July 27, 2019

Quote of the Week

"You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." -- Jane Goodall

Meet Generation Greta: Young Climate Activists Around The World

In May, for the second time this year, more than 1.5 million young people in more than 125 countries walked out of schools, colleges and universities in the biggest day of global climate action ever. Young people have protested en masse before – millions marched against the Iraq war in 2003 – but this child-led uprising is happening with unprecedented momentum on a global scale.

The urgency of their protests reflects the very narrow window of opportunity left to make positive change. We are already living outside the climate parameters that first gave rise to humans, and the world’s leading climate scientists agree that we have only 12 years to limit global warming to a maximum of 1.5°C. Still, most governments are not doing enough to stay within these limits as set out by the United Nation’s 2015 Paris agreement. Children, who historically don’t have a voice in politics, are really thrusting their opinions on this issue into the public domain. In this week's featured article, meet seven young people who are making a difference on behalf of our planet.

Reading Corner

Title: We Rise: The Earth Guardians Guide to Building a Movement that Restores the Planet
By: Xiuhtezcatl Martinez
Recommended Ages: 13+

"Xiuhtezcatl Martinez is a 16-year-old climate activist, hip-hop artist, and powerful new voice on the frontlines of a global youth-led movement. He and his group the Earth Guardians believe that today's youth will play an important role in shaping our future. They know that the choices made right now will have a lasting impact on the world of tomorrow, and people--young and old--are asking themselves what they can do to ensure a positive, just, and sustainable future. We Rise tells these stories and addresses the solutions. Beginning with the empowering story of the Earth Guardians and how Xiuhtezcatl has become a voice for his generation, We Rise explores many aspects of effective activism and provides step-by-step information on how to start and join solution-oriented movements. With conversations between Xiuhtezcatl and well-known activists, revolutionaries, and celebrities, practical advice for living a more sustainable lifestyle, and ideas and tools for building resilient communities, We Rise is an action guide on how to face the biggest problems of today, including climate change, fossil fuel extraction, and industrial agriculture. If you are interested in creating real and tangible change, We Rise will give you the inspiration and information you need to do your part in making the world a better place and leave you asking, What kind of legacy do I want to leave?" --Publishers

 

Be the Change

This week, share one of these websites for climate-change fighting families and discuss ways that your family can get involved.  You might also like to share this article or watch this short clip with your teens, to explore more about the youth-led movement to save our planet from climate change.