P E A C E
C H I L D for Rio+20
[The following is designed as a framework script from which to build / improvise a final script with each cast member building their own character, giving them their name etc. Also – let’s keep very up to date with the developments, so that, if anything new comes up politically, or in the Rio+20 process, we can include it. It is designed for a 90-minute time-slot: what I have written here will take just over an hour – so there is plenty of room for the audience participation and, I would request, some questions/comments at the end. Also, there is space for new songs – if a cast member wants to include on – or drop one of the Peace Child ones. Teaching and doing Peace in the Heart at the end takes about 20-mins. – which would take the event up to about 2-hours. I have planned for a cast of 11 + a piano player. That’s two singers (one male, one female), 8 young actor / dancer / singers and an older person as the Story Teller. The singers need to be in the tenor/baritone / mezzosoprano range.]
1-hour Interrogative Script as performed by Michael Gentle and his Central School Players at UNESCO’s World Youth Forum, Monday October 17th 2011 in front of an international audience – who eagerly joined in. Pre-Show welcome – from the Director of the Show:
Scene ONE: Welcome to the Year 2056 Silence - Bare stage with a video screen at the back against a black backdrop. The screen shows the words of the songs that the audience are invited to sing – and also records the audience interventions + graphics of the situations that the characters go to as required. The show starts in silence. A spotlight splits the darkness picking out the figure of the female singer downstage Right who comes forward and sings: come out and sings: She is joined, down stage Left, by the Male singer: Girl: Boy: Girl: Boy:
Come Come Come I’ll
Girl:
As I go through my years with many thousand tears I never see my guiding light The clouds in front of me won't ever let me see I've grown so weary of the night
Boy:
I've tried so many timeMC / STo read between the lines But the words keep turning round And a thousand fears keep ringing in my ears And I'm so weary of the sound -
Girl & Boy:
So give me Peace Enough, Peace Enough, Peace Enough!
into my joy! into my pain! – you be a friend of mine! be the same! (repeat x 2)
So give me peace enough, for peace of mind Everything's coming up sunshine! (x2) Come into my joy. Come into my pain. Come you'll be a friend of mine I'll be the same X2
Audience
(Majestic) PEACE DAY, PEACE DAY WE ALL SAY HAPPY WORLD. HAPPY DAY….
The MC / ST gets up from the audience – and comes on stage, stopping the music:
MC / ST
No – No: this simply is not good enough. If you want to be a part of a Peace Child show – you need to sing. SING!!! OK?? – On yer feet! Start again!
Audience
(Majestic) PEACE DAY, PEACE DAY WE ALL SAY HAPPY WORLD. HAPPY DAY WEAR A LEAF AND SHOW THE WAY CELEBRATING THIS PEACE DAY
Audience
Come into my joy. Come into my pain. Come you'll be a friend of mine I'll be the same X2 Come into my joy. Come into my pain. (Ralentando) Come you'll be a friend of mine. I'll be the same.
MC / ST
Thank you – thank you very much, everyone – and welcome to Peace Day 2056. So – can anyone tell me what time is it?
Everyone consults their watches; Various:
It’s about ten past six…. Yeah! 18.10 – 6.10 – just gone six o’clock….
MC / ST
No – what TIME is it? – what era are we passing through in this journey of Human Development?
Youth 3:
Ah – well, I would say that we’re getting to the end of the beginning of the Environmental Era
Youth 4:
When people have at last learned to live in harmony with nature
Youth 5:
Not in competition with her.
Youth 6:
And the Brown Economy is definitely over.
Youth 7:
Yeah - it now costs over $1000 to fill the tank of one of those old-fashioned smoking car things…
Youth 4:
I don’t know any one who still has one?
MC / ST
But what distinguishes the era we’re now in?
Youth 6:
The last case of AIDS was cured in Russia.
MC / ST
Great!
Youth 7:
And the acreage of Rain Forest grew for another year!
MC / ST
Excellent
Youth 8:
And there is peace, more or less….
MC / ST
You don’t sound very sure - ?
Youth 1:
Well – last year was the first year in history when not one single person was killed in a war as the UN defines it.
MC / ST
So – we’ve asked our audience here tonight to give us their ideas for how the world in 2056 will be – can we have your contributions now please?
The audience sits at the Desks of the UNESCO member states with microphones in front of them; they are now switched on. Youth in the audience raise their hands and push the buttons to speak as invited by the storyteller. The audience claps each intervention and a Recorder types in a summary of what each says which is projected on the screen. The MC / ST makes approving comments as each one comes up. (allow this to run for 5 mins.) MC / ST
So –(hopefully!) – that’s all fairly positive! Thank you very much. But it wasn’t like that back in 2011 when our story starts. I think this audience has a pretty good idea about that time: look, they’ve even dressed up in costumes from that period. Very
clever of you! Thank you – so now we’re going to take you back to the World of 2012 – so you can see how far we’ve come in our lifetimes….
Scene TWO: Back to the World of 2011 Music starts – the two singers come forward: Boy
World – Look at Look at Life! – Look at Look at
Girl
Gone, gone are all those lovely days Gone are all the peaceful ways All that’s left is old and grey And our world is fading Our world is dying – today!
Boy Girl Boy Girl
Can’t you see the tide is changing? Don’t you know that truth is fading? People coming out from under Slowly rising to the thunder
Boy & Girl Boy & Girl Boy & Girl Boy & Girl
Listen to the shouting people Broken churches, broken steeple There’s no one for them to follow Every one’s a God tomorrow
Boy Girl Boy Boy & Girl
Can’t you see the world is dying? Repentant people all are crying Law and order has been drowned Chaos rules and has been crowned!
Audience
World – Look at Look at Life! – Look at Look at
look at the way we are the things we do the words we say look at the way we live the love we had the things we’ve made
look at the way we are the things we do the games we play look at the way we live the things we build the love we’ve killed
Gone, gone are all those lovely days Gone are all the peaceful ways (Diminuendo) All that’s left is old and grey (Diminuendo / ralentando) And our world is fading (Softly) Our world is dying – today!
MC / ST
Very good! – yes, give yourselves a round of applause! We might make a choir out of you yet. But – now we’re back in the dark days of the early part of this century. Looking round – what are the problems we see?
Youth 1:
Population growing by a billion every ten years…
MC / ST
True – what else?
Youth 2:
Peak oil production passed – and peak coal, gas – and peak everything not far behind!
MC / ST
Yes!
Youth 3:
AIDS and other diseases raging – causing over 100m preventable deaths every year;
MC / ST
What else? – let’s hear from our audience: what do you think are the main problems of the Year 2011??
The same process is repeated with different audience members being invited to speak by the storyteller – and the problems being written up on the screen by the Recorder;
MC / ST
OK, OK – enough of the problems, already!!
Scene THREE: Get Angry!! MC / ST
I had to live with them. You didn’t! So – how does it make you feel?? Happy?! – no! Sad? – what else? (Hoping some one will say – “Angry!”) – Yes? Angry! It did! It made some of us very, very angry. So we took Action! It was coming up to the 20th Anniversary of the Rio Earth Summit agreements – and the governments had done very little, so we stopped the traffic on every major motorway in the world. Total, globally connected action! You know how you do that? You need 4 cars and 100+ kids for each motorway: one km. before an agreed bridge or intersection, the 4 cars spread across all the lanes of the motorway, put on their flashers, and slow down to a halt by the bridge. And then the kids come and sit down on the motorway and wait for the carefully briefed Media to show up!
Youth’s 1 to 6, sit down on stage holding up banners saying things like: “Stop burning our future!” “Electric cars now!” “Use Public Transport!” etc. Youths 7 & 8 + the singers, come on dressed as pressmen, singing: It's a story! – we really gotta story! Unusual story! – Definitely front page news! Press (individually – sing) - Who are you ? - Where you from ? - Were you paid ? - Who's the gang ? - Where’s the power ? - What's the name ? - Are you friends ? Press (together – sing) - What's the game ? - What's the game ? - What's the game ? Youth 7 (pushing through)
Outta my way, guys! That’s a great photo!
He elaborately sets up a camera and takes a photograph. Press (together – sing) The Photograph, the Photograph We've got to have the Photograph! The photo! The Photo! We gotta have the photo! Press
It's a story! – we really gotta story! Headline story! – Definitely front page news!
The Press cross their legs, and mime typing up the story(singing) A-tic-a-tac-a-shoo-ee! A-tic-a-tac-a-shoo-ee! A-tic-a-tac-a-tic-a-tac-a-tic-a-tac-a-shoo-ee! A-tic-a-tac-a-shoo-ee! A-tic-a-tac-a-shoo-ee! A-tic-a-tac-a-tic-a-tac-a-tic-a-tac-a-shoo-ee! The Press rip the story out of their printers and rush down the aisles, selling their newspapers Extra, extra, read all about it! Headlines Headlines no doubt about it! Extra, extra - read all about it! Headlines, Headlines - take it home and shout it!
Youth 1 comes on with a Policeman’s helmet and observes the sitting youth. They fold their banners and face the Policeman: Policeman What kind of stoopid media stunt was that then?
Youth 2:
Not that stupid! It got four front pages – and was lead on several national news channels
Policeman I don’t care about any of that! I’ve got to arrest you for causing major disruption of traffic…. Youth 3:
Shouldn’t we arrest you for representing laws that threaten the disruption of the planet through Climate Change?
Youth 4:
And look! (reading a note) This disruption has gotten us a meeting! The Head of a Major Tar Sands Mining company wants to show us how green his company has become!
Youth 2:
You’re joking!!
Youth 3:
Dream on….!
Youth 4:
It’s what he says
Youth 2:
He has to be crazy!!!
Policeman I’ve still got to arrest you for…. Youth 4:
You’ll have to catch us first!
Youth 2-4 take off down the aisles pursued by Youth 1(Policeman). Youths 5-6 set up the Desk and chairs on the stage for the Tar Sands Mining Company President scene: they also pull on suit jackets to become the President and Politician; Youths 1-4 come back and shake hands with them. Youths 7-8, as Pressmen, step forward to take the photograph and introduce the scene: Youth 7-8: The photo! The Photo! We gotta have the photo! They pose – shaking hands. Youth 7: Youth 8: Youth 7: Youth 8: Youth 7: Youth 8:
Front Page! Build it high! Print it bold! Reach the sky! Make 'em shout! Make 'em cry!
Youth 7-8: Youth confront the Tar Sands Industry!
Scene FOUR: Green Oil from Tar Sands The Company President sits in a large chair behind his desk with his Politician friend sitting alongside him. Two of the Youth sit on chairs – two stand behind them, with the Press hovering either side. The Politician opens the scene in a conciliatory tone Youth 5 (Politician): Thank you all for coming to see us! I’m mighty pleased to have the chance to show you green horn fanatics what’s really going on up here. Youth 1
Which is?
Politician
Which is the engine that drives our nation’s economy: which pays for your schooling, protects your forests, keeps your lights on, your discos dancing – and the wheels of industry and trade turning….
Youth 2
- and creates enough pollution and climate change to pretty much ensure our future – and all future generation’s future – is destroyed forever.
Youth 6 (Company President): Well, that’s where you’re so wrong, sonny boy! Youth 2
I’m not your son…
Company President: Our pollution count is down almost 50% in the last ten years. Water consumption per barrel of oil extracted is down 38% - forest re-habilitation up 70%.
You guys like to demonise the Tar Sands industry but, as our politicians know – whatever their party – this industry is what is making our nation prosperous today! Politician
Hell – the US Government is so proud of us, they want to build a pipeline across their entire country to bring our oil to their refineries. That’s how confident they are we can produce Green Oil from the Tar Sands.
Youth 3
Green Oil from the Tar Sands? Are you mad?! You guys have devastated an area the size of France to produce the most expensive oil the world has ever seen! You are only selling it now because there is so little left, the price has risen sufficiently that the government doesn’t have to subsidise it so much….
President
We don’t get subsidies – a few tax breaks, maybe….
Youth 4
We didn’t come here to argue: we came here to ask you to become part of the solution. Whatever you do – your Tar Sands oil is going to run out one day.
Youth 1:
All fossil fuels will: they are a finite resource.
Youth 3:
We want you to start lobbying with us, in the Parliament, for that transition – away from the Brown Economy to the Green Economy –
Youth 2:
- and shift your business into non-carbon, renewable energy operations.
President
A few windmills pissing in the wind!? You’re kidding me, right? I can make more money out of one day’s tar sands mining than a whole year of putting up windmills.
Youth 4:
I don’t think that’s true: the Danish and German wind industries have consistently been posting higher returns on investment than comparable coal companies.
President
I’m not German or Danish: with the tax system we have in this great country – I can make more money mining oil than covering the scenery with hideous windmills.
Youth 1:
Mr Congressman: why is that? Why do your tax laws make it more profitable to mine coal which is leading directly to global warming – than to invest in renewables.
Congressman: I’d have to take advice on that. Youth 1:
You mean you don’t know?!
Congressman: I mean I’d have to take advice to get you the correct answer. Youth 4:
Jeez! – these bozos don’t even know what they’re doing!
Congressman: (standing up) We do know exactly what we’re doing: this Corporation has brought prosperity and jobs to thousands of people in this County. It’s you who don’t have a clue what you’re doing with your stupid, dumb protests? A few headlines about a ‘Green Economy’! Green Bull Shit’s what I’d say. President
Get real kids – you’ve got lives to lead, families to bring up. You need to get out of your jeans, wash your hair and get yourselves jobs!
Youth 1
We are real, sir! Burning oil and coal is causing climate change. You see the arctic ice cap shrinking, the glaciers retreating…
Youth 2
To stop that, we have to start investing huge sums in the Green Economy – Concentrated Solar Power, geo-thermal, 4th and 5th generation algae biofuels.
Youth 3
We’re here to ask you, as nicely as possible: “Please don’t destroy our lives: transition to a Green Economy NOW!”
President
How you gonna make me?!
Youth 1
Green Taxes: getting the government to raise taxes on fossil fuels and subsidise the transition to green energy…
President
But he’s the lawmaker – and he’s saying No.
Youth 4
Only because you’re paying his election expenses!
Politician: That’s LIBELLOUS!!! Chuck’s contributions are all legal and above board! The people of this great state elect me because I look after their interests not the wild-eyed campaigns of a bunch of green loonies! Youth 2
That’s right – that’s right! You have all of the power and all of the money – and, instead of using it wisely to protect the future, you are destroying it? What you gonna do – when you’ve made all the money in the world, and millions are dying from starvation and coastal flooding? Will your electors feel good about that?
Youth 3:
Let’s try this another way - [Music – they sing]
Youth:
Where you gonna run to, Superman?! Where you gonna hide, where will be your land? What you gonna say now, Superman?! Who’ll be the fool in your masterplan? What you gonna do now, Superman?! What have you done to God’s promised land? What have you done with this beautiful world? Where is your guiding star? What have you done with this God-given Grace? Who do you think you are? Yes – who do you think you are? Where you gonna run to, Superman?! Where you gonna hide? Where will be your land? We’ll wake up one morning and the world will be gone With all of our beautiful dreams We had so many chances but we threw them away And now we’ve sold our souls to the Devil’s cause How did we lose control? And how we gonna pay the toll? What you gonna say now, Superman?! Who’ll be the fool in your masterplan? What you gonna do now, Superman?! What have you done to God’s promised land? Where you gonna run to… - Superman?!
Youth 2:
You see, sir – Green Oil from the Tar Sands is never going to fly! Even if oil does last another 50 years, by the end of that time, it will become so expensive, it will be impossible to run our current economy. The Green Economy will create millions of jobs – will conserve the fisheries, improve agriculture, enrich communities, help eradicate poverty. And you can be a pioneer of that Green Economy – and be a hero.
Youth 1:
Not a dinosaur…
President
And how exactly do I change from dinosaur to hero?
Youth 2:
Come to the Parliament, sit down with the Energy Committee and work out a tax and subsidy regime that makes it more profitable to invest in the green economy than in the old, brown polluting economy.
President
You mean I should ask our Politicians to impose taxes on my industry that will cost us billions and double the electricity bills of everyone who might vote for them?!
Youth 3:
Yes sir! That’s precisely what we want you to do!
President
You’re Mad!
Youth 3:
No. Extremely sane. If you’d said, a century ago, we’re not going to invest in roads and cars – because Railways are what we’ve always done, you’d be bankrupt now. Same with energy: smart people are already investing in renewables – building
windmills, investing in solar voltaics. That’s where the profits are going to be made this century. Coal is a dinosaur! Youth 4:
Do you have children, sir?
President
I have two fine boys who are shaping up well to take over the business! And I have a baby daughter. Flossie! Ah, Flossie – she’ll be the death of me!
Youth 1:
No, sir! You’ll be the death of Flossie unless you change what you’re doing here.
Youth 4:
It’s starting already – people being driven off their islands because of rising sea levels; pretty soon, low-lying countries like Bangladesh are going to be uninhabitable.
Youth 3:
Instead of being the bad guy in all this – demonized and vilified in the press all over the world – you’d be a Hero, leading the way to a bright, sustainable future!
Youth 2:
Clean, sustainable energy – warming the homes of our nation for generations.
Youth 1:
Bringing us prosperity we can live with – not profits that will kill us all.
Youth 4:
That’s a dream worth investing in, isn’t it?!
Youth 3:
Come on, sir. You can do it!
President
(whispers) I can’t! (getting a grip) I see where you’re coming from, believe me, I do. But I can’t help you! I know my share-holders – the big ones anyway: they’ll think I’ve gone soft in the head if I start talking to them about this climate change bullshit and renewables. They want me to produce Green Oil from Tar Sands – and that’s what I’m going to do!
Youth 3:
So that’s it? The end – no further discussion?
President
Correct!
Youth 4:
And what if we refuse to go?!
President
My security will come and remove you. And you can sit outside our gates for a thousand years and nothing will change.
Youth 1:
Except the planet, sir! Except the planet.
Youth 2:
Look into your daughter’s eyes when you get home tonight – and tell me tomorrow, you made the wrong decision.
He laughs and Exits. Lights fade on the President’s office behind them and his desk and chair are moved off behind him. The Press pair come forward downstage, eager for the story: Press
Have you gotta story? – We bet you gotta story! Front Page story! – definitely headline news!
Youth 1:
Sorry guys – no story!
Press
(Aghast!) – No story – what’s the deal? What’s the news?
Youth 2:
No deal!
Youth 3:
No news. The guy said no. End of story!
Press
You’re not … giving up?!
Youth 2:
We may have to: we’re stuck in a system that forces him to do what he knows to be wrong.
Youth 4:
We have to change the system –
Youth 1:
But – where do we start??
Youth 2:
Jeez! – we’re talking revolution here…
Youth 3:
No guys, face it! We failed – it’s over. Time to go home and get down to work for thos
exams…. Youth 1:
Really - ?
Youth 3:
Really
Scene FIVE: Giving Up? MC / ST:
(to the audience) – Really?? What do you think should happen now. Our team up on stage here has hit a real road block: a system that every one knows needs to be changed – but are incapable of changing it. Any ideas? (waits – silence, probably!) – No ideas? – OK, well we can stop the play here and all go have dinner. Is that what you want to do?
Youth 1:
Come on guys, help us out here!
Youth 2:
We hear you are some of the brightest, most effective young leaders in the world!
Youth 3:
You must have some ideas on what we should do next?
The ideas start coming – through the cajoling and pestering of the actors. PCI plants will come up with some if no one else does – but they will. The MC / ST makes approving noises especially if some of them come up with ideas that confirm with the solutions of the show. MC / ST:
Well – thank you for all those! I guess you want us to continue, right??
Audience YES! MC / ST:
You don’t want us to give up and go have dinner?
Audience NO!! Youth 1:
Too right! Human beings always get themselves out of the worst situations.
Youth 3:
Why?
Youth 2:
Because we are Creatures of Invention!!
Music – the whole cast come forward and sing: Cast:
Make a wheel, then spinning it round It may carry the world Make a fire – yes building it high till It burns to the ground Make a blade and call it a spade To dig through the earth Creatures of Invention – yes we are Man! Heading for destruction with our own hands Nothing can stop us We’ll make our own star dust Nothing can stop us… So spin that wheel, faster and faster It will carry us far Stoke up that fire, yes higher and higher Till it burns to the sky Make a bow, put in an arrow Let it fly through the world Heading for destruction with our own hands Plenty of money, more milk and more honey Who needs to work? But what of the spade, digging so hard? What’s left but soil and the earth? We are Creatures of Invention – yes we are Man! Heading for destruction with our own hands The wheels are all turning
The fires are all burning We’re living for learning Learning, learning, learning….
Scene SIX (1): World Tour - China MC / ST:
Learning – yes! That was the key: we needed to know what was going on in every part of the world. For if we are to find a global solution, we needed to learn what’s happening everywhere in our world – and, especially, what the young people of different regions are thinking. Because we were something of celebrities – we found it easy to raise money – and, where do you think we went first?
Youth 1:
China!! – home to the fastest growing economy the world has ever seen, and home to most of my ancestors, all of whom were delighted to see me home and show off to my friends the wonderful things that China is doing to build a green economy….
Music: evoking the atmosphere of China – busy, resourceful, exotic: Youth 2:
It looks just like Manhattan – only cleaner!
Youth 3:
And check out the motor scooters: are they electric!?
Youth 1:
Sure – we’ve been running electric motor scooters for twenty years now: I cannot understand why they have not caught on in the west?
Youth 4:
We like the deep-throated roar of the Harley-Davidson or the Ducatti!
Youth 5(now dressed as a Chinese Businessman): We’d like to show you new Chinese Eco-City. Youth 6(now dressed as a Chinese Businessman): Totally zero-carbon. China believes deeply in green economy – we are building cheapest solar voltaic sheets and wind turbines in the world, ChinBiz1: We have very good feed-in tariffs, making green electricity attractive to consumers. Youth 3:
So – why are you opening a new brown coal power station every week?
ChinBiz1: It’s every ten days now – and it will get less ChinBiz2:
- but a green economy must continue the work to eradicate poverty. And we have many millions poor people in West of China!
Youth 2:
Is that why you stopped agreement in Copenhagen on a climate change deal?
ChinBiz2: I don’t know what you mean? Youth 3:
Reports from Copenhagen said that every other country wanted to do a deal on carbon emissions, but China prevented it.
ChinBiz1: We don’t know – but we do know Western Press loves to hate China! ChinBiz2: So you look at our Eco-city: you judge for yourself. ChinBiz1: One day – we have a million cities – zero-carbon like this one. Youth 4:
With vertical farms on every corner.
Youth 3:
Sweet!
Youth 7(now dressed in an Arab Dish-dash): Our’s is better! – More Cool! Youth 1:
Where are you from?
Youth 8(now dressed in an Arab Dish-dash): Abu Dhabi: we have Masdar – most advanced, zero carbon ecocity in the World. Arab1:
Come see! We have seats on our plane going back tonight…
Arab2:
Really! You will not believe your eyes –
Cast:
OK
Scene SIX (2): World Tour – The Gulf Music: evokes the atmosphere of a modern, Arab Gulf State – some Arabian nights mixed with high techno flare… Arab1:
We know oil is running out – and we know we are rich in solar as in oil and gas…
Arab2:
But solar is sustainable, where oil is not. So – we build Masdar
Arab1:
And new economy based on learning, finance, industry, trade
Arab2:
Less than 20% of Abu Dhabi’s economy is based on oil revenue now.
Arab1:
In Dubai, it is less than 5%.
Arab2:
So – we are building the Post-carbon Gulf State Economies right here.
Youth 1:
Impressive.
Youth 2:
But – I don’t see any farms?
Youth 3:
Where do you get your food?
Arab1:
We have some air-conditioned farms for cattle and chickens and some greenhouse market gardens – but most of our food is imported.
Arab2:
We have a scheme now to buy up land in the poorest parts of Africa and train the local people to produce food for us – and for themselves.
Arab 1:
A win-win situation, no?
Youth 2:
So – when do you expect to go totally zero carbon here in the Gulf?
Arab 1:
We reckon we will have marketable supplies for another 30 years; Saudi perhaps a few years longer. So – we intend to have zero carbon energy infrastructure in place by 2040 to 2050.
Arab 2:
Are you guys going to the Big Summit in Rio de Janeiro about sustainability?
Youth 3:
We’d heard about it – but hadn’t thought of going…
Arab 1:
Come with us –
Arab 2:
- and stop off and see our farms in Africa on the way!
Cast:
OK!
Scene SIX (3): World Tour - Africa Music – the African drums indicate a change of scene. Youths 7 & 8 (??) come on dressed as African farmers. Youth 7 greets the Arabs warmly; Youth 8 hangs back from them and greets the other Youth with extravagant warmth. Youth 7(dressed as African farmer): My friends! Welcome to Africa! Arab 1:
How is everything?
African 1: Very good – my family very well! The Health Clinic you made is wonderful. We have had no child deaths at all so far this year – praise the lord! Arab 2:
Allah al Akhbar! Yes – and the families are all being well fed.
African 1: Better than ever, sir! – and we have only you to thank for that…. Youth 1:
Our friend here does not seem so convinced?
African 2: No – it is good. No doubt we are living better than we did before. But now – again – we are slaves to a foreign master. African 1: Ach! – No – he is joking, sir, Joking! African 2: No I’m not: this land belongs to me – to my father and all my ancestors stretching back
thousands of years. Just because these people have money does not mean that they should be allowed to own it. The land is the only thing we Africans have: often it is not very good land – but it is our’s. We should not sell it for money…. Arab 1:
But we gave you good price –
African 2: My land has no Price! It is not a commodity – it is part of my soul! You cannot buy my soul… Youth 4:
He’s right – in a way. At this Summit in Rio, his views need to be heard, don’t you think?
Cast:
Yes!
Arab 2:
So – let’s take our new friends along: we can continue this discussion on the plane and perhaps reach a compromise agreement before we get to Rio.
Scene SEVEN: Rio 2012 Music – the Bossa Nova rhythms, and a big picture of the Rio bay set the scene in Rio. Youth 1:
Wow! – What a city!
Youth 2:
No wonder they got the Olympic games AND the World Cup!
Youth 3:
I wonder how they’re doing on the green economy?
Youth 4:
Well the Brazilians have been making ethanol out of sugar cane for decades…
Arab 1:
Most of their cars run on it!
Arab 2:
And they have huge hydroelectric programmes in the interior.
African 1: But they are still clear cutting the rain forest – like us in Africa? African 2: I think they are trying to introduce controls but, as we found out, laws on paper are one thing: laws obeyed and policed on the ground are quite another… Youth 1:
So – what’s the plan?
Youth 2:
Well – a Brazilian Youth Council is hosting a Model Earth Summit – to which we are all invited!
Cast:
Great!
MC / ST: (to the audience) How many of you have done Model UNs? – great! So – this is like that, only on the Rio+20 Summit issues – the Green Economy and institutional infrastructures… Youth 3:
Let me guess! – we’re going to have FOUR committees - ?
Youth 2:
Right – which are…??
Youth 4:
Energy and Climate Change?
Youth 2:
One!
Youth 1:
Training and Education for the Green Economy!
Youth 2:
TWO
Youth 3:
Financing and pricing mechanisms –
Youth 4:
To ensure the total elimination of poverty through a global welfare safety net.
ALL
THREE
Youth 2:
Good. OK - Four? – what are we missing – what’s the thing that only youth seem to think about in relation to sustainability and governments and the UN never do? (He points his hand as if to shoot him! The penny drops!)
Youth 4:
Ah! - Peace and De-militarisation?
Youth 2:
Right!
ALL
FOUR!
Youth 1:
Great!! – so how long have we got?!
Youth 2:
The other youth arrive tonight – and the Governments come in on Sunday night. So we have three days max –
Youth 3:
- Plenty of time!
Youth 4:
To save the world? No problem!
Youth 2:
Great – so let’s get to it!
The lights change; the MC / ST comes forward alone, and narrates: MC / ST
The young people had their decision by the middle of the second day. The governments still didn’t have their’s by the time the Summit was due to close on the evening of the fourth day. They worked through the night – and, in the morning, some tired politicians delivered their ‘Focussed Political Statement’ to a waiting world.
Scene EIGHT: Reality Sucks Lights change - Luke enters reading followed by the Cast – in shock.
Story-teller EXIT
Youth 1:
(reading) Nothing – I mean absolutely NOTHING!
Youth 2:
Nothing about removing fossil fuel subsidies and green taxes?
Youth 1:
(Scanning through the pages) General statements: no firm commitments.
Youth 3:
Nothing about Peace and de-militarisation?
Youth 1:
Not a word!
Youth 4:
Commitments to poverty eradication?
Youth 1:
Yes, of course – but only words. No firm actions!
Youth 5:
Tobin Tax?
Youth 1:
Nothing!
Youth 6:
So – who was the spoiler?
Youth 1: Youth 2:
No one in particular: just general lack of interest. Only 14 heads of state turned up – like the other 179 all had better things to do than to save the planet… It sucks, doesn’t it?
Youth 1:
Wait! – so what do you plan to do? Go back to school and let all this drop?!
Youth 3:
What else can we do?
Youth 2:
We made our point – they ignored it.
Youth 1:
End of Story.
Youth 4:
No way! Start of story. How can you stand to go back to schools which you KNOW are not teaching you the skills you need to navigate the next fifty years?
Youth 5:
Good point! Any Youth going through school today is likely to emerge with a far better idea of how to deal with the challenges of the last 200 years than how to deal with the challenges of the next fifty!
Youth 6:
But it’s governments – governments! – that dictate the curriculum. Young people have to learn what we’re told to learn. We have no choice in the matter.
Youth 2:
Of course! We do! We can just say “No!”
Youth 3:
You mean – not co-operate? Withdraw our participation?
Youth 1:
A school strike!
Youth 5:
– and not just school: we withdraw our purchasing power from every store, every cinema, every economic activity thrown at us. We just say: “No! What’s the point – if you’re intent on murdering our future, we’re not going to play any part in your present!”
All
Cool!
Youth 1:
Would you guys join a school strike?
Youth 2:
‘Course they would – time off school, it’s a no brainer!
Youth 3:
But that’s exactly NOT the point: the point is that while we are off their school, we all take the time to learn about what really matters:
Youth 2:
How to build the Green Economy
Youth 5:
Create Green Jobs for all
Youth 6:
Avoid catastrophic climate change
Youth 3:
- and the rest of it. It’s a brilliant idea!
Youth 4:
And, if we take the time to go over our Model Earth Summit agreements –
Youth 3
- and do a little more research -
Youth 4:
We can come up with a Brilliant Comprehensive Action Plan!
Youth 5:
And circulate it to the Youth of the World!
Youth 3:
Exactly! We’re the Internet Generation!!
Youth 6:
We’re Connected!!
Youth 1:
A Global Nation of Youth! – (to the Audience) Are you with us?
Audience Yes! Youth 1:
Are you with us!
Audience YES!! Youth 1:
One more time!
Audience: YESSS!!! Cast:
Let’s Do it! BLACK OUT
Scene NINE: Kids on Strike Spotlight comes up centre stage – on Youth 4 – staring eagerly into a laptop computer. The rest of the cast gather round. Youth 1:
So how’s it going?
Youth 2:
How many have we got?
Youth 4:
Latin America is Huge!
Youth 3:
Why am I not surprised? – they’re all at the beach, right?!
Youth 2:
Not actually: some of the best Green Economy ideas are coming out of Brazil!
Youth 4:
Australia is coming on big – some states in the USA are close to 100% - mostly East Coast – nothing in the South. Texas – zero! Alberta, forget it.
Youth 3:
Europe?
Youth 4:
Some – but very little
Youth 2:
We have to do more?
Youth 5:
But what?!
Youth 4:
Google translate.
All:
What?
Youth 6:
Get the call to action into every European language – and all the Asian languages. Latin America is doing better than any other continent, bar Australia and North America: those are all single language continents.
Youth 2:
Shit – we should have thought about that before…
Youth 3:
No worries: how long’s that going to take?!
Youth 2:
- ‘bout 20 minutes.
All:
Go for it!
Youth 6:
I just got a text from a friend in the Foreign Office: there’s talk of a high-level meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss our Call to Action!
All
Great / Sweet / No kidding! Etc.
Youth 1:
Back to the UN, guys – and this time for Action, not words!
Youth 2:
- and the Americans said “Keep pushing…”
Youth 1:
Too right! We’re going to have to put a bunch of rockets up every government backside on earth to make anything happen this side of next century!
Youth 3:
Why don’t we – ‘make like the Egyptians…’ ? Take over the squares!
Youth 4:
Tahrir Square – ?
Youth 5:
- Time Square!
Youth 6:
Trafalgar Square!
Youth 1:
Tianenmen Square!
Youth 2:
Lafayette Square!
Youth 3:
Where’s that?
Cast:
Washington DC
Youth 2:
Opposite the White House
All
Let’s do it! Kids on Strike! Kids on Strike! (Chanting – they process down the aisles and stand, urging the audience to join in their chant) Kids on Strike! – Kids on Strike! What do we want? CHANGE! – when do we want it? NOW! Etc.
(Their chant drops to a whisper - and BLACK-OUT; Spotlight picks out the Story-teller) MC / ST
The strike spread all over the world – millions upon millions of children and young people – and their parents and grand-parents! – took over city squares, recognising that the moment had come to change: to end human addiction to oil and begin to build for a future without it. Several governments and corporations realised this too in private, but they were too scared to say anything in public. So the strike continued – and society struggled with a youth population that refused to play by their rules….
The chorus comes back to the stage, their chant rising in volume and speeding up: “What do we want?! – CHANGE! When do we want it?! – NOW!” Faster and Faster – until they are just saying “CHANGE! NOW! CHANGE! NOW!” Suddenly, they stop – music! Youths 7 & 8 + the singers, come on again dressed as pressmen, singing:
Youths 7 & 8 It's a story! We really gotta story! Headline Story, definitely front page news They then sit on chairs appearing to type while singing:
A-tic-a-tac-a-shoo-ee! A-tic-a-tac-a-shoo-ee! A-tic-a-tac-a-tic-a-tac-a-tic-a-tac-a-shoo-ee! A-tic-a-tac-a-shoo-ee! A-tic-a-tac-a-shoo-ee! A-tic-a-tac-a-tic-a-tac-a-tic-a-tac-a-shoo-ee! One of the singers, also dressed as Press, comes in – and hands Youth 7 a paper: Youth 7:
(Very excited!!) Ab! – Ab! – EEK!!! – you’re not going to believe this: (reading) “The Governments of the People’s Republic of China, Brazil and the United States of America have ordered a full meeting of the United Nations Security Council to allow the leaders of the School Strike to present their Call to Action for the Green Economy!!”
The young people shout and cheer and clap and holler. The Press stand – stunned! Youths 7 & 8: Incredible!!! Youths 7 & 8 + singers - sing:
It's a story! A HUGE – ENORMOUS! - story! Headline Story, definitely front page news Newsnight satellite, print it right, Broad side, nationwide, any side! Front page, centre-fold, get it sold! Extra, extra, read all about it! Headlines Headlines no doubt about it! Extra, extra - read all about it! Headlines, Headlines - take it home and shout it! Front Page! Build it high! Print it bold! Reach the sky! Make 'em shout! Make 'em cry! Youth go meet the leaders of the World!!
Scene TEN: The Horseshoe Table Lights change – the Big UN symbol appears on the screen at the back of the stage. Youths 1-4 come on as themselves; Youths 5-8 and the MC / ST pull on dark suit jackets – to attend as the diplomats. They come in and sit around a horseshoe table designed to represent the UN Security Council Chamber. The Secretary General sits at the apex of the table and raps his gavel: SG
Good morning everyone. We are gathered here to listen to the ideas of young people of our world – who, as we have seen, have added a welcome element of urgency in our task of building a Green Economy I am pleased to declare this Special Session of the UN Security Council Open! Before we hear from the young people, I invite the distinguished representative of the Government of Brasil, who called this meeting, to address us:
Diplo 1:
My government’s reasons for calling this meeting were both pragmatic: (this was the only way that our Young People would agree to go back to school!) – and idealistic: we have read the young people’s Call to Action for the Green Economy and, though naïve in parts, it is a considerably better document than the one we were able to agree at the recent Summit in Rio. So – please welcome these young people representing the collective future of our people – to this important meeting: (polite applause)
Youth 1:
It is an awesome honour to address your excellencies in this iconic chamber! As we say in the Preamble to our call, humanity stands at a crossroads – one way leads to prosperity, security in the green economy and a courageous decision to change the habits of the last 200 years to ensure we survive the next 200. The other way – well, I believe it would be really naïve for any of us to waste any time this morning to even contemplate the Brown Economy road to human asphyxiation…..
Youth 2:
We called the world’s young people out on strike because we wanted them to know WHY we have to appeal to you to start the transition from the Brown to the Green Economy. I think that, because you agreed to meet with us, everybody knows now.
Youth 3:
And we – the young people of the world – are united in this appeal to you. United across national, ethnic, cultural, economic and religious barriers. We urge you to discover the same unity and work with us to make the changes we need
Youth 4:
The United Nations was set up to ‘save succeeding generations from the scourge of war’ – and to secure our human rights, to provide food security, water security, personal security of our persons from violence or harm…
Youth 1:
Our continuing dependence on the Brown Economy threatens every aspect of that ‘Security’ – which is why we call on you to change it! Because if you don’t – I, and most of my friends, don’t want to contemplate bringing children into a world that’s headed the way the Brown Economy is leading it.
Diplo 2:
You mean – you’re giving up on continuing the human race??!!
Youth 3:
You leave us no other rational choice!
Diplo 2:
But your demands transcend the frontiers of reason! Total de-militarisation, nuclear disarmament, global welfare and energy safety net: it’s absurd! And reducing carbon emissions to 350 parts per million??!! – we’re at 390 already!! 450ppm is the lowest anyone around this table is even considering …
Youth 2:
350ppm is the only sure way we can ensure our world survives: look how fast the icecaps and the glaciers are melting at 390?
Youth 1:
450 is a band-aid. You know that. We know that! The only people who don’t know that are those with special interests in the fossil fuel industries – and I would hope you would have the guts to stand up to them, and do the right thing. [music] We love this planet: we want you to start saving it now because, by the time we’re sitting where you are today, it will be too late! Listen….
Singer(1-F)(sings)
All the I think about So many times A way to live
Singer(2-M)
time through the day and through the night my life in this world I've tried to find my life - A way to ease my mind
(sings)
I know this world could die forever And people are the reason why Children and parents, lovers and poets We just can't hear our planet cry!
Youth 1-4: (sing) We want this world to survive forever
And all the people join their hands together In a bond of love, kindness and friendship
We can make peace with the earth
Singer(2-M)
(sings) So many people have died in wars And we want that no one else should suffer - not again We mustn't forget that many are poor And half of our children lack even food!
Singer(1-F) (sings)
We know this world is a wonderful place It's our home - where we live and where we grow! I want to believe that this world can be Peaceful, free - and happy home for all
ALL & Audience
(sing) We want this world to survive forever
And all the people join their hands together In a bond of love kindness and friendship We can make peace with the earth.
Youths 1 & 2: (joining hands with the Secretary General)
Let's join our hands together Let's make Peace throughout our World!
SG
Thank you: I’ve rarely been so moved by a presentation in this chamber. Thank you – and now, excellencies, may I suggest that we go through the Children’s Call to Action line by line – and see where we can find consensus?
Youth 3
(whispers) Why do they keep calling us ‘Children’?!
Diplo 2:
With respect, Secretary General, there are some things we need to get straight before we do that?
SG
‘Point of Information’? – go ahead:
Diplo 2:
Does this meeting today mean that any interest group can use a campaign of civil disobedience to get access to this chamber?
SG
Absolutely not.
Diplo 2:
Good – and having trotted through their naïve little litany of proposals, can we have some kind of guarantee that their campaign will be called off?
SG
The campaign is already called off, as you must know, Excellency: it was called off the minute that this meeting was announced.
Diplo 2:
Good. Just let it be registered that my government regrets profoundly that the United Nations has allowed an interest group to put a gun to our head to force this meeting upon us.
SG
Your regrets are noted, excellency –
Diplo 3:
A further point of information, Chairman: my government has a representative system of local, regional and national youth councils to allow the voice of youth to be heard in government. Are any of the views expressed in this call to action the result of discussion within this representative system? Do they, therefore, have any legitimacy?
SG
Were national youth councils involved in the development of your Call?
Youth 1:
They were certainly consulted, Mr Chairman. But – we find that elected youth officials, like every other elected official, seem more interested in winning their next election than addressing long-term issues like these. I trust that governments here have the longterm interests of future generations in mind this morning: their interests are every bit as legitimate as any youth bureaucrat sitting on a Youth Council.
SG
Exactly. Very well put.
Diplo 3:
Precisely: we now understand that this Call for Action has zero democratic legitimacy and we are only discussing it because we’ve been forced to do so by civil disobedience.
Youth 2
(whispering) Who is that bastard?!
Youth 3:
(whispering) No idea – I sure hope he dies soon….
SG
Your points are noted. This morning is, of course, a general discussion – following which, if excellencies agree, a report will be delivered to the 3rd Committee in the Autumn. If the Committee agrees – a resolution may be drafted for furtherance to the General Assembly at its session next year – and, if carried, will have voluntary, advisory status to member states. Is that an acceptable programme?
Youth 2:
Next year!
SG
Given that there is no particular urgency, I suggest we take a coffee break now – and return to consider the Call in our second session. We resume in ten minutes. Thank you! (he slaps the gavel – and they all EXIT)
The kids remain – looking at each other, amused at the antics but a little shell-shocked Youth 1:
What was that all about??
Youth 2:
Where are the grown-ups?!!
Youth 4:
If these are the people we’re trusting to save the world from climate change – we’re toast!
Youth 1:
“No particular sense of urgency…” Which planet did he come from?
Youth 3:
Come on – he was the one decent fellow amongst them!
Youth 2:
But here – look at this: (going through the papers on one desk) “Instructions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “On No Account allow serious consideration of the Children’s proposals…”
Youth 1:
Bastards! – they never were going to do anything…
Youth 3:
They’re just going through the motions to get us to call off the strike!
Youth 4:
Durgh! Wouldn’t you do that in their position?! We shouldn’t have made any promises about ‘No Pre-conditions’
Youth 1:
They have betrayed us.
Youth 2:
They screwed up in Copenhagen!
Youth 3:
They screwed up again in Rio
Youth 2:
They failed to meet their Kyoto commitments
Youth 1:
- or the MDGs!
Youth 4:
They have let us down every step of the way
Youth 1:
And – they’re going to let us down now!
Youth 2:
We need new governments…. New people to sit in these chairs!
Youth 3:
(grinning mischievously) Well! – Look – that sign says my USA. I know I can do a better job of representing my country than that idiot!
Youth 1:
That sign says China – you know I’m from there….
Slowly, they filter down to the chairs around the horseshoe table. The singers go to the SG’s chair Singers 1 & 2: Can we be your gender-balanced co-chairs? Youth 1:
Great idea! – all those in favour? (- turning to the audience) – this means you too! All of you are now caught up in this, you naughty children!! Sorry! – but are you OK with that? – if not, I suggest you leave the room now! (All raise their hands)
Singer 1:
(slapping the gavel) We call this meeting of the Young People’s UN Security Council to order!
Singer 2:
First motion, please!
Youth 1:
I move we agree our Climate Change target of 350ppm and the $43 Trillion dollar Investment Fund for the immediate transition to a Green Economy. Do I have a seconder?
Youth 2:
I second that on behalf of Future Generations!
Singer 1:
All those in favour? Come on – raise those hands!
All raise their hands. The Singer slaps the gavel: Singer 2:
Agreed! Unanimously!! Next - ?
Youth 3:
I move our Sustainability Education bill – to “Re-orient Education towards sustainability!”
Youth 1:
“That every Youth is instructed in the science of sustainability from the day they enter primary school to the day they graduate university and that they be assessed for their competence in this subject as a key requirement of graduation!” I second!
Singer 1:
All those in favour?
All raise their hands. Singer 2 slaps the gavel: Singer 2:
Agreed! Next - ?
Youth 4:
I move our comprehensive Peace, nuclear disarmament and de-militarisation Treaty –
Youth 1:
Remind me…
Youth 2:
The UN Standing Army Police Force designed to police the referendums in Kashmir, Nagorno Karabakh and Western Sahara within 12 months; to secure the South Asian Common Market; to broker the 2-state solution for Israel / Palestine with Jerusalem hosting both capitals; the African Great Lakes Union - the expansion of Mercosur – and the re-distribution of permanent seats on the UN Security Council to the regional blocs.
Youth 3:
It runs to 18-pages: its pretty comprehensive.
Youth 1:
I know – we all supported it. I second…
Singer 1:
All those in favour? (all raise their hands. He smacks down the gavel!) Agreed!
Singer 2:
Next?
Youth 4:
I move our agreement for the Tobin Tax which gives the UN authority to raise and spend direct taxes to create a global welfare and energy safety net. A seconder please?
Youth 3:
Me!!
Singer 2:
All those in favour? (all raise their hands; the gavel smacks down!) Agreed!
Singer 1:
Next - ?
Youth 1:
What else? – we’re running out of time here –
Singer 1:
Let’s ask the audience:- if you had 15-minutes in a coffee break at the UN Security Council to change the world, what resolutions would you want passed?
Youth 2:
We collected a few on the way in – Try this:
Cast members read out some resolutions collected from audience members ahead of the show. They select the best of them, appeal for a seconder from the audience, and put them to the vote – quickly, without much discussion. The Recorder types up each motion on the screen as they are passed. The Co-chairs chivvy them along. Singer 1:
Quickly, guys! They will be back in a moment….
Youth 4:
Wait! – I have one more: we have to do this one: (reads it out) – Do I have a seconder? (one is found in the audience!) Great – thank you! I so move….
Singer 2:
All those in favour? (all raise their hands) Agreed (He slaps the gavel as the Diplomats come in, led by the Secretary-General. They stop, astonished at the young people occupying their chairs at the Summit table.)
SG
What the - ? What’s going on here??!!
Youth 1:
We decided we’d help things along a bit –
Youth 3:
- get done in the coffee break what might take you guys 40 years to do!
Youth 2:
By which time, you’ll be dead and the world will be fried!
Diplo 3:
This is outrageous – they’ve been looking through our confidential briefings!
Youth 4:
Yeah! – embarrassing isn’t it: to know you planned to agree absolutely nothing!
Diplo 1:
Get these kids outta here! Call Security!!
Youth 3:
No – we should call security: you are the ones destroying the world we want to live the rest of our lives on…
Diplo 2:
Mr Secretary General: you must agree! This is a most shocking breach of UN security – you must allow us to eject these Children immediately.
Youth 3:
No wait! You were Children once. You looked forward to lives filled with happiness, love and security! Some lawyers call your failure to act on climate change an ‘intergenerational crime!’ We should sling you in jail for murdering our future. (music) Instead, we ask you to talk to us – to work with us! To be brave – to be visionary!
Youth 3
Singer 2
(sings)
Reach out for a star! Come out from where you are Show me what you can do Believe in me, I believe in you!
(sings) Reach out for your dream It's not as hard as it may seem Together we can make it through Together - me and you!
Singer 1 Youth 1
(sing)
Wake up - open your eyes, This is our world, our paradise.
(sings) Reach out, don't be afraid Come on now, we'll find a way There's a whole new world for us to see There's a universe in you and me.
The song evaporates the tension. The next section, they all sing in unison, going up to the diplomats, taking their hands, and leading them, slowly, gently back to their places at the Horseshoe table. The diplomats are bewitched and led by lambs. As the song ends, they sit together – looking over the papers – looking to each other, working together, elders and youth – working out the issues. Together. All Youth
(sing)
Reach out, put your hand in mine! Oh see! - see how we shine! Together - we'll make it through, Together me and you! Don't be shy, just be yourself! You are your greatest wealth! Reach out for a star! Come out from where you are
Show me what you can do Believe in me, I believe in you! Show me what you can do Believe in me, I believe in you!
The elder diplomats and their young team sit together working. The lights fade very slowly on the scene.
Scene ELEVEN: Back to the Future - 2056 The music continues under. The Story-teller comes on; the music segues – as s/he sings: ST
I was a child who ran full of laughter I was a child who lived for a day My eyes full of sunshine My heart full of smiles I was a child for a day.
S T + Full Chorus
We were the children who ran in the morning We were the children who laughed at the sun Who listened to those who spoke with their wisdom We were the ones we would say. We're getting older as time goes by A little older every day We are the children of yesterday.
S T + Diplomats
We are the men who worry of nothing We are the men who speak without aim Who listen to no one yet speak of their wisdom We were the ones we would say. We're getting older as time goes by A little older every day We are the children of yesterday.
MC / ST: So that was it, just about: we spent about ten days and got most of it settled: World Bank people came in + the IMF and the different regional bank representatives. It was complicated – very complicated: some of the Green Economy subsidies had been really stupid – so had the efforts to do carbon capture and storage: and hovering over it all was the spectre of a market economy based on continuous, endless growth – the Intergenerational Ponzi crime that Jake drew attention to in his outburst. But – where there’s a will, there’s a way: and, if nothing else, we young people provided that political will in spades. No more shilly-shallying with points of order and all that diplomatic bullshit. We just got on with it – and being young, we were happy to accept slave labour wages for the chance of travelling and setting up schemes – working for different elements of the UN For at bottom, what changed was that governments came to trust us youth as partners: they came to respect us – they saw us as a resource, not a problem…. And that was the most important revolution of all. So today – as we face a multitude of different problems, we need to think first: “Which bit of this problem can the youth do for us….” And you can be sure that today’s youth will be every bit as eager and effective as our generations was. And hopefully, the problems will be just that little bit less scary! And for you – this audience here in Paris in October 2011: I leave you with one question? Are we in Peace Child right to have faith in Youth? What do you think??
Scene TWELVE: Question & Answer Session + Peace in the Heart The President of Peace Child Intl. comes up – to thank the cast, and lead the audience in applause: he then moderates a short Question and Answer session – focussed on the question of the role of Youth in solving major world problems, and the prospects for Rio+20, and other aspects of the Peace Child story. The cast answer from their experience – whatever it is – especially their personal feelings. For a final gift, the cast will get them all singing together, a song in several different languages. PCI President leads the entire audience learning the song – and gets them singing it through, first time sitting down, second time, on their feet and dancing! French:
La Paix du monde
Swahili:
Amani duniani - Amani
Arabic:
A-aa-aah Salaam Aleikam, ala-kum-sala
Spanish:
Akee yego la paz;
Russian:
Miru mir - da boodyet - miru mir!
Akee yego la paz;
Japanese: Heiwa sekai heiwa! English:
Everybody's Everybody's Everybody's Everybody's
singing, singing peace in the heart; saying, saying peace in the heart; dancing, dancing peace in the heart; feeling, feeling peace in the heart;
Solo 1:
Walking inside my mind I see a vision of mankind Breathing as one body In syncopated rhyme
ALL: And everybody, everybody, everybody sings - ! Solo 2:
Looking before my eyes So many colors side by side Moving with a peaceful motion Sharing the gift of life
ALL: And everybody, everybody, everybody sings - !
END ALTERNATE ENDING TO Scene TEN: Youth 3
Singer 2
(sings)
Reach out for a star! Come out from where you are Show me what you can do Believe in me, I believe in you!
(sings) Reach out for your dream It's not as hard as it may seem
Together we can make it through Together - me and you!
Singer 1
(sing) Wake up - open your eyes, This is our world, our paradise.
Youth 1
(sings)
Reach out, don't be afraid Come on now, we'll find a way There's a whole new world for us to see There's a universe in you and me.
The song evaporates the tension. The youth go to the diplomats, take their hands and lead them, gently and respectfully back to their places at the Horseshoe table. The diplomats are bewitched. They allow themselves to be led like lambs and sit together with the youth – going over the papers. The S G joins the singers – as Youth 4 stands aside biting his lip. All Youth
(sing) Reach out, put your hand in mine! Oh see! - see how we shine!
Youth 4:
(coming to centre stage and grabbing a mike. Music Stops as he speaks) No – no, this is never going to work – all this lovey-dovey, gootchy-coo stuff: an intergenerational crime has been committed here – and these guys are in denial.
Youth 1:
Jake – please! This is not the time….
Youth 4:
It is the time. It absolutely is the time. If we are to make agreements with these guys this morning, they absolutely have to admit that they screwed up! Look at them! These are the leaders of the generation that has allowed world population to triple in their lifetimes; that has cleared millions of acres of rainforest; driven thousands of species to extinction, and ensured that my grand-children will never see a coral reef except in picture books. This is the generation that spends more on their military toys than on education; more on feeding their pets than feeding the poor – and they have developed an economic system that works like a global Ponzi scheme – borrowing endlessly from future generations to feed their own insatiable greed…
SG
We’ve done some good….
Youth 4:
Sure – apartheid over, some progress on human rights, education, the green revolution… But in general, admit it: you screwed up. You’ve left the planet in much, much worse shape than you found it.
Youth 1:
What do you want, Jake!
Youth 4:
I want them to admit it! Say it: “I – SCREWED – UP!” You can’t, can you? You cannot admit to future generations just how badly you have plundered the planet and left NOTHING for future generations. She was right: You should be chucked in jail for the rest of your lives for murdering our future. But that’s not my point: I want you to come out of your denial. Then we can start to build – so say it with me – All of you (audience too!) “I screwed up!”
He glares at him. The S G is nervous – but silent. Youth 4:
Say it, you bastards!! You said the United Nations was going to save future generations from the scourge of war – and yet since its founding, double the number of people have died than died in the 2nd World War. Millions! And – it’s bad enough that you have failed to sort out the challenge of sustainability, but far worse is your failure to educate our generation about it. That’s one of our demands: and you have an education Agency – UNESCO, I think it’s called: why hasn’t it been able to ensure that every child on the planet is aware of the complex technologies of sustainability and the Green Economy? What’s it for, that Agency, if it cannot even deliver a simple thing like that…. So go on! Admit it: “I screwed up…”
SG
(tentatively) – We screwed up – we all did.
Youth 4:
Yeah – we all did. But “We” were not all head of the World Organisation: the UN! So personalise it: “I screwed up…”
SG
OK! I screwed up – but I tried
Youth 4:
Trying wasn’t good enough was it: Louder!
S G + Y4: I SCREWED UP! Youth 4:
All of you!
Diplos.
(together) I screwed up. I screwed up! I SCREWED UP!!!
Youth 4:
Thank you. Now let’s begin – remembering, guys, that the diplomats advising us have freely admitted that they screwed up. So – stick to your guns: don’t let them bludgeon you into thinking your ideas are naïve. We’re on the right side of history here: they’re just history…
The elder diplomats and their young team sit together working. The lights fade very slowly on the scene.