They are not just climate activists, they are climate justice activists. A group of incredible Teenagers, far more intelligent than millions of adults worldwide. Greta Thunberg started the “school strike for climate” movement little over a year ago in Sweden. Millions and millions of people follow her path and strike for more climate awareness and actions by worldwide politicians and leading companies during international Climate Strikes, on Fridays. But she’s not the only voice you can follow if you want to stay updated on the young people demanding action on the climate crisis. Below you will find an overview of an international selection of activists.
Young climate activists to follow on Twitter
1. Alexandria Villaseñor, 14 years old
As the founder of Earth Uprising, a global climate change movement, and one of the youngest organisers of the historic Sept. 20 Global Climate Strike, it’s no secret that Alexandria Villaseñor is on the frontlines of the climate change movement.
Villaseñor was inspired to learn about climate change after visiting California in 2018 during the Camp Fire, the deadliest wildfire in the state’s history. The smoke travelled to where she was staying and triggered her asthma, which led her to research the wildfires and their causes, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“I kind of linked the California wildfires to climate change because climate change is fueling those fires,” Villaseñor told Mashable earlier this year.
The entire central valley of California looks like this!
Join @ExtinctionR and #InternationalRebellion, go on #ClimateStrike, join @sunrisemvmt – because we need an @Earth_Uprising!
Now is time to do whatever it takes to #KeepItInTheGround! pic.twitter.com/UrtOBHTsnR— Alexandria Villaseñor (@AlexandriaV2005) October 7, 2019
2. Isra Hirsi, 16 years old
Daughter of Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, Hirsi is the executive director and co-founder of the U.S. Youth Climate Strike, a group that organises youth climate strikes around the country and advocates for climate policy like the Green New Deal.
Initially, Hirsi focused on combatting racial injustice. Vice reported that Hirsi shifted her mindset when she realised just how much climate change affects people of colour in particular. Now Hirsi is an unstoppable force, bringing attention to the fact that climate change is also a race equity issue, and speaking out about the importance of diverse representation in climate change activism.
“They don’t have people like me, and in order to make spaces welcoming of black and brown voices, you have to create them yourself.”
And so I did. @usclimatestrike @rachelbianca https://t.co/v4cUbSQq9v
— isra hirsi (@israhirsi) September 27, 2019
Isra Hirsi: "Being the only person of color in these spaces made me realize why it was so difficult for other people of color. While striking is a powerful form of protest, there are many barriers that make it inaccessible." Read @israhirsi's full op-ed. https://t.co/4FrLaoGXRF
— grist (@grist) October 1, 2019
3. Xiye Bastida, 17 years old
The Mexican-born activist is no stranger to climate change and its devastating effects. As Bastida explains on the Global Climate Strike website, she was forced to leave her hometown in Mexico after floods prevented her from attending school. And as the Huff Post reported, she and her family relocated to New York City where she learned about Hurricane Sandy and realised the climate change problem was global.
The Sunrise Movement Is Building An Army In The Early 2020 States https://t.co/TOSohHZLNb
— Zahra Hirji (@Zhirji28) October 2, 2019
Please read this interview I did w/@buzzfeednews about my experiences with Nazis, stalkers, death &rape threats, and all the ugly attacks that I and my fellow activists receive for being a young women fighting for climate justice.
By: @Zhirji28 https://t.co/eXShR6Jb8o
— Jamie Sarai Margolin 🇵🇸 (@Jamie_Margolin) October 1, 2019
4. Luisa Neubauer, 23 years old
Luisa is a german based Climate Activist, publishing her first book „vom ende der klimakrise“ (“from the end of the climate crisis”) in mid-October 2019.
As a climate activist it’s easy to lose hope in political processes. It’s hence a very special moment to hear the mayors of Paris, Copenhagen and LA delivering some of the most empowering & visionary climate plans on this planet. #C40 is so powerful. #TheFutureWeWant pic.twitter.com/p9Y4VqkmzK
— Luisa Neubauer (@Luisamneubauer) October 9, 2019
In this talk Luisa Neubauer, climate activist and one of the initiators of #FridaysForFuture school strikes in Germany, calls out for you to become an activist yourself.
“Humanity is creating an environment that’s not save for humans anymore.”
— @Luisamneubauer[THREAD 1/6] pic.twitter.com/jTzuXThScr
— Michael Flammer #KlimaVor8 (@Jumpsteady) October 10, 2019
5. Vic Barrett, 20 years old
Barrett, an Afro-Latino climate justice activist, first experienced climate change’s ramifications during Hurricane Sandy, when his home lost power, and he could not go to school. He took this fight against climate change directly to the U.S. government. Through Juliana vs the United States, Barrett, along with 21 other young plaintiffs, are suing the government for its central role in encouraging the climate crisis by supporting an energy system that emits huge amounts of greenhouse gases.
Just casually had one of the best moments of my life after testifying to congress today. Thank you @IlhanMN for making kids like me believe you can be anything and still do anything. It means the world. Quite literally. #StrikeWithUs #youthvgov #cryinglol pic.twitter.com/uLKtPwX4wZ
— Vic J. Barrett (@vict_barrett) September 19, 2019
Give this a read. Get the full story of what this climate crisis is, an issue of justice. This movement is so much a movement of black and brown youth not just fighting for our future but trying to reclaim some of the past that’s been taken from our people. https://t.co/52vK6zqAOv
— Vic J. Barrett (@vict_barrett) September 27, 2019
6. Katie Eder, 19 years old
Eder’s commitment to addressing climate change cannot be understated — the Wisconsinite is taking a two-year gap before starting college so that she can fight the climate crisis.
Eder is the executive director of the Future Coalition, a network she founded in 2018, consisting of over 40 youth-led organising groups. She also created the U.S. Youth Climate Strike Coalition, which spurred hundreds of thousands of young people and adults to participate in the Sept. 20. Global Climate Strike in America.
“We as a generation have gotten really activated because I think we realise that if we don’t step up and do something, no one is going to.”
Katie Eder
WATCH: "I think it's really exciting. Young people are always the catalyst for change, when it comes to social movements. When young people get involved, something changes and something happens."
– @katie_eder on the role of youth led activist groups on #climatechange pic.twitter.com/AN4r6SF67F
— The Damage Report (@TheDamageReport) May 31, 2019
At the #CNNClimateTownHall! The youth’s demands are:
-A Green New Deal
-Respect Indigenous Land
-Environmental Justice
-Protect and restore biodiversity
-Sustainable agricultureCheck https://t.co/c2HccS4JkZ pic.twitter.com/ttPlWRtPpF
— Xiye Bastida (@xiyebastida) September 4, 2019
via mashable.com
