The mission of Young Voices for the Planet (YVFP) is to address the impacts of climate change by empowering youth. YVFP does this by creating uplifting and inspiring stories of young people who educate themselves, their peers and their communities, and in the process become leaders by changing laws, changing minds and changing the world.
This month on the Planet Classroom Network, audiences can screen Green Ambassadors, produced and directed by Lynne Cherry. The Green Ambassador Program is a grass-roots program that was developed by students, for students, and for the benefit of the world that the students will inherit. Their strategy through all of their programs is to provide experiences for the Green Ambassadors to acquire knowledge and develop the skills that will not only help them in the program, but also provide them with real-world skills. The students take the issues, research and develop solutions, and socially market the solutions to their peers and the community at-large.
The Global Search for Education is pleased to welcome Lynne Cherry.
Lynne, you dedicated this film to young people who want to be agents of change in their communities and their world. Your film was inspired by the children’s book, How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate: Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming. How did this book lead to the creation of your film?
After Gary Braasch and I wrote the book documenting the science of climate change, we realized that young people might get despondent and we wanted to provide positive success stories of what other young people were doing to abate CO2 emissions in order to inspire and empower them.
Since your film was released, we have watched young people around the world rise up and become passionate activists for their planet. This is particularly evident at COP26 this year in Glasgow. What do you believe this international youth movement has achieved so far and where do you see these young people going in the future?
Young people like Greta Thunberg are demanding climate action and shaming the adults. They are waking up adults. I see these young people taking over the reins of power.
In the UK and other countries, many seek to make climate education part of the traditional curriculum in schools for all children. What are your thoughts on this?
We have a serious problem in this country with a well-oiled machine that creates false information. Their strategy is to make people question whether climate change is real, just as the cigarette industry did to try to subvert the science that showed unequivocally that cigarettes cause cancer. We know unequivocally that CO2 and global warming gases cause climate change. I would like to see young people challenge FOX ‘news’. They could do that if they organized such a campaign.
Finally, how can young people who don’t have a Green Ambassador style program at their school get involved with helping the planet?
Young people can tackle any number of issues. Let me suggest that young people take a look at the Young Voices for the Planet ACTION PLAN. This will walk them through the steps of:
A – Assessing and Analyzing what needs to be done;
C – Collaborating with other students
T – Creating a Timetable
I – Identifying influencers – people who can help them get the job done
O – Organize
N – Share the news about their project and their successes
Anyone can see the plan and take a look at all the other ideas, stories, and resources on the Young Voices for the Planet website. Students who do not have a Green Ambassador program at their school can share this curriculum with their teachers and ask them to teach from it — to introduce the class to participatory democracy — identifying a problem or issue, learning how to get changes made in their community, especially reducing waste, reducing CO2 emissions, planting trees – see here.
So, as Mari says in the film Save Tomorrow:
Find Your Team!
Find Your Passion!
Find Your Power!
Go out and don’t be afraid to have your voices heard! You can make a difference in your community and in the world.
C.M. Rubin and Lynne Cherry
Don’t Miss Green Ambassadors, now screening on the Planet Classroom Network.
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The Global Search for Education: Adam Hersko-RonaTas Explores Iceland’s Transition Into A Globalized World
The Global Search for Education: Director David Hutchinson on Why the Martial Arts Are Like the Gospel
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