Something extraordinary happened at the UN Earth Summit in Brazil in 1992. A young girl of 12 years of age addressed the forum on behalf of the environmental organisation she had formed with some friends at the age of 9. As you will see from the following video, she spoke eloquently and with clarity and conviction well beyond her years.
What has happened to Severn Suzuki since then? She has gone on to study environmental biology and campaign on environmental issues as a young adult. In 2002, she had an article published in Time Magazine called The Young Can’t Wait, in which she stated:
“Real environmental change depends on us. We can’t wait for our leaders. We have to focus on what our own responsibilities are and how we can make the change happen…in the 10 years since Rio, I have learned that addressing our leaders is not enough. As Gandhi said many years ago, “We must become the change we want to see.” I know change is possible, because I am changing, still figuring out what I think. I am still deciding how to live my life. The challenges are great, but if we accept individual responsibility and make sustainable choices, we will rise to the challenges, and we will become part of the positive tide of change.”
How much more convincing do we need that sustainable living and working are urgent issues?
This site seeks to explore the heart and soul of downshifting to a more sustainable, ethical and holistic way of living and working, in keeping with the needs of the planet, humanity as a whole and ourselves as individuals. 
Hi. It is 2011 and I am just becoming aware of this video today. It moved me to tears and I posted it on our office Intranet! I work at a long range planning agency, which in reality basically “battles” development, and loses most of the time.
I did a google search to see if I could find out more info and it lead me to your blog. I see many topics here that resonate with what tis girls said all those years ago. I will look at your blog posts… funny how things work out isn’t it. It is like time exists as just another pathway for us to walk down from place to place, only those places can be years apart. Severn’s talk in 1992, your blog post in 2009, my reply in 2011. That actually gives me hope for the future. Perhaps someone in 2075 will find this in some archive, and another part of the pathway is traversed. In that case… do not give up. Liv each day as it unfolds. We here care about you, and we are trying. Thru speeches, blogs, businesses.. everything.
Peace to you Severn, to you also Sally,
Jamie
Hi Jamie,
It does seem incredible that it is 19 years since this young lady started her crucial crusade. From what you say, it sounds as though the video clip has made quite an impression with you and I’m glad that you found it. I know that it was distributed widely around the net at the time I wrote the blog. I expect that alerting people to it at any time will have an impact.
Wishing you peace too Jamie.