Found: Inspirtation, Wanted: Brave Youth

Yesterday I was down, really down. It was difficult to explain when people asked me, “How are you doing?” Physically I was fine, mentally I was dead. My mom tried her best to sympathize, but really how can she? It won’t be her problem to deal with in the future. Plus, since the effects of climate change haven’t been drastically seen in our country, it’s difficult for Americans to comprehend unless they pay attention and care about other countries besides the USA.

I’ve tried talking to others about Copenhagen’s new pointless goal (according to some world leaders, but not all let me remind you). While my friends are extremely understanding and let me vent, my mood just wasn’t improving. I found myself questioning what the point of me going to Copenhagen even was.

So, I called up Tim DeChristopher, one of the most intense and inspiring people I have ever met.

Last winter, he went to an auction where land in national parks in Utah was being sold for oil and gas drilling. He pretended to be a bidder, bought around $1.7 million in land, and caused quite a bit of ruckus. The auction was halted and then closed. (Read more about him here: http://www.bidder70.org/)

We talked about his trial, the environmental movement, activism, Copenhagen, and him possibly coming to the east coast to speak. Damn, it was a good idea to make that phone call. I hung on to every second of our conversation, taking in what he was saying and really thinking about it. While I treasure what we spoke of and the fact that I am on a first name basis with such an incredible person, I feel the need to share some of his advice. Maybe it will be that pick-me-up for you the way it was for me.

Me: “Well, I’m trying not to get to down about it [Copenhagen]. I’m trying to stay positive.”

Tim responds with something like, “Honestly, I think staying positive is overrated. People have these feelings, these feelings of anger and frustration and fear about this crisis. And we keep them inside and we push them away and we don’t talk about them. We just tell ourselves that if we behave the politicians will fix everything. But they won’t. We need to shut down the fossil fuel industry ourselves and make it known that we’re done with it. We’re scared if it continues, and we won’t put up with it anymore.”

Who speaks the truth? Tim DeChristopher. For real. So what are people scared of? Why won’t we take the step he did last winter at the auction? I tell him about my ideas for radical action at the conference in Copenhagen. They’re badass and I can tell he agrees. Then I explain to him about the reasons I’d be scared to do it and why the rest of the youth may not want to participate either.

“April, whenever you’re in a situation like that, a situation of contemplation, here is what you should think about. Imagine its 2030 and you just met a 15 year-old who was born into this completely broken planet. They ask you, ‘Why didn’t you do anything more?’ How would you be able to justify to him that you didn’t want to risk losing your accreditation at the UN conference?”

“….I couldn’t,” my feeble reply.

Okay, no question about it, I have my motivation and my answers. I know what I need to do in Copenhagen. I also have confidence that the rest of the international youth present there will join me in acting in whichever way is needed.

So, to all who are coming to COP15, please bring: a warm jacket, a fearless attitude, and the belief that we will get the treaty we want. Youth, what do you all say? Ready for this? I SURE AM.

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