Severn Suzuki at Rio Summit 1992 with Eng Subtitle

Summary

Severn Suzuki, a young environmental activist, addresses adults at an international conference, urging them to take responsibility for the future of the planet. Speaking on behalf of her generation, she highlights issues like pollution, environmental degradation, extinction, and poverty. She expresses fear for the future, questions the actions of world leaders, and challenges them to reflect their words with meaningful action. Suzuki passionately argues for global unity and the need for environmental and social change, emphasizing that children like her are directly impacted by the decisions made by adults today.

Takeaways

• 🌳 Severn Suzuki represents children concerned about the environment, emphasizing the urgency of addressing ecological issues.
• 🌏 She speaks for future generations and those affected by environmental degradation, such as starving children and endangered species.
• 😷 Severn expresses personal fear due to environmental problems like ozone layer depletion and air pollution.
• 🐟 She recounts the decline in fish populations due to pollution and the broader loss of biodiversity.
• 🌱 Severn dreams of natural wonders but fears they may vanish before her children can experience them.
• 👶 As a child, she challenges adults to recognize they don't have all the answers to environmental problems.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 She calls for unity and collective action among the global family of humans and other species.
• 💔 Severn criticizes the wasteful habits of developed countries and the lack of wealth distribution to the needy.
• 🤝 She highlights the willingness of a child with nothing to share, questioning the greed of those with plenty.
• 🌍 She envisions a better world if resources spent on war were redirected to solving environmental and social issues.
• 🏫 Severn points out the contradiction between the values taught in schools and the actions of adults in the world.
• 🗣️ She calls on adults to align their actions with their words and to prioritize the well-being of children and the planet.

Q & A

Who is Severn Suzuki and what organization does she represent?

Severn Suzuki is a young environmental activist who, at the time of the speech, represents the Environmental Children's Organization (ECO), a group of 12 and 13-year-olds trying to make a difference.

How did Severn Suzuki and her group manage to attend the conference?

Severn and her group raised all the money themselves to come to the conference, traveling five thousand miles to attend.

What is the main message Severn Suzuki wants to convey to the adults at the conference?

Severn Suzuki's main message is that adults must change their ways to protect the environment for future generations.

Why does Severn Suzuki feel it is urgent to address environmental issues?

She feels it is urgent because the environment is deteriorating rapidly, with issues like ozone depletion, air pollution, and species extinction happening before our eyes.

What personal experiences does Severn Suzuki share to emphasize the impact of environmental issues?

Severn shares her fear of going out in the sun due to ozone holes, breathing polluted air, and her experience of finding fish with cancer while fishing with her dad in Vancouver.

How does Severn Suzuki describe the global family of humans and other species?

She describes the global family as being 30 million species strong, emphasizing that borders and governments do not change this interconnectedness.

What does Severn Suzuki criticize about the behavior of adults in developed countries?

She criticizes the excessive waste and consumerism in developed countries, where people buy and throw away without considering the needs of others.

What does Severn Suzuki suggest could be done with the money spent on war?

She suggests that if the money spent on war was instead spent on finding environmental solutions, ending poverty, and establishing treaties, the world would be a much better place.

How does Severn Suzuki feel about the actions of adults in relation to the teachings they give to children?

She expresses disappointment and challenges adults to make their actions reflect the values they teach children, such as not fighting, respecting others, and sharing.

What challenge does Severn Suzuki issue to the adults at the conference?

She challenges them to ensure their actions reflect their words and to make the world a better place for children, questioning whether children are even on their list of priorities.

What does Severn Suzuki want adults to realize about their role in the world?

She wants adults to realize that they are part of a global family and should act as one world towards a single goal, and that they, too, do not have all the solutions to environmental problems.