Essay Competition: Towards a United, Peaceful and Sustainable Asia

Peace Fest

The Asian Citizens Assembly 2010 (ACA 2010) invites citizens from across Asia to come together to discuss the several grave challenges the continent is facing and to explore how we, as Asians, can approach these challenges with consensus. The ACA will strategically look at 5Es (Ethics, Equity, Economy, Education and Ecology) to begin with, to bring about change in their continent and to work towards Peace and Sustainable Development. In this regard, the ACA 2010 is organising an Essay Competition for students and young professionals themed on “Towards a United, Peaceful and Sustainable Asia: The Need and the Way(s) Forward”.

The essay should talk about the role of youth in shaping a united, peaceful and sustainable Asia. Today’s youth have the mindset and attitude of being the global citizens of the world and are very much inclined to Think G-local (Global-Local), Act G-local, with this inclination, try to address the following questions:

  • Identify and briefly present the challenges young people face as citizens (local, national, regional, global) and issues concerning G-Local Governance and provide solutions
  • From a youth perspective, identify the underlying issues that prevent the full inclusion of youth in shaping the Regional (Asian) development agenda
  • In your view, what can young people, working with their peers, community, local authorities and municipalities do to increase youth participation in reshaping Asia?
  • We encourage you to focus on some or all of] the five themes of the Asian Citizens Assembly 2010: i.e., Ethics, Equity, Education, Ecology, Economy (of Solidarity) and share your personal experiences and practical solutions

Essay Guidelines:

  1. The International Essay Competition is open to all young people, students and non-students alike, between the ages of 18 and 29, from all countries of the world. (For proof of age, all participants must submit the first page of their passport copy by email.)
  2. Essays should be typewritten and be no more than 2,000 words.
  3. Essays must have a cover page indicating, essay title; name of author, postal address, telephone number, e-mail address(s), nationality, sex and age as of August 18, 2010.
  4. All essays must be submitted by e-mail in PDF or MS Word format, with the cover page and essay sent together as one document in English to the essay competition mail essay4asia2010@globalcitizens.org.in
  5. Essays must be written by one person. Co-authored essays will be disqualified.
  6. Essays must be original and unpublished

Dateline:

  • July 5, 2010 – Deadline for submissions
  • July 5 – 15, 2010 – 10 Finalist will be announced, Jury to decide the winners
  • August 19, 2010 – Award Ceremony at the Closing Session of the Asian Youth Assembly 2010

Attractive Prizes can be won!

For more information, visit Essay4Asia

The Asian region is home to 60% of the world’s human population, and is regarded as the cradle of civilization, with some of the earliest cultures on the planet originating here. The region stretches from the frigid Arctic to the sweltering equator; and straddles six times zones. Asia is home to the extremities of the planet, both human and natural. The diversity of the human population resident within this continent is unparalleled on Earth.

Today, the Asian region is faced with challenges of a scale never experienced before. Lasting peace remains elusive as armed conflicts based on religion, nationalism, ethnicity, land and natural resources occur ceaselessly across the continent. These conflicts lead to the killing of thousands and cause millions more to be captured in the tentacles of poverty and hunger. Illiteracy and a lack of quality education undermine the ability of people to gain meaningful employment and to achieve a good and satisfactory standard of living.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), global objectives of development to be achieved by the year 2015, seem to be much further away than their targeted year of achievement, particularly because of the lack of progress made by Asian countries in achieving sustainable development. A range of challenges are hindering the attainment of a high standard of living and human development in Asia, whilst also creating an ecological footprint that far exceeds the carrying capacity of the region.

Young people today constitute a very large percentage of the population of the Asian region. Increasing economic prosperity and social mores are transforming the attitudes and lifestyles of youth. Consumerism and capitalism are converting youth into fast emerging key players in the overall emissions of greenhouse gases. Young people therefore have a very major responsibility on their hands, not just because of their voluminous contribution to climate change and unsustainable growth, but also because they are the ones that will face the repercussions of their actions when they experience the adverse impacts of climate change in the future.

This Essay competition seeks to get ideas, proposal and solutions that will work for Asia in the 21st Century and find ways to inspire other young people to be part of bringing ‘the Change’ they want to see locally, nationally and regionally.

Aastha Kukreti

Aastha Kukreti holds a Master’s degree in Environment Management and her areas of expertise range from waste management, pollution ecology, green audits, ecofeminism, environmental equity and social justice.

2 thoughts on “Essay Competition: Towards a United, Peaceful and Sustainable Asia

  1. sir i want to take part in competition held by you and your team. when you organise it please send me rules and entry fee.

  2. Pingback: :: Delhi Greens :: » Asian Citizens Assembly 2010 Concludes in Bengaluru, India

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