(Emily here)
It has been a very long while since I have written and to be honest it is because Matt and I have stalled out on topics to write about. We have bought a house, and that very large purchase makes us feel excitement and a tad guilty at the same time. But, at least this way we are investing in our own future so that we can continue to help other people (or something like that!).
This past weekend I attended a "youth summit for biodiversity" put on by Ontario Nature. The entire weekend was incredibly inspirational and jam-packed with activities focusing on the importance of biodiversity. Even though I attended as a chaperone, I learned so much and came away feeling just as pumped-up and excited about joining a cause as the students did.
One of my big plugs is that we can't expect to turn around our environmental problems when there are 1.2 billion people in the world fighting for basic survival. If a starving person is faced with choosing between saving an endangered plant or feeding his/her family, what do you think he/she will choose? I have always thought that the answer to our environmental woes is to help the starving/homeless/poor first; and then deal with healing the planet. I understand that both are huge issues and will take a similarly huge amount of political pressure to make happen.
There was one speaker this weekend who runs an organization called "Leadership Rewired." He was incredibly dynamic, entertaining and really got the participants to think about some big issues. He did this great activity where he asked the entire auditorium to stand up. On his projector screen he showed different words and asked us to sit down when we saw something that we couldn't live without. Cell phone. Ipod. Facebook. Music. Coffee. Shopping. And so on, and so on, and so on. At the end of about 25 items on the list there were only 2 people left standing. He went on to say, "there are only two people left standing, and this is before I got to the 4 items that 1.2 billion people in the world live without every day." Food. Water. Shelter. Education.
Pretty poignant.
He continued on to say that if the students want to help out with ANY cause they really need to "use their youth" to do good. Now, I may be coming into the end of my youth (and some may say that boat sailed a long time ago and I should stop dreaming!) but I still felt just as motivated to do good as the students in that room.
So I've come back home from this summit and feel recharged. I want to do more for the global community and for the environment. I'm going to "use my youth" while I still have some left!
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Well Emily it was certainly a pleasure to have you come out to the summit, and I am sure everyone learned a lot there. Even the presenters and keynote speakers learned something new. I certainly have.
ReplyDeleteYou should most definitely come back out and do some more fun and focused activities and events.
Regardless on what anyone says, you are a youth with the experience and knowledge that other youth aspire to have. You have a very strong spirit and I believe you will continue to do the things you love with beneficial outcome. Keep growing as admirable as you are.