More than 400 students from over 39 states gathered in the Nation's capital February 2-5, 2007, for the Global Justice Conference on AIDS, Trade and Child Survival.
This was the first joint conference of Global Justice's three student campaigns, the Student Campaign for Child Survival (SCCS), the Student Global AIDS Campaign (SGAC), and the Student Trade Justice Campaign.
Global Justice, an "umbrella" organization working to promote student advocacy, had several influential speakers in attendance.
During the opening remarks on February 3rd, Matthew Kavanagh, Global Justice Executive Director, spoke about the realities of the situations that are faced worldwide.
"We made up the system, people made up the system and therefore people can make sure that it works for everybody...we are not going to accept that the world has to be the way it is when we know it can be so much better...Another world is possible," Kavanagh said.
Kavanagh then introduced the keynote speaker for the morning. Emira Woods, an activist, expert in U.S.-Africa relations and co-director of Foreign Policy In Focus, who rallied the audience with a chant of "Power to the people!"
"We have the numbers, we have the people, we have justice on our side...you are part of a global movement focused on people... it is about changing people's ideas from college campuses to mainstream America, to put foreword a world view that is different, see the movement as a beginning of a lifetime for change," Woods said.
Many were impressed by the student turnout.
"What I think is amazing about Global Justice is we put a lot of faith in young people. Many students put this conference together from scratch and to bring 550 students here is incredibly impressive. It is essential that we continue to develop these leaders with exclusive power from Global Justice. This is a testament for students to make a difference in the world," said Bob Elliott, a 2005 Harvard graduate and Global Justice Co-Founder and board member.
This was the first joint conference of Global Justice's three student campaigns, the Student Campaign for Child Survival (SCCS), the Student Global AIDS Campaign (SGAC), and the Student Trade Justice Campaign.
Global Justice, an "umbrella" organization working to promote student advocacy, had several influential speakers in attendance.
During the opening remarks on February 3rd, Matthew Kavanagh, Global Justice Executive Director, spoke about the realities of the situations that are faced worldwide.
"We made up the system, people made up the system and therefore people can make sure that it works for everybody...we are not going to accept that the world has to be the way it is when we know it can be so much better...Another world is possible," Kavanagh said.
Kavanagh then introduced the keynote speaker for the morning. Emira Woods, an activist, expert in U.S.-Africa relations and co-director of Foreign Policy In Focus, who rallied the audience with a chant of "Power to the people!"
"We have the numbers, we have the people, we have justice on our side...you are part of a global movement focused on people... it is about changing people's ideas from college campuses to mainstream America, to put foreword a world view that is different, see the movement as a beginning of a lifetime for change," Woods said.
Many were impressed by the student turnout.
"What I think is amazing about Global Justice is we put a lot of faith in young people. Many students put this conference together from scratch and to bring 550 students here is incredibly impressive. It is essential that we continue to develop these leaders with exclusive power from Global Justice. This is a testament for students to make a difference in the world," said Bob Elliott, a 2005 Harvard graduate and Global Justice Co-Founder and board member.
