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Delegates of Fiji before the start of the opening of the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 - Source: Reuters -
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A young Fijian woman sobbed as she urged UN chiefs to act on climate change to save her homeland.
Leah Wickham addressed the world's media - and Copenhagen bosses Connie Hedegaard and Yvo de Boer - on the fringes of the summit on Monday afternoon.
"Fifty years from now, my children will be raising their own families," the 24-year-old said through her tears.
"It is my hope that they will still be able to call our beautiful island home."
Some scientists say low-lying island nations like Fiji are vulnerable to rising sea levels and storms caused by climate change.
Wickham, who wore a traditional shell necklace, said she hoped future Fijian generations would not be devastated by climate change.
"It is my hope that our culture and our identity will never be compromised," she said.
The world had spoken on the need for governments to act, "and the world will be watching Copenhagen over these next 2 weeks", she said.
Wickham said governments should stop talking and start acting.
After the impassioned speech, Ms Hedegaard, the president of the summit, embraced her.
The Fijian woman was speaking on behalf of youth action group Tck Tck Tck, which presented Hedegaard and De Boer with a petition containing 10 million signatures.
The UN bosses were also presented with some Danish lego blocks to symbolise the building blocks of a climate deal at Copenhagen.
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