Tonight, I quietly exited DanHostel; which also seemed very empty as most of us had departed earlier today and yesterday and then there were only the 3 of us left to leave tomorrow on Wednesday, minus those who will remain longer and attend the conference. I boarded a small speed boat which carried me and my luggage to the warehouse housing hundreds of older activists, all here to take action during COP15. During the boat trip, on the river I could not hope but look back at the city I was now beginning to leave behind, and reminisce about all the magical moments I had in Copenhagen.
Yesterday; Monday the 7th, being the most magical of them all, the first day of the United Nations Climate Summit, where we gathered up and gave Denmark one last show of the tremendous heart and spirit from the youth of the world. Our shouts and drumming rang on throughout the Bella Center, we poured our souls out and a population of over 15,000 officials and attendants could not ignore our voices. Obtained over 50 media coverage sources that recorded and photographed our performances and took interviews that can now be found all over the web from YouTube to local, national, and global news sites including BBC. Harmoniously, in rhythmic tune we chanted empowering notions of “Climate Justice” and “Leadership” all the while separate groups of us passed out cups of coffee to delegates with imprinted messages asking for a Fair, Ambitious, and Binding deal. We were also able to capture hundreds of photos with bubble phrases reading FAB and handed out creative pens that attendants can press when frustrated to express their dislike for something that was said and the words “Politian’s Talk, Leaders Act!” would light up.
On the inside representing for USA, we have Brinkley Hutchings who will stay and attend the rest of the conference among 5 other global student representatives and our coordinators. Various acts will continue to occur throughout the summit to remind the world that the youth are still awake and that our leaders need to awaken and act now. ABC has decided to follow Brinkley throughout her experience within the conference. She will be contributing constant updates regarding COP15, making sure that we get the inside scoop rather than always having to depend on shifty media sources. With that, we should continue to look out for any action necessary still needed on our part which Brinkley will help to deliver when contribution is needed.
The time is now 12:40am in Copenhagen, and 6:39pm on the eastern shore of the US. I am expected to arrive at the airport for my flight by 6:30am tomorrow morning. With that I say goodnight Copenhagen, and tomorrow, I will say goodbye to Denmark as I fly off from Europe. In my dreams, our shouts will reign on “There ain’t no power, like the power of the people, because of the people don’t stop!”

Copenhagen, a city made of stone. Sometimes I feel like I am on the set of a Harry Potter movie as there is stone all around me; on the floors, on the walls; it makes up all the buildings and instead of broom sticks the people ride bikes. As travelers pour in from all across the globe for this one special occasion, the United Nations Climate Summit, I experience a burst of diversity consisting of innumerable sources of knowledge as we integrate ourselves within the population spreading the word of our proud consistent campaign slogan “Our Climate, Our Future, Your Decision!” Split up in groups of 4 we take on the city hands and pockets filled with buttons, stickers and flags requesting that both store owners and hotel managers support our message for a better, cleaner, greener future.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of COP15 and also our last final day together. As I write this I look around the conference room imprinting the final images of the people around me. To my left sits the fiery Braziliera, Maira, her face now so concentrated focusing on the computer screen and I sit here remembering when her cheeks were risen with a grin from ear to ear as we danced side by side clapping our hands and moving our bodies to the music of the Samba. Across from me sits the well-rounded Spaniard, David who has lived nearly all over, now taking photos with his SLR while calmly checking in for his flight online for he is the first to leave us tomorrow. And, Mary-Christine a brave one that one, a French speaking Canadian who lead our cheers countless times never afraid to take charge and step up; she will do great things I know it!

We celebrated our final dinner together and the closing of “Open Boat Day” on the legendary Greenpeace “Arctic Sunrise,” after spending a whole day of giving tours. We ate some of the finest cuisine served by our personal chef, Jacob; line danced to Lebanese music with our newly arriving Indian representatives, who will be staying to attend the summit; enjoyed a live performance from the beautiful folklore singers Sassafrass and many of us shed tears during one of our final moments together. Little Abby, with a thunderous spirit, the lovely Pilipino with a heart of Gold and our Solar Generation head coordinator evoked tremendous emotion during her goodbye speech. I had listened intently with my arm wrapped around Isabella, the German girl with an American swag who I also consider my giggle buddy for we spent most of our time parading around and joking bringing constant life to the group with our thunderous laughter.

My heart now aches reminiscing about all the time we spent together. Literally, 30 students from around the world with intentions so pure I sit here thinking how it can be possible to come across this many beautiful people, with selfless ambition? The flame inside me now bursting furiously, they have enlightened my soul and enforced my hope thinking that maybe if there exists more people like the ones I have met during my stay, then maybe our world does stand a great chance for a better future. Antagonist may say the youth grow old, and that may be so, but, we demand to grow old with a cleaner world. Our decisions today impact our future tomorrow and we will keep on fighting so that the world can enjoy it.

Tomorrow we commit our final action tomorrow with a flash mob performance at the Bella Center. 6:45 am we depart from the hostel with our supplies in hand ready to make sure that they hear our voices and recognize the seriousness of this summit. We pass the torch to our world leaders showing that the youth has done and are doing our part, and now it is their turn. Politicians talk and leaders act!

I woke up early this morning with a smile on my face ready for the impending task awaiting me today. I had been charged the duty of constructing and directing the voice of the U.S. National Day vigil and with utter confidence I remembered I had been here before. Faced with a task demanding my ut-most creativity in seeking to claim the attention of all those who passed around me. I wondered how I can now live up to the demands of representing such powerful a country whose importance is stressed within on our very own purpose of being here. Being that this is the USA that I am representing, whatever I did had to be big and loud and the coordinators expected nothing less. The USA team was organized to launch the first series of wake-up calls taking place during the rest of the week followed by Germany, Brazil and France where each country would provide active demonstration on the way up to their ambassador’s building then deliver a final product artistically created to influence their representative to not only deliver their message at COP15 but also as an invite them to the boat show later to come. “We are the initiators and everyone is looking up to us, waiting for us to make a bang and raise the bar with outstanding energy levels and passion” Brinkley and Jess had told me (my fellow U.S. student representatives). Ushered on accepting my peer-proclaimed title as the Greenpeace youth’s cheerleader/ pep-rally mc I took the task head on believing that nothing could get in my way, until a few days ago biology proved me wrong.
I literally caught the activist bug aka GPV (the Greenpeace Virus). I had risen out of bed early as usual, 6:30 am while my roommates remained asleep and suddenly began to suffer the most serious pain in the pit of my stomach. Attempting to shake it off with a hot shower did nothing to improve my state, for my condition continued to worsen throughout the day as my body grew heavy and legs went limp and any time I attempted to stand my head would spin as my eyes began to black-out. I could not get out of bed and everyone feared any forced movement, pleading with me to remain in bed and get my rest. Joyful I was to see the familiar faces of my fellow USA representatives, Jessica Serrante, Brinkley Hutchings and Ruth Morrison as they attempted to cheer me up and offer me their services I was saddened to hear the necessary possibility of them having to produce a back-up plan in case my health did not improve by tomorrow’s awaited festivities. Not showing up for me, was not an option! I chugged down as much water I could while awake to re-hydrate my parched body mixed with a packet of Emergen-C, a powdered energy booster and slept. 10 pm approached, after sleeping all day I was awakened by my roommates returning from a night shift guarding the vigil sight in Nytorv Square. Surprisingly, my body felt refreshed and my head clear of the cloudy heaviness of before. I got dressed and brushed my teeth and went downstairs to sit in the hostel’s lobby. One by one as more Greenpeace members flowed in through the hostel entrance, recognizing my presence all greeted me merrily asking if I was ok. Already having Known the answer by my improved appearance, I responded gleefully that I was feeling a lot better and believed I was ready go on with tomorrow’s plans. I stayed up till 2 am storming away on my computer making sure that everything was properly mechanized and ready for tomorrow’s activities. Overnight I found it hard to sleep and this time not because I was ill, but because I was filled with excitement and anticipation.
Today I deem a Greenpeace USA victory! Head on, we hit the ground running with an astonishing performance by a masquerade of drums, tambourines, and a trombone shouting to the rooftops chanting ceremoniously. For 30 minutes we traveled from Nyrtorv Square to the U.S. embassy and even picked up a few school children on the way as they danced alongside us giving their Danish cheer wielding high our picket signs while waving their free hand simultaneously side to side. A hip-hop, street theatre, booty shaking fiasco lit our performance and comically even happened to strike fear in the U.S. embassy guard who stood timidly requesting that we take our motions across the street from the embassy. Cars passed by as they honked their horns responding to us the peace signs we had implicated towards them. My heart was content feeling successful that not only had I gotten the entire U.S. embassies attention but was able to build a connection with the community surrounding me through song, dance, and cheer. The Minister of Environmental health came down and greeted us with a wave as he lead Ruth, Jess, and Brinkley into the building only allowing the entrance of 3 individuals. There, Jess and Brinkley would present him with both our hand-written letter to President Obama and an authentic scrap book containing a collection of articles and photos depicting youth activism and our demand for our leader’s response and representation.
Do you think he got the message? We will see, fortunately after continuous pressure when at first seemingly upon the fence of attending, President Obama has agreed to attend COP-15 but, unfortunately, he has chosen to arrive on the wrong day! We need him to be here on the 18th for signing day rather than showing up on the 9th which will only provide for a photo opportunity. We need you to sign and agree to a global binding treaty now, FAB!

From the moment I landed, in Copenhagen, Denmark it seemed this trip had turned into a disaster. After waiting nearly 30 minutes at baggage claim, while the conveyor belt continued turning, alone I stood disappointedly realizing that my luggage did not follow suit. Remembering how anxious I was to have been chosen as the Greenpeace student representative of the U.S.A then finding how FIU’s Art and Science department so graciously decided to sponsor my flight expenses I could only help but wonder how fast an amazing opportunity was beginning to turn into a nightmare. Feeling worried, after filing claim for my missing baggage I exited the terminal wondering if my delay would leave me to find my way to the prescribed lodging destination solo. Fortunately, exiting between rope strung poles my face met glares of curiosity, that upon recognition turned into heartwarming smiles as a stranger with long brown dangling curls approached holding a familiar paper that had my face on it, and he asked me “Are you Bleu?” Thus began my discovery of the many accents of the world.
Three persons followed after my identity had been confirmed all eager to step in and personally welcome me to Copenhagen. My initial greeter, Mavel Vivien from France held a gentle smile as he introduced me to a few of the rest of my Greenpeace companions. First I met Merijin Nuland from the Netherlands, whose soft brown curls laid gently above his brow that reminded me of old Greek paintings of baby angels; Anne Vlak from the Netherlands, the gregarious and tall 17 year old whose conversation made anyone feel like they have known each other for years, and then Thajs a Denmark native and our “tour” guide whose hair presented all business in the front and a few lingering dreads portraying an environmentally inclined hippie in the back. A little while after the Turkish arrived, followed by a brief introduction to both Alif Akoguz and Ecem Samer who I would later find to be my beloved roommates we made our way to the hostel via train and foot. I marveled at the scenery surrounded by images depicting messages of what to come mostly advertising the grand United Nation’s meeting for which Copenhagen was to host. I could also not help but gawk at the people of this land who all seemed like giants as they towered above me, I was amazed and confused to as whether I had landed during some modeling convention. Their clothing was exquisite consisting often of leather boots, pea coats, and an array of scarves I felt warm just looking at them. Then finally, after finishing our travels by train we had a 15 minute walk to the hostel where then I was met by the most astonishing sight, the city streets were filled with millions of bikes and yet, it was raining. Thajs our director explained how often times you would find more bikes in the streets than cars and that public services even provided free bikes parked up in rails stacked along buildings. I took notice of separate bike lanes lined up on the side protected from ongoing traffic unlike the cities of the US where bikers rode along and between automated cars often presenting horrible accidents. Needless to say, I was highly impressed.
Freezing, wearing merely my FIU sweatshirt and pants with a t-shirt underneath but, dry having luckily remembered to place an umbrella in my carry-on bag after hearing how often it rains in the winter, I was extremely happy to arrive at the warm DanHostel in Copenhagen City. Not only did I come to find more of my fellow Greenpeace Solar Generation’s team but I came across many other organizations who arrived in regards of COP-15 including the UNICEF Children’s Forum, GCC Air Partners (Global Campaign and Climate), and the Greenpeace political team. Citizens from over 20 countries across the globe all gathered here under this one roof, DanHostel was housing a tremendously diverse population of 2000 individuals. Surprisingly most if not all spoke English. My world would never be the same as I sat side by side a Fiji native discussing jet lag, shared with the Germans what I jokingly like to call sweet cheese (marzipan), and joyously practiced playing with make-shift drums on base line with a Brazilian.
Tomorrow begins our official day of action with the USA leading the way. Having prepared for the past 3 days our props, speeches, a vigil site at Kongens Nytorv square in the city center we will march off demanding attention from our passerby’s right up to the entrance of the US embassy and ask the ambassador to deliver our message to President Obama, be a leader and not a politician and prescribe results so that we may globally agree upon a solution for climate change to save ourselves from an impending disaster that we have the opportunity to prevent. Let us work towards dropping developed country’s emissions by at least 40% by 2020 below 1990 levels, invest $140 billion a year for developing countries to adapt to climate change and we must end deforestation by 2020. COP-15 must deliver for our climate and future generations.