When you are little, it's not hard to believe you can change the world.
When
you
are
little
,
it
's
not
hard
to
believe
you
can
change
the
world
.
I remember my enthusiasm when, at the age of 12, I addressed delegates at the Rio Earth Summit.
I
remember
my
enthusiasm
when
,
at
the
age
of
12
,
I
addressed
delegates
at
the
Rio
Earth
Summit
.
"I am only a child," I told them.
``
I
am
only
a
child
,
''
I
told
them
.
"Yet I know that if all the money spent on war was spent on ending poverty and finding environment answers, what a wonderful place this would be.
``
Yet
I
know
that
if
all
the
money
spent
on
war
was
spent
on
ending
poverty
and
finding
environment
answers
,
what
a
wonderful
place
this
would
be
.
In school you teach us not to fight with others, to work things out, to respect others, to clean up our mess, not to hurt other creatures, to share, not to be greedy.
In
school
you
teach
us
not
to
fight
with
others
,
to
work
things
out
,
to
respect
others
,
to
clean
up
our
mess
,
not
to
hurt
other
creatures
,
to
share
,
not
to
be
greedy
.
Then why do you go out and do the thing you tell us not to do?
Then
why
do
you
go
out
and
do
the
thing
you
tell
us
not
to
do
?
You grown-ups say you love us, but I challenge you, please, to make your actions reflect your words."
You
grown-ups
say
you
love
us
,
but
I
challenge
you
,
please
,
to
make
your
actions
reflect
your
words
.
''
I spoke for six minutes and received a standing ovation.
I
spoke
for
six
minutes
and
received
a
standing
ovation
.
Some of the delegates even cried.
Some
of
the
delegates
even
cried
.
I thought that maybe I had reached some of them, that my speech might actually spur action.
I
thought
that
maybe
I
had
reached
some
of
them
,
that
my
speech
might
actually
spur
action
.
Now, a decade from Rio, after I've sat through many more conferences, I'm not sure what has been accomplished.
Now
,
a
decade
from
Rio
,
after
I
've
sat
through
many
more
conferences
,
I
'm
not
sure
what
has
been
accomplished
.
My confidence in the people in power and in the power of an individual's voice to reach them has been deeply shaken.
My
confidence
in
the
people
in
power
and
in
the
power
of
an
individual
's
voice
to
reach
them
has
been
deeply
shaken
.
When I was little, the world was simple.
When
I
was
little
,
the
world
was
simple
.
But as a young adult, I'm learning that as we have to make choices--education, career, lifestyle--life gets more and more complicated.
But
as
a
young
adult
,
I
'm
learning
that
as
we
have
to
make
choices
--
education
,
career
,
lifestyle
--
life
gets
more
and
more
complicated
.
We are beginning to feel pressure to produce and be successful.
We
are
beginning
to
feel
pressure
to
produce
and
be
successful
.
We are taught that economic growth is in progress, but aren't taught how to pursue a happy, healthy or sustainable way of living.
We
are
taught
that
economic
growth
is
in
progress
,
but
are
n't
taught
how
to
pursue
a
happy
,
healthy
or
sustainable
way
of
living
.
And we are learning that what we wanted for the future when we were 12 was ideal and innocent.
And
we
are
learning
that
what
we
wanted
for
the
future
when
we
were
12
was
ideal
and
innocent
.
Today I'm no longer a child, but I'm worried about what kind of environment my children will grow up in.
Today
I
'm
no
longer
a
child
,
but
I
'm
worried
about
what
kind
of
environment
my
children
will
grow
up
in
.
I know change is possible, because I am changing, still figuring out what I think.
I
know
change
is
possible
,
because
I
am
changing
,
still
figuring
out
what
I
think
.
I am still deciding how to live my life.
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.
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
.
When you are little, it's not hard to believe you can change the world. I remember my enthusiasm when, at the age of 12, I addressed delegates at the Rio Earth Summit. "I am only a child," I told them. "Yet I know that if all the money spent on war was spent on ending poverty and finding environment answers, what a wonderful place this would be. In school you teach us not to fight with others, to work things out, to respect others, to clean up our mess, not to hurt other creatures, to share, not to be greedy. Then why do you go out and do the thing you tell us not to do? You grown-ups say you love us, but I challenge you, please, to make your actions reflect your words."  I spoke for six minutes and received a standing ovation. Some of the delegates even cried. I thought that maybe I had reached some of them, that my speech might actually spur action. Now, a decade from Rio, after I've sat through many more conferences, I'm not sure what has been accomplished. My confidence in the people in power and in the power of an individual's voice to reach them has been deeply shaken.  When I was little, the world was simple. But as a young adult, I'm learning that as we have to make choices--education, career, lifestyle--life gets more and more complicated. We are beginning to feel pressure to produce and be successful. We are taught that economic growth is in progress, but aren't taught how to pursue a happy, healthy or sustainable way of living. And we are learning that what we wanted for the future when we were 12 was ideal and innocent.  Today I'm no longer a child, but I'm worried about what kind of environment my children will grow up in. 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.