Severn Cullis-Suzuki, born on November 30th 1979, is best known for her amazing achievements as an environmental activist, speaker, television host and author. She’s spoken very freely about the environmental issues that press urgency for the world as well as urged viewers to act on it and define their values. Few know this, but she was the original Great Thunberg. In 1992, only 12 years old, Severn Cullis-Suzuki spoke openly about possibilities of averting future ecological disaster right after the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit occurred. After this, she was named “the girl who silenced the world for five minutes.”
In some ways, I identify with her since I’ve always had strong opinions about certain subjects like how mental illness should be taken more seriously and how toxic masculinity can stem from the unreasonable gender role that men should be “strong” and “rational”. I’ve openly talked about this in highschool and even did a full project on it that ended with a presentation of my research. I would also say that we’re quite different in certain ways; I’ve never been able to make much change or at least I don’t know if I’ve ever changed anyone’s perception of reality. This is why I find her so important and inspirational. To think that a child was brilliant and exceptional enough to silence the world for 5 minutes and make everyone think. I actually decided to write about her after watching a documentary she hosted about sea life and how spectacular it is. I find it amazing that she followed in her father’s steps to make this world better.
“Coming up here today, I have no hidden agenda. I am fighting for my future. Losing my future is not like losing an election, or a few points on the stock market. I am here to speak for all generations to come,” she said in the famous speech. “In my life, I have dreamt of seeing the great herds of wild animals, jungles and rainforests full of birds and butterflies, but now I wonder if they will even exist for my children to see.” These will forever be words we will hear with new activists warning us about where we’re going. It’s time we listen to them and I think that’s why I admire Severn Cullis-Suzuki so much. She has nothing to hide, fights for what she believes in and fights for the world.
Quote from her original speech: https://youtu.be/oJJGuIZVfLM
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