"It's not easy being green."
-- Kermit the Frog
When critics tire, if ever, of dissing environmental messengers, maybe they will finally get acquainted with the mess we've all made for ourselves in our nest.
It is sadly humorous to hear people joke about "saving the planet," because, although we puny beings keep rearranging the deck chairs, we probably cannot knock this third rock from the sun out of orbit. It's not the planet, but our species that's in real trouble as we increase our numbers without increasing or preserving the basics that sustain life. And, to make matters worse, we continue inventing more devious weapons of mass destruction as if murder and suicide are preferable to life and peace.
It takes great fortitude and passion to try and right a ship of fools. Thankfully, many of today's youth seem up to the challenge. Seeing clearly that for the last 50 years we've failed to reverse the human impact on climate, children and young adults are taking to the streets, to the halls of government, to the courts, to the media and into meeting rooms across the globe to demand a livable future.
Locally, several college and high school students have organized "The Green New Deal Town Hall," to be held at the Fayetteville Public Library at 5:30 p.m. June 20 with refreshments, music, and an art show. A program starts at 6 p.m. to explain, discuss, and perhaps dissect the Green New Deal legislation, which has been tossed around in Congress and in the presidential campaigns since after the mid-term elections.
Some of the presenters and organizers of this town hall, which is not just for youth, but for everyone of every age, are: Micah Wallace, a University of Arkansas student, who's been active in state politics, presented a TEDx Fayetteville talk on global issues, helped plan the NWA Women's March and is active in the Citizens Climate Lobby; Billy Cook, also a U of A student and Citizens Climate Lobby member majoring in history and political science, is "involved in activist projects and political work," and interested in "the potential remedies which we have on hand to combat" climate change; Conner Williams, a student at Arkansas Tech University majoring in environmental science, is also in Citizens Climate Lobby and active in the campus environmental club; Art Matlock of Native American lineage just graduated from Fayetteville High School, was president of the OMNI Center for Peace, Justice, and Ecology student-run club, and became inspired by ecological justice issues like the Dakota Access Pipeline, which he says, " further proved the inhuman power of the fossil fuel industry in politics and the destruction of the environment"; and Iman Blackwell, also a recent FHS graduate, who in the past few years has "primarily been involved in environmental activism through a plastic bag reduction campaign," with the Young Environmentalists club, also in Citizens Climate Lobby, and she plans, "to study international relations with a concentration in environment and energy at Georgetown University."
With a line-up of activist speakers like these along with other university and FHS students relating their personal experiences on environmental issues, this should be a lively discussion. Micah summed up the effort this way: "The Green New Deal is a comprehensive legislative package which seeks to provide policy options to combat the existential threat of climate change. There are many public rumors about the Green New Deal, and it is our hope to dispel mistruths and inform citizens about why they should join the movement. Getting involved by lobbying lawmakers, joining the Sunrise Movement, and supporting a climate-change centered debate are just a few ways students will encourage attendees to make a Green New Deal happen. The effects of climate change in Arkansas will be even more flooding, drought and severe weather events. It is important we take local action to address climate change significantly."
These are not the leaders of tomorrow. These are the leaders of today. The maturity, commitment, talent and creativity of these students gives great hope and lift to those of us tattered, worn, and tired from decades of environmental struggles.
Come listen to them. We need to give them our attention and respect and support their efforts. People like this are our last best chance. Let's not blow it again.
Commentary on 06/04/2019