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Greetings
to the Letters came from people all over the world, to great and give thanks for the Children's Meeting Place at United Nations in Nairobi (UNON). Here are some of those letters.
Dear Ms. Kajsa Dahlström Thank you very much for your letter of 3 December 2001 on the Children's Meeting Place on the UN compaound in Nairobi. It was my pleasure to participate in the inaguration of the Meeting Place and I enjoyed holding discussions with the children. The feelings and aspirations of the young people and their active involvement in the discussion on critical issues affecting our lives, are quite important in our efforts to achieve sustainable development. The Declaration and information on the launch will be shared with children in other parts of the world through UNEP children's magazine "Leave It To Us". The Security and Safety Service of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) will facilitate entry of children and their teachers to the Meeting Place. Thank you for your support, and I look forward to our future collaboration. Yours sincerely, Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director
Message to the inaguration of a Children's Meeting Place at the United Nations Office in Nairobi. Nairobi, 19 September 2001 It gives me great pleasure to join you in celebrating the inaguration of a Children's Meeting Place at the United Nations Office in Nairobi. The planting of a tree carries great symbolism: of life, family, fortitude and roots. In African village life, a tree can also have great spirutal meaning, and serve as a place where people gather to discuss issues of common concern. This tree on the grounds of the United Nations is now a place where you and your contemporaries can voice your dreams, concerns and suggestions for the future. As you celebrate the inaguration of this meeting place in music, poems, and stories with your peers from Africa and Europe, you have a unique opportunity to learn from each other's experiences, to overcome your differences, and to unite in the noble effort of building a better planet for all humankind. And as your generation grows up and assumes positions of responsibility and leadership, you will have an opportunity to act on the pledges of unity and peace you make today. The United Nations eagerly looks forward to what you, my dear young ambassadors, will do to make your difference in this world! In that spirit, please accept my best wishes for a succesful and memorable gathering. Kofi A. Annan
Message to the Children's Meeting Place at the United Nations, Nairobi, Kenya Dear Children, When you set up this meeting place, you declared "We have to treat the environment better...". These words mean a lot to me. They give me hope for the future. As European Commissioner for the Environment, I will support you in trying to make this planet cleaner. I want a clean environment for all but especially for children. I know that you are my allies in this effort. You have chosen a tree as a meeting place. A tree is a symbol - you know how important the trees are for the balance in nature. The trees absorb CO2 gases, of which we produce to much, and provide us with oxygen. The trees are there to protect us, but we must also protect them. The tree is traditionally a meeting place in African villages. It is important for people of all generations and nationalities to meet and talk with each other. Under this particular tree at the United Nations in Nairobi, you children decide what to talk about. I am sure you have many imporant and interesting things to tell. We will listen to you. Margot Wallström
Children's Meeting Place Dear friends, Like all who should have been attending the UN Special Sessions on Children this week, I deplore that it could not take place. First of all because of the tragedies, which were casued by the terrorattacks against innocent civilians in the United States. Acts, that had terrible effects on everybody, but not the least on children. But it also effected you and the "Children's Meeting Place". It is therefore important that you carry through and gather today in Nairobi. As you know the UN session on Children has not been cancelled, only postponed. I assure you that the recommendations you will make today will still be - as originally planned - included in the work of the Special Session on Children. It is essential that political leaders at that meeting demonstrate their determination to take concrete action for children and adolescents all over the world. We must take decisions on how to protect children against HIV/AIDS. We need to ensure that everyone is offered basic schooling and that the school becomes adjusted to the children: meaningful education and no corporal punishment. We should put an and to explotation and discrimination of children: no harmful labour, no sexual explotation and no exclusion of children because of their background or disability. We need to listen more carefully to the young generation and to take your views seriously. Your participation is necessary to make this world a better place for all human beings. I am looking forward to reading your recommendations and I am convinced that your discussions will be constructive and lead to concrete results. We are prepared to listen. Göran Persson
Inaguration of Children's Meeting Place at the United Nations in Nairobi on 19 September 2001 It is with great satisfaction that I acknowledge the establishment of a Children's Meeting Place at the United Nations in Nairobi, Kenya. With the UN Environment Programme and Habitat headquartered at Gigiri, it is hard to conceive of a better location. As children, your rightfully expect us to leave behind an inhabitable planet with opportunities for prosperity and well-being. Equally important, children and youth form a majority of the world population and you deserve respect and protection today. The United Nations is our common ground for improving your human rights, your prospects for peace and development, as well as your access to a clean environment. Children belong at the United Nations. Locating a Children's Meeting Place at Gigiri, Nairobi, has yet another advantage. Africa is a region with well established nations but relatively young states. Africa is a continent with old traditions but a low average age of its citizenry. Africa is indeed an excellent part of the planet in which to establish a place for children to meet and share thoughts and visions for a good life. I congratulate the children of Kenya and of the world to this new meeting place. May you find here a sustainable source of inspiration and solidarity. Kjell Larsson The Royal Palace, September 21, 2001 I want to congratulate all children to the creation of The Children's Meeting Place and I wish you all the very best for the future. Silvia
The future is in your hands. We must all fight for Peace, for a Good Life for All and for a clean Earth. Water is Life. Remember that you can make a difference between a good and a bad future.
Dear Children meeting under a local tree in Nairobi Warm greetings from Stockholm, the capital city of the Kingdom of Sweden, and the young and the old, from everyone believing in the spirit of the Globetree, protecting the environment, working for human understanding, peace and good behaviour. Best wishes
I would like to send you a warm greeting from Sweden and the city of Malmö, and hope that you all will have a nice time at the meeting place and make a lot of new friends. And I'm sure you will, because friendship is what it's all about. Sincerely, Illmar Reepaly,
Greetings, Africa is the ancestral home of all people. When I look down upon your continent from space, and when I have travelled there, I have felt at home. Now, something new and wonderful is happening once again in your land. With the creation of the Children's Meeting Place at the United Nations ground in Nairobi, Kenya, you are beginning a new phase to involve the children of the world in the affairs of the world. We adults need to always listen to you. You must be a part of all plans for the future because you ARE the future of humankind. I send you my warmest personal greetings and best wishes as you establish and dedicate this Meeting Place. With sincere best wishes, Loren W.
Acton,
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