Out of the mouth of children!

Who’s the steward of love?

Severn Suzuki, at the age of twelve was able to connect emotionally with her audience. Her use of pictures as visuals that evoked emotions, drove the world leaders to recognise the huge challenge she presented to them. Also, her use of family relations as well as taking them back to the fact that they too are someone’s children, caused these leaders to want to care. Her use of love for the earth as a result of loving the children is a good sticky idea. She compelled the politicians and business people to connect to their hearts more than their minds.

This video was recorded in Brazil just over two decades ago and yet it is still making the rounds on YouTube and positively influencing and challenging the young people and adults all over the world. This is because the message made a huge impact and since not all solutions were found, it is still making an impact even today.

Her message about her concern for the environment was so clear, simple and effective. It was also thought provoking as it was so meaningful then, and still resonant now. It speaks to the need for, and the power of the voice of the world’s youth. Young people see things for what they are and call their elders on their actions. Youth don’t know what is not possible, especially when they are passionate about something.

They (Canadian Youth), through Severn’s voice, wanted to be the conscience of the decision makers, and reminded them who they really were: not just politicians but parents and grandparents. They moved adults to action and therefore have seen some change. In 1992 the environmentalists were worried about the ozone layer, for example, but because of the Montreal Protocol, it’s not as big a concern in the recent years. This is to show the impact that this video had in moving the world leaders to make policies that protected the earth. Thanks to the UN’s work bringing nations together to govern the commons, we now have systems and processes in place for environmental protection where there were none before.