As Temperatures Rise, Young Voices Rise Too

They came from everywhere. They were tired of being nowhere.

London. Chicago. Melbourne. Berlin. Tokyo and Kabul, yes, Kabul, they came to strike this week against the lethargy of their leaders and to protest climate change. In a movement inspired by 13-year-old Greta Thunberg, youth all over the world are creating a grass-roots movement that won’t be ignored.

They gathered in 150 countries, three days before a United Nations summit on climate change. They can’t vote but I don’t believe that’s going to stop them. 

Watching the protests and reading about them, I can’t help but think of what my son said to me last year. “I think my generation may be the last one, because of what’s happening to the environment.” For the first time since I heard those words, I have hope that it won’t happen.

Signs and chants quoted in the Washington Post:

• “Make climate policy as if your kids will live here”
• “No planet B”
• And my favorite, in front of 10 Downing Street and Parliament in London:
•  “Winter is NOT coming”
• “I’m taking time out of my lessons to teach you.”

Seeing millions of schoolchildren and teens protesting also made me think that 16 years olds should be given the right to vote. They are mature enough, and enough is enough.

I don’t know when, exactly, societies started infantilizing teenagers. But I think it’s past time to let them have a say in how we govern (or don’t), in this country and others. And I think age 16 is a fair age to start. It is already one year older than Anne Frank was when she died in Bergen Belsen. It is certainly old enough to be a voting member of one’s community.

I realize not every one is going to vote the same way and I’m not asking for that. But giving young people a chance to weigh in on what’s going on in their world is the right thing to do and the civil thing to do.

Their hope, energy and anger are pushing older voters and policy makers to stop dithering around about the very real and serious dangers we are facing if we don’t do something about climate change.

Jonathan Safran Foer’s new book about climate change makes the point that experts agree four actions are crucial to stopping further damage to the environment:

• ·       Reducing the amount we fly
• ·       Reducing the amount we drive
• ·       Reducing/eliminating meat consumption
• ·       Having less children

This last one makes me very sad, but I believe if we can manage the first three, we may not need to take action on this last one.

This morning I can only think I want more children, not less, to fill the world with their voices. To rise up against the insanity that led us here. To play and enjoy their lives and be kids again. And yes, at 16, to vote so there will be future--for all of us.


Climate change photo:  Julian Meehan