Catherine Flower’s hope in young people was contagious. Listening to Catherine speak about her life as an activist, about the positive potential she sees in our generation, was like someone smiling at you on a dull day and suddenly realizing that you are now smiling yourself because there is still so much to smile about, still so much hope. “Step into yourself” Catherine Flowers implored us. I then realized the importance of stepping into the potential of my actions, stepping into the discomfort and out of the comfort of silence. Silence will not generate change, but action, regardless of age, will.
Young people have seldom tapped pools of inspiration and energy. 7 high school students started Bill McKibben’s 350 campaign. 12 high school students started Jane Goodall’s organization, Roots and Shoots. It doesn’t always take one charismatic leader to shift ideology and values. Sometimes we need a network of leaders to spread and sustain a movement. What Bill McKibben considers a “leaderful” movement is a diverse and self-sustaining movement. When you have a network of environmental leaders, the movement never dies out – it keeps regenerating momentum. Jane Goodall envisions “a critical mass of young people who understand that while we need money to live, we should not live for money” (pg. 188). Goodall calls us to realign our values and consider the value of world that supports life, the cost of not considering such value. McKibben calls for a “protean” movement. I admit I had to look up this word. Protean is defined as “readily assuming different forms; changeable in form or shape.” In this light, it makes sense that hope in youth underlies Goodall’s and McKibben’s messages; young people are adaptable and changing. It is my hope that we are ready to grow with and confront this changing world
I heard Jane Goodall speak a year ago at UT Arlington. I heard Bill McKibben speak last semester here at Duke. We have had the privilege to hear from activists Dr. Kirk, Crystal Dreisbach, and Catherine Flowers. These leaders spark a fresh motivation in me. Reflecting on the power of their words and actions, I realize our generation will have big shoes to step into. And I believe we also have shoes to make. Making activism accessible remains a challenge in the environmental movement, but I believe we will keep walking forward, gaining support with each step. Who’s ready to march?
