Information for participants

This page provides information on how to get involved in the mass dialogues 2009 - a web-based global youth outreach initiative delivered LIVE from the COP15 climate negotiations. 

Scoll down for the following information.
- About the mass dialogues 2009
- Who can participate? Everyone!
- How do the dialogue events work?
- What are the technical requirements?
- How can I connect to a particular event?
- Is there a cost to participate? No!
- Event schedule

For general information on the mass dialogues, please refer to the following information. For additional enquires, contact David Noble (in English) or Moussa Sinon (en francais). For information related to the Clim'City simulation game, contact Emily Slofstra.

About the mass dialogues 2009

The mass dialogues 2009 is an internet-based global youth outreach initiative delivered LIVE from the COP15 climate negotiations. Through a series a series of internet-based meetings, the mass dialogues will connect young people attending the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark, with groups of young people from all over the world.

The purpose of the program is to extend the learning, inspiration and sense of empowerment that is gained from participating in the negotiations to young people all over the world.

Who can participate?

Young people from all over the world are invited to participate. We anticipate the events to be of greatest interest to young people in the 13-25 age range.

Online participants are welcomed to sign in as individuals or as groups. Groups are encouraged to organize a wider discussion or learning activity on the occasion of the dialogue events. For example, youth groups could invite a local climate change expert to meet with your group, or school teachers could link the dialogue event to their curriculum.

How do the dialogue events work?

The mass dialogues 2009 offers two opportunities for participation: interactive dialogue events and the Clim'City climate change education game.

Individuals and groups are invited to participate in one or more interactive dialogue events. Each event will begin with a moderated panel discussion with 3-5 youth participants in the UN climate negotiations, and will continue with an interactive dialogue with online participants from around the world. Most events are scheduled to last for either 60 or 90 minutes. Please note the schedule for exact times.

Each event will feature a unique group of youth panelists and will address a different theme, and can thus be expected to be unique. Participants might therefore consider signing into muliple events, to get different perspectives on different issues discussed at the negotiaitons and on youth action on climate change more generally.

Note that the events will be delivered in different languages, including English, French and possibly several other languages.

Click here for a schedule of dialogue events (includes information on language and theme).

Through a partnership with the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC), we are pleased to offer the opportunity to play the Clim'City climate change education game, and to participate in an international webcast LIVE from Copenhagen, where high scorers from four science centers will join a distinguished panel of climate change experts for an interactive discussion on lessons learned through the game experience.

Click here for more information on Clim'City and how to get started.

What are the technical requirements?

You'll need a computer with speakers (for audio) and, ideally, a high-speed LAN (not wireless) internet connection.  That's all you need to sign into an Adobe Connect meeting room, where we have the dialogue events. You'll probably want to participate in the meeting from a quiet room where you can listen and participate without interuptions.

If you have a web-cam and a microphone, you will have two-way interactivity. That is, you will have the capacity to speak into the online events (to ask questions, for example) and to project video. If you don't have these, you will be limited to one-way audio and video interactivity. You will still be able to interact with other participants using the chat function in Adobe Connect.

For low-bandwidth users (i.e. those that do not have high-speed internet), we will be offering a livestreamed version of the audio and video and a parallel live chat. Low-bandwidth users will receive audio and video, but won't have the option of two-way audio and video interactivity.

How can I connect to a particular event?

1. Go to http://omni.coursenligne.net/moussasinon

2. Enter a user name (e.g. "Steve_Canada", "Rose_Denmark")

That's it. You are in.

Try to sign in 30 minutes before the start time of your event, if possible, to test audio and video.

Is there a cost to participate?

There is no cost to sign in to dialogue events; however, you may incur costs if you have to rent a room, computer access or internet access.

Event schedule

Click here for the event schedule.

Why "the mass dialogues"?

Thomas Paine famously wrote that there exists in humankind a mass of sense lying in a dormant state. Despite the growing engagement on climate change amongst some segments of society, on the whole, this mass of sense remains conspicuously dormant. Youth from all around the world are assuming the essential responsibility to awaken this mass – to build a movement of young people on climate change that will offer an incredible mass of effective youth action that will help drive social change.

The mass dialogues are intended to contribute to this mass of sense, by connecting young people in a process of shared learning, inspiration and empowerment.

We were drawn to Thomas Paine’s quote by our friend Peter MacLeod and his team at MASS LBP, whose incredible innovative work on public consultation is inspired by Paine.