Earth Week 2020: Family Action Day Three
In honor of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, Families for a Livable Climate is offering a week of daily activities and actions for parents and kids to do together. Each day focuses on a theme critical to our time and place in the climate movement, with tie-ins to global and local actions & events.
Click here for more information, and to sign up!
Art by Favianna Rodriguez
Day Three: Wednesday
Theme: Climate Justice & Youth Leadership
Why it’s important:
On this 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, we celebrate the planet on which we all depend, and join together with people across the country to fight for climate justice and a livable future. We recognize that climate change impacts people in different ways. Communities that are negatively impacted by social, racial, and economic inequities are often disproportionately impacted by climate change and more vulnerable to its impacts. As we work together for brighter future for everyone, the voices and wisdom of those most impacted are critical. Solutions to the crisis must center frontline communities perspectives and demands, and must address the underlying systems at the root of both social inequality and the climate crisis.
Young people around the globe have emerged as pivotal leaders of the climate movement. With inadequate progress being made on climate by older generations and people in seats of power, many young people are taking a stand and fighting for their future.
As people of all ages and backgrounds come together to advocate for climate justice and a livable future, the voices and leadership of frontline communities and young people are at the heart of the movement.
Organizations in focus:
Today’s Actions:
Participate in Portland’s youth-led Earth Day Virtual Rally TODAY 4:00 - 5:30 pm
Brought to you by youth organizers from across the city, the Youth Environmental Justice Alliance at OPAL, the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, Anakbayan PDX, and SunrisePDX.
Tune in to the National Earth Day Live 2020 livestream, 6am - 6pm PST today, tomorrow & Friday!
Performers, activists, thought leaders, and artists will come together for an empowering & inspiring three day livestream mobilization. Check out the amazing schedule of speakers and performers by scrolling to the bottom of this page. (Note: The schedule is Eastern time! Subtract 3 hours for Pacific Time)
Activities: (Choose one or two)
For all ages : Chalk for the climate!
Make a chalk mural on a visible sidewalk to raise awareness about Earth Day for your neighbors & passersby. Use a theme in the resource linked above, consider one of the following, or create your own!
Encourage your neighbors to tune into the PDX Virtual Rally today at 4pm ( include www.bit.ly/earthdaypdx), and / or Earth Day Live 2020.
An earth drawing with the words “Our planet = Our future” and our web url (either www.familiesforclimate.org or www,familiesforclimate.org/earthweek2020 )
Simply draw things you love about the earth, with a caption along the lines of “Happy Earth Day! Let’s care for the planet we love.”
Take a picture and post it on social media to spark conversation & awareness among your friends & family. (Please tag us @familiesforclimate and use our hashtags #pdxfamiliesforclimate, #earthweek2020familydaysofaction)
For younger kids:
Read one of these inspiring, true-story picture books about young people taking the lead for change in their communities.
Our House Is on Fire: Greta Thunberg's Call to Save the Planet by Jeanette Winter (Here’s a read aloud)
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba
Follow the Moon Home: A Tale of One Idea, Twenty Kids and a Hundred Sea Turtles by Phillippe Cousteau (Here’s the author reading it aloud)
Wangari’s Trees of Peace by Jeanette Winter (Here’s a fun read-aloud)
Make a fingerprint world, talk about other countries and cultures and how their environments are different and similar to yours
For older kids:
Participate in the PDX Earth Day Virtual Rally, and tune into Earth Day Live 2020 (as mentioned above)
Sign up for Sunrise School - Join free online training for young people to build skills and power to confront the climate crisis! Their upcoming training has a special group for people in high school and younger.
Related resources:
Parent toolkit to support youth activism - from Mothers Out Front
Climate justice stories & voices from youth:
Young Voices for the Planet films - Short films about kids advocating for the environment. Check out this one: Words Have Power
Our Climate Future - Youth Climate Justice Stories - Short films highlighting youth experiences and activism on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Start with this one, from here Oregon: First Foods and the Fight to Protect Indigenous Lands
Imagine the Future with Xiye Bastida
Youth-led climate organizations:
Books about Climate Justice and Youth Leadership - Reading list for kids from Multnomah County Library. Most are available online as free ebooks!
Thank you for joining us on this Earth Day.
We hope to connect with you on social media! Don’t forget share your progress and/or action photos with us on instagram & facebook.
Thanks, and see you tomorrow!