APECS is proposing an IPY Polar Youth Forum to be held in conjunction with the April 2009 Joint Arctic Council/Antarctic Treaty Meetings.  The IPY Polar Youth Forum will bring youth from around the world to engage in polar issues, providing insight, motivation, skills, and a understanding of the importance of the Polar Regions in world affairs.  Participants will develop the ideas and experience necessary to protect and manage the Polar Regions as unique and vital elements of the global community.  The proposed forum format will see young delegates join their respective country delegations at the meetings as observers; participate in simulated Antarctic Treaty and Arctic Council meetings; produce a Polar Youth Declaration; attend side events (including Linking Science and Policy Making, Polar Connections, Youth and the Polar Regions, and Sustainable Polar Futures); and conduct post-forum outreach activities in their respective communities.

The planning committee for the IPY Polar Youth Forum is looking for volunteer translators for the simple 2-page circular about this event.  If you know a language other than English and are willing to provide a translation of the Polar Youth Forum Overview the planning committee would be very grateful.  We hope to have this document available in as many languages as possible.  Please email Amber Church (amber@alkhemedia.com) for a Word version of the text if you are able to provide a translation.

For more information about the Forum in general, or to get involved, visit the website at: http://arcticportal.org/apecs/get-involved/ipy-polar-youth-forum or contact Amber Church at amber@alkhemedia.com.

Note: Youth in this context refers to people under the age of 35, and above the age of 16.