Greta Thunberg was FIFTEEN years old when she started her
work to make those of us who are older LISTEN and HEED the dangers of climate
change. She started the Future Fridays’ movement in Sweden that is now a global
movement among school-age children and teens…she is now an aged 17-year-old.
 |
| Greta Thunberg outside Swedish Parliament & Climate march - Photo Business Insider |
And then there is Licypriya Kangujam who started her work at
SIX years old, calling for awareness of climate change and the orphans left
after disasters in India. She has gotten
climate change included as part of the school’s curriculum in one Indian state,
Rajasthan[1]…she
is now an ancient eight-year-old.
 |
| Licypriya leading Climate March - Photo BBC |
It is children teaching us to listen to
scientists. CHILDREN.
When I was eight, I was aware of the Cuban Missile Crisis
because Daddy was an army chaplain at Fort Benning, GA, but all I did was play
outside and make mud pies during the day while at night I worried, but I
figured Daddy would keep us safe.
When I was 15 years old, I worried about the Vietnam War and
the Civil Rights movement. I did NOT
however hit the streets. I wrote some
essays in school, but never a letter to my congressional representatives or
senator. I figured I was helpless to
change anything...but these girls are NOT helpless…
I watched the news coverage of Greta’s impassioned speech[2]
at the United Nations Climate Change Conference:
"This is all wrong. I
shouldn't be standing here. I should be back in school on the other side of the
ocean," she said with tears in her eyes. "Yet you all come to me for
hope? How dare you! You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty
words."
Then later I learned of young,
beautiful Licypriya saying in her speech[3]
to world leaders,
“Our policy makers from around the
world just gather here every year at [Climate Change Conferences] and do
nothing concrete for our future…Why should I come here? Why I should speak
here? I have to go to my school. I have to read my books. I have to play. I
have to study. But our leaders all have ruined my childhood life and my
beautiful future. This is not fair!”
No, it is not. When will we
heed the children? When we give them the life they need?
-Kathleen
*You,
who are on the road
Must have a code
That you can live by
And so become yourself
Because the past is just a good-bye
(chorus)
Teach your children well
Your father’s hell
Did slowly go by
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked
The one you’ll know by
Don’t you ever ask them why
If they told you, you would cry
So just look at them and sigh
And know they love you
And you of tender years
Can’t know the fears
That your elders grew by
And so please help them with your youth
They seek the truth
Before they can die
(chorus)
Teach your parents well
The children’s hell
Will slowly go by
And feed them on your dreams
The one they picked
The one you’ll know by
Don’t you ever ask them why
If they told you, you would cry
So just look at them and sigh
And know they love you
[3] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/meet-licypriya-kangujam-the-8-yr-old-indian-greta-who-is-urging-leaders-at-cop25-to-save-the-planet/articleshow/72493089.cms
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