Listen to the Children - Severn Cullis-Suzuki's famous speech on the environment (1992)

United Nations

27 Oct 201708:28

Summary

TLDRSevern Suzuki, representing the Environmental Children's Organization, passionately addresses the United Nations, urging adults to take responsibility for the environment. She highlights the plight of future generations, the extinction of species, and the need for global unity to combat environmental issues. Suzuki challenges the audience to reflect on their actions, questioning the disparity between what they teach children and their own behaviors, and calls for a world that prioritizes environmental sustainability and equity.

Takeaways

🌳 Severn Suzuki represents the Environmental Children's Organization, emphasizing the urgency of environmental issues from a child's perspective.
💪 The group of children, aged 12 and 13, have independently raised funds to travel to speak to adults about the need for change.
🌏 Suzuki highlights the global impact of environmental degradation, including ozone depletion and air pollution.
🐟 She shares personal experiences of environmental decline, such as finding cancerous fish and witnessing the extinction of species.
👶 Suzuki speaks for future generations, expressing fear for what her children might not see due to current environmental trends.
🤔 The speech acknowledges the lack of solutions from both the speaker and the adults, emphasizing the need for collective action.
🔍 The speaker challenges the audience, stating that they don't know how to fix environmental problems but should stop causing further damage.
🌱 Suzuki calls for unity and cooperation among all people, regardless of borders, to address environmental issues.
🏛 She criticizes the disparity between the wealth of developed nations and the poverty of others, questioning the reluctance to share resources.
💰 The speech points out the irony of children being taught values such as sharing and respect, while adults act contrary to these lessons.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Suzuki reminds the audience that they are acting on behalf of their own children and asks them to reflect on their priorities and actions.

Q & A

Who is Severn Suzuki and what organization does she represent?
-Severn Suzuki is a young environmental activist who, at the age of 12, represented the Environmental Children's Organization (ECO) at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992.
What is the main message Severn Suzuki is trying to convey to the adults in the audience?
-Severn Suzuki is urging adults to change their ways and take responsibility for the environmental damage they have caused, emphasizing the importance of future generations and the need for immediate action.
What is the significance of the phrase 'fighting for my future' used by Severn Suzuki?
-The phrase 'fighting for my future' signifies the urgency and personal stake that young people have in the environmental issues being discussed, as their future is directly impacted by the current state of the environment.
Why does Severn Suzuki mention the ozone layer and the extinction of species?
-Severn Suzuki mentions the ozone layer and species extinction to highlight the severity of environmental problems and the irreversible consequences of inaction, such as the loss of biodiversity and the potential health risks to humans.
What does Severn Suzuki imply when she talks about the 'holes in our ozone layer' and 'animals and plants going extinct'?
-She implies the critical state of the environment due to human activities, such as pollution and habitat destruction, which have led to the depletion of the ozone layer and the extinction of various species.
Why does Severn Suzuki express fear about going out in the Sun and breathing the air?
-Severn expresses fear due to the environmental degradation, including the depletion of the ozone layer which increases harmful UV radiation, and air pollution which can contain harmful chemicals and particulates.
What is the connection Severn Suzuki draws between the behavior taught in school and the actions of adults?
-Severn points out the discrepancy between the values taught to children, such as respect, sharing, and not harming others, and the actions of adults who often fail to apply these principles in addressing global environmental and social issues.
What does Severn Suzuki suggest when she talks about 'buy and throw away' culture?
-Severn criticizes the consumerist culture of developed countries where resources are often wasted through overconsumption and disposability, contributing to environmental problems like pollution and resource depletion.
What is the implication of Severn Suzuki's statement about children living on the streets in Brazil?
-The implication is a call for empathy and a reminder of the stark inequalities in the world, where some children have nothing while others have abundance, and a challenge to the audience to consider their role in perpetuating these disparities.
How does Severn Suzuki challenge the adults to reflect their love for children through their actions?
-Severn challenges adults to ensure that their actions align with their professed love for children by taking concrete steps to address environmental and social issues, rather than just making empty promises.
What is the final appeal Severn Suzuki makes to the adults in the audience?
-Severn's final appeal is for the adults to take immediate and meaningful action on environmental issues, to stop contributing to environmental degradation, and to create a world that is safe and sustainable for future generations.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 Environmental Activism by Youth

Severn Suzuki, a young representative of the environmental children's organization 'Ecco', addresses the audience at a conference. She emphasizes the urgency of environmental issues, stating that the future of all generations is at stake. Severn and her peers have self-funded their journey to highlight the need for adults to change their ways. She speaks for the voiceless: the starving children, dying animals, and the disappearing natural wonders. Severn expresses her fear for the environment, mentioning the ozone layer depletion and air pollution. She challenges the audience, stating that despite being a child, she understands the gravity of the situation, and questions the adults' ability to find solutions to environmental crises. She calls for unity and collective action against environmental degradation.

05:03

🤔 The Paradox of Wealth and Greed

In the second paragraph, Severn Suzuki continues her speech by addressing the disparity between the rich and the poor. She recounts the aspirations of a street child who, despite having nothing, wishes to share if given the chance. This contrasts with the greed and unwillingness of the wealthy to share their resources. Severn reflects on her own privileged life in Canada and the stark contrast with children living in poverty around the world. She criticizes the adult world for not practicing the values they teach children, such as respect, sharing, and caring for the environment. Severn challenges the adults to align their actions with their words and to prioritize the well-being of the planet and its inhabitants. She ends her speech with a plea for the adults to consider the kind of world they are creating for the next generation and to take responsibility for their actions.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Environment

The environment refers to the physical and biological factors surrounding and affecting an organism or an ecosystem. In the video, the environment is a central theme as the speaker, Severn Suzuki, addresses the degradation of the natural world, including the depletion of the ozone layer, pollution, and the extinction of species. The script highlights the urgency of environmental issues and calls for action to protect the planet for future generations.

💡Ozone Layer

The ozone layer is a region of Earth's stratosphere that contains a high concentration of ozone molecules. It is crucial for absorbing most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In the script, Suzuki mentions the 'holes in our ozone' to emphasize the environmental crisis, where the ozone layer is being depleted, leading to increased UV radiation and posing a threat to human health and ecosystems.

💡Extinction

Extinction is the disappearance of a species or group of species. The script uses the term 'extinction' to highlight the loss of biodiversity due to human activities such as deforestation and pollution. Suzuki expresses concern about the future of wild animals and rainforests, fearing that they may cease to exist for future generations if current trends continue.

💡Sustainability

Sustainability refers to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The video script implies the concept of sustainability when Suzuki criticizes the current generation's consumption patterns and calls for a change in behavior to ensure a healthy planet for future generations. The script suggests that sustainable practices are necessary to preserve resources and ecosystems.

💡Pollution

Pollution refers to the presence of substances or things that are harmful or poisonous to the environment. In the script, pollution is mentioned in the context of air quality, with Suzuki expressing fear of breathing the air due to unknown chemicals. Pollution is a significant environmental issue that affects human health, wildlife, and the overall quality of the environment.

💡Cancer

Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. In the script, Suzuki recounts finding fish 'full of cancers' in Vancouver, illustrating the impact of pollution on wildlife and hinting at the potential health risks for humans who consume contaminated food or live in polluted environments.

💡Privilege

Privilege refers to a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group. The script contrasts the privileged lifestyle of people in developed countries with the plight of those living in poverty. Suzuki points out the disparity between the 'privileged life' in Canada with access to food, water, and technology, and the lack of basic necessities faced by children living on the streets in Brazil.

💡Greed

Greed is an intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food. In the video, greed is criticized as a driving force behind environmental degradation and social inequality. Suzuki questions why people with 'everything' are still greedy and unwilling to share resources with those in need, highlighting the moral and ethical implications of consumerism and wealth accumulation.

💡Action

Action refers to the process of doing something active and effective instead of merely talking about or thinking about it. The script emphasizes the need for concrete actions to address environmental issues. Suzuki challenges the adults in the audience to not only talk about change but to 'make your actions reflect your words,' urging them to take tangible steps to protect the environment and promote social justice.

💡Generations

Generations refer to the successive groups of people born and living at about the same time, resulting in different age groups in society. The script speaks on behalf of 'all generations to come,' emphasizing the long-term consequences of current actions on the environment and social conditions. Suzuki's message is that the decisions made today will affect the world her generation and future generations will inherit.

💡Responsibility

Responsibility is the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or someone. In the script, responsibility is a recurring theme as Suzuki holds the adults accountable for the state of the environment and the well-being of children. She challenges them to take responsibility for their actions and to ensure a sustainable and just world for future generations.

Highlights

Severn Suzuki speaks on behalf of the Environmental Children's Organization, a group of young activists striving to make a difference.

The young activists have self-funded their journey to address the urgent need for environmental action.

Suzuki emphasizes the intergenerational impact of environmental issues, fighting for her future and generations to come.

She highlights the plight of starving children and endangered species, whose existence is threatened by environmental degradation.

Suzuki expresses fear for her health due to pollution and the depletion of the ozone layer.

The speaker recounts the decline of wildlife in her hometown, Vancouver, including finding cancerous fish.

She dreams of preserving natural wonders like wild herds and lush jungles for future generations.

Suzuki challenges the audience, stating that neither she nor they have all the solutions to environmental issues.

A call to action for adults and leaders to stop contributing to environmental harm if they cannot fix it.

The speaker reminds the audience of their roles as family members and the interconnectedness of all life on Earth.

Suzuki emphasizes the need for global unity and collective action towards a single environmental goal.

She criticizes the disparity between the wealth of northern countries and the poverty of the needy.

The speaker recounts a street child's wish to share resources, questioning the greed of the wealthy.

Suzuki reflects on the potential for a better world if war funds were redirected to environmental and social causes.

She points out the contradiction between the values taught in schools and the actions of adults.

The speaker urges the audience to consider their priorities and the kind of world they are creating for children.

Suzuki challenges the audience to ensure their actions align with their words of love for children.