I invite you to think for one moment that you can make the difference in this world, that you are this difference. I invite you to think that you are important to the earth as the sun is, to be aware that we are right now in world history, that we can make change, be the change. In order to build up a real sustainable world, the necessary action starts within us, inside of us, in everyone of us. We need action that have real impact in the world, and we need the action to develop and grow inside of us. The importance is the balance. This is what we call spiritual action.

We are the new generation. We think that we can start now and the amazing thing is that many of us are already involved in many many projects that aim to change the system, such as the implementation of the peace department in more than 14 countries all around the world like U.S.A., Costa Rica and Uganda. Or like linking many youth initiatives—what happened this summer in Brazil with Connectivity. The Global Youth Action Network, GYAN, that linked more than 100,000 active people to bring us to the awareness that we are the critical mass, that we are here and that we can do it.

What happened the last 3 days was incredible. Eighty young people from more than 28 countries coming together being offered an open space by the Goi Peace Foundation and others to focus on what we are, to be really really true with us and to come up with new projects that will make the change. So here we have for example in Japan the peace farming village, or individual youth environmental groups that will spread their awareness of this ecological crisis we are in right now. There are many other projects that came and we commit that we’ll put our heart into it, not run away from this responsibility. We are willing to give the response to the call of the world. It’s beautiful that you guys always say, “Yes, we believe in you. You are the future.” I really would like to thank you for this trust, but without you we are not getting anywhere because all of us are in the same room on the same planet. So, in Japan, Switzerland and New Zealand is the highest suicide of young people, and economically pretty good countries, why is that?  A psychologist from New Zealand said that young people don’t need to be responsible any more, they get everything. So you as a young person, never had the feeling of being indispensable. What the heck I’m doing here, I can go! So we need of course first of all the basic biological needs matched. We need the feeling of belonging to a community and the possibility and opportunity to contribute.

So, I would like to ask you to think for 10 seconds what you would like to put into action towards this new civilization we are creating. 10 seconds to think. And you already have experience in talking to your neighbor. Please tell your neighbor what you would like to commit towards this new civilization now. Tell your neighbor what would you like to do. We have 1 minute for that. Thank you for believing in us and walking with us.

Hello, my name is Colin and I’m from Australia. I’m going to be answering the question as to how we are going to sustain the Global Youth Network. One of the things that my mother has said when I was a little boy was to do what you love, and love what you do; to do what you love and love what you do with all your heart; and that is what is going to bring the youth from all over the world together. We are going to align ourselves with a common purpose, because when we align with a common purpose to do what we love and love what we do, magic happens.

The second thing in sustaining a Global Youth Network is to create an environment of friendship and fun. That’s what youth is all about. That’s the energy we bring to you elders, adults. We bring our smiles; we bring our voice.

The third key to sustaining a Global Youth Network is to give the youth a voice. In making small and large decisions, we have a voice. Listen to the wisdom of the youth and together we create a unity of transformation. That is what is going to sustain the Global Youth Network.

The last thing in sustaining a Global Youth Network is funding. Let’s get real. Funding is the only thing that will sustain the Global Youth Network, and we need your help. We are going to do that through sponsorship, through awards like the Goi Peace Foundation. We’re going to do that through competitions. We’re going to do that through organizing large events like this to share our message to the world. I leave you to this: That our voice be heard and remember do what you love and love what you do. Thank you.

Thank you Jacqueline. Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.

I am seventeen. Among the Japanese, I am the youngest but today I’d like to share with you what we have thought about and discussed among the group of the Japanese.

War and poverty have been around for many many decades and for many hundreds of years. Up until the 21^st century there are numerous problems. However, these are not somebody else’s problems but it is a problem of each and every one of us. We live on this earth and on this earth someone is suffering, someone is being injured. That someone is not somebody else, that’s one of us. Let’s make a new civilization that is to evolve and to go through the evolution. That is what is being wanted the most. We are each member of the earth. Let us recognize that we are also a leader. We would like to heighten our awareness towards peace deep in our heart. The people on the stage are limited. There is so much we can do but we would like to have your power. We would like to have your participation and contribution.

This time around we were gathering from many countries from around the world. Look at us with high levels of hopes. We were able to encounter people from different countries and through exchanges we were quite impressed with the high level of awareness that they had in wanting to create peace on earth. They have been active in many corners of the world, and we thought about what can we do. Can it be that we can start something here in Japan. That was what we thought about. As a result Global Youth Network in Japan is what we have created – Global Youth Network in Japan. We would like to continue the networking of the Japanese who participated in the youth forum and we would like to further expand that networking. Those are the two objectives of this network. It is not just enough for us to do something. We’d like to solicit more with like-minded thoughts so that it is going to be an open activity in which anyone who is interested will be able to participate. We have already started “Thank you” project, “Arigato” project, and peace village. These are the two projects which are more or less materializing at this very moment. We are to cooperate with each other however in a world of so much competition it is so difficult to have networking with other people. There is so much dilution of the human relationship. However, please open your eyes. Please ask the question to yourself. In your mind, in your heart, there is what is called peace, a crumb of peace, and that peace is needed more than never. For each one of you in this hall, I do hope that you would put into action no matter how small it may be because that is going to turn into a major wave. Please tell your friends and family members about what you saw here today, what you heard here today. Another request to all of you, please know of us and if you felt something from what we have to say, please do write your email address and please say that you are interested in our network in the questionnaire form that is being distributed to you. I do hope that many of you in the hall would be participating in our activities.

Thank you very much.