Reading: "Meet Generation Green"

 QUESTIONS

A) What sort of text is it?

B) Explain what the main idea is.

C)  Sum up what each teenager does. Use your own words.

D) Try to guess the meaning of the words which are underlined.     (= hopeless; litter; dedicated themselves; conducive ; workshop)

E) What does UNICEF stand for (mean)? 

Meet Generation Green: young people who are determined to save the planet

September 13, 2019

adapted from    https://www.voicesofyouth.org/generationgreen

Droughts. Floods. Heat waves. Fires. Rising sea levels.

The news is full of stories featuring the devastating impact of climate change on children. At times, it can feel like the situation is hopeless.

While humanity has a massive task ahead - and not much time to do it - children and young people all around the world are taking action.

Meet the generation determined to save our planet - generation green. Will you join them?

“Do not litter, since the impact of plastic bags is very large at sea. There are many turtles and fish that get trapped in them, and many who die from this. Young people can help end mangrove contamination and protect the species that live there.”

- Marilyn, 17, Panama 

Marilyn and her sister have grown up alongside the mangroves of Chame. From an early age, they’ve dedicated themselves to protecting the mangroves because they protect the community itself. This year, the project they're a part of, "Guardians of the Mangroves" reached the final selection of the Concausa regional initiative.

 

“Youth can do a variety of things to fight the climate crisis. For me, the most efficient is to come out into the streets and make your voice heard by the politicians and big companies.”

- Lorina, 19, Ukraine

Lorina is a sociology student. When she heard about the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report saying we have only 11 years to solve the climate crisis she started to strike as part of the #FridaysforFuture movement.

 

“Everyone should be able to live in an environment conducive for their health and well-being. Climate change is here, and its impacts are only getting worse - unless we act now. I believe the best way young people can act against climate change is by educating the world on its impacts.”

- Macdonald, 19, Zimbabwe

Macdonald Chirara is the founder of a social enterprise Everlasting Technology with the mission to reduce organic waste and transition to renewable energy.  His work is focused on engaging rural communities – communicating the urgency of the climate crisis and working on adaptation.

 

“Young people can take the initiative to plant trees to reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. They can use more environmentally friendly transport modes, such as buses, trains, bicycles and walking for short distances. They can also implement projects to prevent global warming in their communities, as I’m doing in my country, by teaching ecological values to children.”

- Kherann, 25, Ivory Coast 

Kherann Yao is a UNICEF Youth Advocate, student, and founder of Association Environnementale/ Green-Ivory, a group of young activists that works to protect, preserve and enhance the environment in his coutry. Kherann also works closely with children and regularly organizes awareness-raising workshops in primary schools.