Environmental Solution #3 – Engaging Youth Intellect and Enthusiasm
The youth are in Copenhagen in awesome and enthusiastic forces! Girls scouts, California activists, Midwestern voices, university environmental clubs, and organized youth demonstrators are all in Copenhagen asking for “Planet not Profit.” I caught up with Alec Loorz, Lynne Cherry and Gary Braasch – organizers of the Young Voices for Climate Change project. Lynne is a world-acclaimed children’s author of The Great Kapok Tree and other environmental children’s books. Gary Braasch is an equally notable name but as a nature photographer; his recent book, Earth Under Fire, is credited with galvanizing the American climate change movement among policy-makers. Alec Loorz, a teenager from California, founded Kids vs. Global Warming in his hometown of Ventura, California, bringing climate change to the forefront of local government and citizen science education. Alex gave an animated talk about his experience, and had an earlier public speaking launch at the Rio talks in 1992.
The main message of Young Voices for Climate Change is summarized in a quote by Shannon McComb, “If you adults won’t do something about global climate change, then we kids are going to take the reins.” Shannon is a Sierra Club environmental hero awardee who raised public awareness about a liquefied natural gas project in California. On film, Cherry and Braasch interview kids around the world who are working to educate about and ameliorate climate change. Their Youth program encourages kids to get their families, schools and communities involved in projects to reduce our energy footprints.
Their message is clear: If a million kids stop drinking bottled water and other drinks from plastic bottles, it saves 15,000 tons of carbon dioxide/year. If a million families drive 15 fewer miles each week, this prevents 450,000 tons of carbon dioxide/year. If a million kids plant one tree, after maturity these trees will absorb 180,000 tons of carbon dioxide/year. Their web site is: www.youngvoicesonclimatechange.com.
Check it out! Age is no limit on working to save the planet for future generations!
