The Closing of the International Youth Tiger Summit

(Posted by Devanshu Sood)

As we already told you all last night was a very memorable night for all of us as we heard that our video link to the heads of government summit in St. Petersberg was received very well by those assembled at St. Petersberg. A professor who works on large predators at a leading Wildlife Institute in India said that our video link was very evocative, and was probably the best part of their Summit. It brought tears to his eyes to see us of different nations together, in sharp contrast to the politicized bickering which was going on at the Heads of Government Summit.

Today was the day that we all regret and wish that it did not come, that time could have stopped. As today was the day that the summit was to close and we delegates began to go back home. Dannee and Duncan, the delegates of the United Kingdom, who were our roommates (and alarm clocks) were the first ones to leave us.  

The day began with all of us presenting our individual national plans to the other delegates with the changes that we had incorporated in them after yesterdays discussion. Following this we received the feedback from the WWF coordinators about the impact that we had made the previous day through the television link with the Heads of States at the summit at St. Petersburg and learnt that we had made such a big impact that we, that is the youth were the topic of discussion amongst the delegations at St. Petersburg for a long time and that the points made by us were not only influencing the course of debate at the summit but were being taken into consideration for future policy changes and decisions.

Then began the process of the closing ceremony. It included the process of facilitating each one of us delegates along with our coordinators with diplomas and certification of participation in the summit. We received a bag of goodies containing a number of items, including a pendrive with all the events of the summit along with a number of other souvenirs which will definitely make us remember the summit and all its happenings along with the memories that we will cherish for eternity. We all also recieved a tiger replica in the form of a paper mache tiger figurine - one was given to each delegation.

Us at the closing ceremony with our diplomas and tiger

Following this we distributed all the souvenirs that we had brought for each other amongst us. Anusha and I had made a card for the organizers which was signed by all the participants and delegation coordinators, it was an attempt on our behalf to say thank you to them for the summit which they had so brilliantly planned and executed, making it one of the most memorable experiences for all of us delegates, participants and delegation coordinators.

The card for the Organizers which was signed by all the Participants and Delegation Coordinators

Now was the time for some fun and we thoroughly enjoyed the farewell lunch that had been prepared for us. It was truly Russian culinary at its best, accompanied by a number of the delegations presenting their nation's culture at its best.

The Farewell Lunch all laid out for our final dig in

International Culture at its Very Best

Following the farewell lunch, Anusha, Aarti Ma'am and I went to the city along with the coordinator from Nepal, Jagadeesh. While Aarti and Jagadeesh indulged in some shopping, Anusha and I went to view the city square in all its glory and took a short walk along the waterfront as the city square is at the mouth of the harbor at Vladivostok. Following this we all partook in some more shopping.

 Vladivostok's city Square

Shopping while Touring Vladivostok

By the time we returned, not only had it become dark and late but it had started snowing along with a slight drizzle and we were audience to the beautiful spectacle of snow that one rarely sees in India. 

On our return, at the gates of Sedanka Hotel - The Beautiful Spectacle of snow

And when I left the red room that night for one final time to return to my room as I was lodged in a building separate from that of the others I was graced with a ground that was covered in at least three inches of fresh snow, cottony to step in and the most wonderful sight to view. And......

it was still snowing. Making our last night at Vladivostok one of the most memorable nights that we had in the city and during the summit.

Voila Vladivostok, you have truly touched our hearts, souls, minds and bodies with your sights and wonders along with the wonderful wildlife reserves of the Primorskykry Province and have been the most wonderful host for our summit.

Its a white night - Snow Snow Snow... - A departing present from Russian Nature

Thank You Vladivostok, Thank You Russia, Thank You the Tiggre and Thank You The United Nations, World Bank Group, WWF - International, WWF - Russia and Thank You WWF - India and the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India for making this summit, trip and experience possible for both me and Anusha.

Namaste and Thank You for following us for one last time from Russia.

Do stay tunned for more news on the Tiger conservation efforts of both the government and youth of India and that of the coordinated Tiger conservation efforts of the world governments and the worldwide youth.