Extract from ABC News
Updated
Barack Obama's rallying call to the younger
generation to "step in and say, 'it doesn't have to be this way'" has
resonated loudly with Brisbane's youth.
The US president's speech
at the University of Queensland in Brisbane today, ahead of the official
opening of the G20 leaders' summit, roused much applause from the
capacity crowd, especially when it came to his comments on climate
change and gender equality."But let me say particularly... to the young people here, combating climate change cannot be the work of governments alone," Mr Obama said.
"Citizens, especially the next generation, you have to keep raising your voices, because you deserve to live your lives in a world that is cleaner and that is healthier and that is sustainable, but that's not going to happen unless you are heard."
But let me say particularly... to the young people here, combating climate change cannot be the work of governments alone.US President Barack Obama
He also formally announced a $US3 billion ($3.43 billion) contribution to an international fund to help poor countries cope with the effects of climate change.
Sophia Aston, 17, from Mt St Michael's College in Brisbane said she admired the president's mission to engage youth.
"I'm really interested in law and human rights, and potentially politics, so it was really inspiring to me," she said.
"It's nice to realise there is potential and they have the capacity to support us - it makes the world seem a lot smaller."
'A better world for our gender and generation'
High school student Lily Treston, 17, said she was overwhelmed by the speech."I think for us it will help us finish the year with a very positive message," she said.
"For young women to hear from such an influential person about how we can have a better and brighter world for our gender and generation was inspirational."
Originally locked out, university student James Bubear was let into the room late and made to stand at the back, but he said it was worth it.
"I thought it was good. I'm glad they squeezed us in at the end," he said.
"We had to stand up the back, but it was better than being in the next room.
"I think he made good points about participating and investing in developing other countries."
Mr Bubear said the way Mr Obama called young people to action was not something usually heard.
"I think you often hear 'youth are the future' but it was good to hear that you have to actually take action as a young person," he said.
"I think the comments about climate change were well-received especially after it was pulled off the G20 agenda."
Women need equal and dignified place: Stott Despoja
Also in the crowd was Australia's Ambassador for Women and Girls, Natasha Stott Despoja, who said it was good to hear such a high-profile leader reference gender equality."It was a powerful reminder that no country can achieve its potential without ensuring women have an equal and dignified place in society," she said.
Diplomacy expert Dr Susan Harris Rimmer said the speech will put pressure on the Australian Government to commit during the G20 Summit to the target of narrowing the participation gap by 25 per cent by 2025.
"All of this puts pressure on that paragraph of the commitment in the room tomorrow," she said.
After his address, Mr Obama left the stage and walked through the crowd for a short time before waving goodbye.
US Embassy staff were overheard saying the event went well.
No comments:
Post a Comment