Leah and I recently traveled by train through the white Swedish landscape from Stockholm to Gothenburg. We rolled past red farmhouses with white trim and Shetland ponies; lakes that mirrored the iron grey sky; and expansive, dormant forests.

Our trip was motivated by an invitation from Lotta and Pauline, secretary and intern at our Affiliate, Green Cross Sweden. These young women are seeking to organize an Earth Charter Youth Group in Gothenburg that would serve as a hub for youth organizations engaged in local sustainable development projects. The aim is to provide them the common platform of the Earth Charter from which to coordinate and enrich their activities, while connecting them with our global network.

We were warmly welcomed into the Green Cross office with offers of coffee and tea. In addition to Green Cross, representatives from two youth organizations in Gothenburg attended the meeting. Akiko, a researcher from Japan with a special focus on education for sustainable development, and Ali, a Master’s student in industrial ecology, represented Chalmers Students for Sustainability (CSS). CSS is part of the World Student Community for Sustainable Development (WCSD), a partnership of Chalmers University of Technology, Tokyo University, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A member of Fältbiologerna, David, was also in attendance. His organization is funded by the Swedish government and has 3,000 members all over the country. They engage in local activities that enrich members’ understanding of nature and organize initiatives that promote sustainable living. We were glad to have them in attendance.

Leah and I offered an interactive presentation on the ethics of sustainable development, with an introduction of the Earth Charter and the Earth Charter Youth Initiative (ECYI). Then, Lotta led us in a discussion of how the Earth Charter might function as a common platform for youth organizations in Gothenburg working on various aspects of sustainable development. The group agreed to share the Earth Charter with their respective organizations and schedule a follow-up meeting.

We are hopeful that a Youth Group will emerge in Gothenburg. I boarded the train back to Stockholm feeling, like Howard Zinn, optimistic about where we are headed.

Dominic Stucker
International Youth Coordinator for ECYI
Sweden