Tragedy & Transformation

Speaking with a friend the other day, we were both lamenting the inaction of many young people to get really involved in the fight against climate change. (In fact, I even wrote another blog about the lack of young people showing up a few weeks ago.) As we were talking, my friend questioned why the youth don’t feel urgency around this issue, why they aren’t willing to make sacrifices now knowing what the future holds if we don’t take action. And my response was:

“I’m sure that the kids, just like the adults, are fucking terrified and just want to live while they can.”

And it struck deep for both of us as we realized how scary and big this problem must seem to millennials and “Generation Z”. Facing this issue is overwhelming for us, but it’s existence-shattering-scary for most young people who take the time to really look at it. The “fight or flight” response kicks in when we are faced with a threat and, evolutionarily, if we are facing an opponent that we have little to no chance of defeating on our own, we tend to flee. Climate Change is the ultimate opponent. It is massive in scale; it is omnipresent; it is powerful. No wonder kids don’t want to face it. Honestly, most days neither do I. Most days I work on smaller problems that – hopefully – will have an impact on pushing back on the impacts of a changing climate, but I do not face the issue as a whole very often. I can’t. It’s too scary and big.

And yet…..

This past week I saw something rising. The recent devastating shooting in Parkland, Florida has breathed new life into youth activism. These kids, in the span of a week, have already effected change across the nation. Young people across this country are also rising in solidarity, planning marches and school walk-outs. And that gives me hope for the future. Because the gun culture in this country is also a massive, scary, and powerful opponent – but they are taking it on.

From the #thisiszerohour website.

Then, just yesterday, I saw that youth are planning a climate march in D.C. this summer – and they are hoping others across the nation will join them by planning “sister marches”. And these young activists are doing more than marching – they have started their own organization, http://thisiszerohour.org/, devoted to action on climate and environmental justice. They have visited the capital, strategized, and are looking to make real change. (Please, go check them out and support them in any way you can!)

And, though they don't get the attention they deserve, over the past several years we have seen the Movement for Black Lives grow - a movement that involves youth from multiple organizations such as Black Lives Matter, Black Youth Project 100, and the Dream Defenders. These young people are out in force, demanding change and equity and justice.

What I am learning is that it’s not that kids are unwilling to do the work or be the change – maybe they just now are awakening to their own power. Maybe they are just growing tired of waiting on adults to save them. Maybe they are more fearless and inspired than we have ever given them credit for.

Maybe, just maybe, the kids are alright.