The Works of the World

The Young Can't Wait

Severn Cullis-Suki

Pg. 355

I didn't even hear the 6 minute speech that Severn Cullis-Suki gave when she was at the age of 12 years old, but in the first paragraph she quotes his speech and it really touched me how she was talking about how adults constantly tell us that we shouldn't fight with others, and that we should always work things out amongst one another, that we should always respect each other, to always share, not to be greedy, not to hurt anyone...etc. Which are basically all of your values that you learn growing up. But then you look at the world around you now that you are older, and realize, those people you looked up to and learned from, are doing exactly those things they warned you and taught you not to do.

I feel that in this passage that we read, she is basically telling us that we shouldn't wait for our leaders to make a change. That we as people should start this change within ourselves by not driving the biggest cars possible, not having to buy our drinking water in bottles, and other things that could improve our environment. People are capable of making this change. By doing things that are more environmental friendly, we will become a part of this positive change to our world.

Sure there are things that our leaders are doing, by offering hybrid cars, recycling bins, and other things, but the real change in our world depends on us. We have to make those changes and we as human beings that are inhibiting this earth, I feel have a duty to do so. All of us, just like Severn Cullis-Suki are concerned about the kind of environment our children will grow up in. What we do today will mold what our world will become. We can't rely on our government to do all these things. We have to make these changes.