Whitaker’s words echo through the incredible work being
done by others facing life in an irreversibly changed world. The
Australian Student Environment Network (asen.org.au) hosts
conferences and training camps to bring young activists
together to “build capacity, community and alternatives
towards an environmentally and socially just world”.
Millennium Kids (millenniumkids.com.au) is a youth
environmental action group with 15 people aged 10 to 24 on
its board (a 10-year-old on a board).
In her role as NSW state coordinator for the Australian Youth
Climate Commission (AYCC), Grace Vegesana has turned her
passion for the environment into action. The AYCC (aycc.org.
au) is Australia’s largest youth-run organisation, a movement of
more than 150,000 people who are “fighting for a safe
climate”. She says she was motivated by a hunger to learn
about injustice: “When I heard the term ‘climate refugees’, my
world came to a standstill.” Vegesana is only 19, but she speaks
about climate reform with more grace and awareness than
anyone who’s drifted in or out of our government. There’s an
urgency to her compassion. “Young people today do not have
the privilege of being an apathetic, climate-denying generation.
If we do not enact climate justice now, the consequences of our
inaction will hurt us beyond belief.”
It’s easy to believe this upcoming generation might just save
us all. There’s lightness around if we look for it. We have access
to more information than ever before, for better or worse. We
can look past the headlines to find ideas from real scientists.
We can be amazed by the work everyday people are doing.
We must step back for some self-care when we need to, but we
must engage, participate and be hopeful.
Dr Deppeler, who is the most sensible person I know, warns
against despair. “It’s not the time to give in and surrender our
fate,” she says. “This is too important for us to give up on.” E
If you or anyone you know needs support, contact Beyond Blue
at beyondblue.org.au or on 1300 224 636.“WE MUST STEP BACK
FOR SEL F - CARE, BUT
WE MUST ALSO
E N G AG E , PA R T I C I PAT E
AND BE HOPEFUL”
#ELLEFUTUREISNOW