance at the UNDP Asian Youth Leadership Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Nhung wants to join forces with other youth-initiated projects world wide and testifies that coming on Peace Boat has been an inspiration for her and is concrete evidence that "anything is possible."

Many Peace Boat participants from Japan were moved and inspired by Nhung's story. Sixteen year old Manami testified that Nhung's lecture had changed her whole outlook and that she wanted to go back to Japan to do the same. Other participants remarked that this was the first time they had been introduced to such a positive and forward looking perspective on Viet Nam.

As Nhung left the ship in Vung Tau, Viet Nam, she was to make her way to Nha Trang to start a solid waste management project. She has decided not to travel overseas and study with one of the many scholarships she has been awarded. When asked why she simply said "I am married to Green Ocean. How can I leave now? I am afraid that if I go it will fall apart." While waving her goodbye, participants tried to sing the Green Ocean song that she had so beautifully sung to them at the opening of her debut lecture and while her stay on Peace Boat was short, her message was heard and her presence will be missed.

The Green Ocean Song
Written and translated by Thanh Nhung and Nam An

My dear friends, take a look around

Forest green now bare and brown

Can you hear Green Ocean tears

Our waste is her greatest fear

My dear friends, do you feel her plight

On the street, so late at night

Silent sweepers work unseen

Ocean dream, the future is green

Young hearts unite, build a greener world

You hold the future in your hands

I see trees bathing in the sun

So much needs to be done

Green Ocean whispers to the sand

Send a message through the land

The youth are here, passion in their soul

Greener ocean, what a goal!

My dear friends take a look around, the future...is green

They see a dove, peaceful in the sky

They hear Green Ocean's joyous cry

My dear friends, you lead the way

Green Ocean here, today!

Now go and spread the word around

Do not put rubbish on the ground

To make our world a greener place

We must start now!!!





		NGO in Special Consultative Status with the ECOSOC of the United Nations.





		Friends of the Earth International Affiliate





		Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict





		International Peace Bureau





		Towards WSF Process





		Peace Now Korea Japan