Arab Youths Take 'Arabs More Than Oil' Message to Climate Talks

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(Bloomberg) More than 100 members of the nascent Arab Youth Climate Movement have descended on Doha to bring a message to the latest round of United Nations climate talks: ``Arabs are more than oil.''

The Doha talks mark the first time the Middle East has hosted the climate negotiations, and the Qatari organisers paid for more than 100 young Arabs to fly to Doha from countries including Egypt, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates and Oman to attend the discussions. Today, group members and supporters will take part in what's being billed as the first-ever environmental march within the Gulf Cooperation Council region. Thousands are expected to show up.

The movement was founded in September and has quickly snowballed (in a snowless region) to more than 1,000 members spread across 15 countries, according to co-ordinator Reem al Mealla, a 24-year-old Bahraini marine biologist. ``We have taken that step to join together and come here and show the world that the Arab youth cares,'' al Mealla told reporters in the Qatari capital.

``The role they play is extremely important in shaping the future,'' Fahad bin Mohammed Al-Attiya, a spokesman for the conference, told reporters. ``We are here as guardians and trustees for a future they will hopefully occupy.'' ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-30/arab-youths-take-arabs-more-than-oil-message-to-climate-talks.html