From Spectator to Speaker
- 11 hours ago
- 5 min read
How one voice can ignite millions
"The eyes of all future generations are upon you. And if you choose to fail us, I say: We will never forgive you."
-Greta Thunberg
THE ANATOMY OF OUR SILENCE
There is no excuse for global leaders to abuse their power, to ignore our voices, and cheat our planet. Their job is to take care of us and keep peace. Instead, they deny that the world is built on citizens and tell us that we are powerless, and take our control! This is why we need to unite not only as neighbors, but as members of the human race if we don’t want our world to fall!
Many people want to make a difference, where we want the people in power to pay for ignoring our burning world for an amount of cash, but the matter simply is, that one person cannot change the world alone. Now that sentence is so discouraging to some of us that we give up or get so depressed we never even google where to start, so we are here to tell you that the answer is not linear but a shambolic, crazy, spaghetti looking line.
Many have heard of Greta Thunberg, a Swedish activist who held climate strikes in front of the Swedish Parliament for climate justice when she was 15 years old. She not only demonstrated bravery, persuasion, and a sharp mind but changed the mindset of millions just by standing up for what she believes in! I remember when I was 12 years old, I watched her famous speech at the United Nations summit in New York. Her voice helped me find my own, even 5 years later! I have protested at my schools for four years. I knew that if she could do it, so could I! This proves my point that no matter your circumstances, there is always a way to change your mind and many other minds!
FACING THE MONOLITH
To change the problem, we must understand where we stand in it. Many of these companies love to throw the blame back to the people, and just as we can’t change the world on our own, we can’t destroy it either. The Carbon Majors Database report by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and the Climate Accountability Institute reveal that we citizens contribute 29%, while corporate giants contribute 71% of all carbon emissions. Both of these numbers are fatal to the waning future of our planet. If these numbers do not decrease then life will not be able to sustain itself!
We as activists are fighting a global war against the collective silence and the overwhelming power of corporate greed. What that means is we cannot stand alone if we want change, we need an irrepressible mandate from the whole world that can mitigate and heal our burning planet! That means we need a collective decision to change!
According to the Carbon Majors Database, just 100 fossil fuel companies have been responsible for a staggering 71% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions since 1988. Companies such as Saudi Aramco, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Gazprom, and BP, all well known companies. Around the world, governments have been using public money to fund these huge fossil factories! The main contributors are US, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Canada, Norway, and the Netherlands! According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Fossil Fuel Subsidies Data, spending over $7 trillion, that is 7.1% of the entire world's economic output!
Reference: Carbon Majors. https://carbonmajors.org/EN/index.html
One of the scariest things to me is when the strategies of these companies are to wield our morals against us! Greenwashing or -rinsing is a popular and sneaky sales pitch technique in marketing: while we citizens can only do so much to reduce our own impact, many companies deceive us by portraying a brighter future if we buy “sustainable” (mainly reusables, compostables, recycled items). While these are by far the better option for the planet, we unfortunately have already produced and own so many unsustainable things. To reuse them until you can’t is best, but that still doesn’t change where the unbiodegradable items are going. These companies promote false hope. Yes we must use, even repair, items to their full lifespan, then buy a better, built-to-last replacement, but also we mustn’t lose sight of how companies try to divert attention away from them and how they are making money by producing, advertising, and selling us more.
"Many people say that Sweden is just a small country and it doesn't matter what we do. But I've learned you are never too small to make a difference. And if a few children can get headlines all over the world just by not going to school, then imagine what we could all do together if we really wanted to."
-Greta Thunberg
GOOSEBUMPS
Another Voice Awakened
WHAT CAN YOU DO
There are so many things we can do to change the world but many just don’t have the resources. Here are some things you can do to make a difference! These tools will get you started, keep you going, and keep you informed:
➽ Read the Fridays for Future Newsletter. Subscribe here.
➽ Get training. Sign up for a personal, live Zoom session with a Fridays for Future activist.
You can:
Ask as many questions as you like, talk about your goals.
Get feedback.
Learn how to organize a climate group, or how to grow your climate action group.
Learn how to start climate conversations.
Learn how to organize a climate event at school or in your town.
Learn how to set up a petition to gather signatures on Action Network.
Learn how to write effective letters to the media, your local officials, and elected politicians.
➽ Listen to the science. Get inspired. The Climate Talks by Dr. Tom English help you learn simple ways to talk to people about the climate crisis. Watch any of Greta Thunberg’s riveting speeches, see the documentary “I Am Greta”, or her climate talk with Johan Rockström
➽ Get the support of your teachers and school officials.
➽ Organize a climate talk at your school for students and parents.
➽ Use Telegram, X, Facebook, Instagram and other social media to spread the word about your climate actions.
➽ Ask your local print shop to donate some copies of your campaign poster.
➽ Search the Fridays for Future Newsletter article archive for inspiration.
➽ Listen to Climate Talks for Everyone.
➽ Get inspiration from youth climate activists in Africa at their Peace and Climate Justice Youth Summit Program.
➽ Write an article for the Fridays for Future Newsletter about your climate campaign or demonstration. Tell others how you are growing your group.
➽ Make contact with other climate groups and activists and organize campaigns together to double your results.
➽ Share your climate stories in talks at your school, local library, local newspaper, or in interviews on local radio shows.
➽ Organize a screening of a documentary about an important environmental issue at your library or community center.
Sage Baron
15 years old
New Jersey
FFF USA Communications Coordinator
Interested in doing more? Reach out: 29baronh@mtps.us
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