SPRING 2014
Severn and the Day She Silenced the World
Second Story KIDS' POWER SERIES by: Janet Wilson
A speech that caught the world's attention
Severn Suzuki’s speech at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio caught the attention of the world. She was given the chance to speak at the closing of the conference. The media – and the world – took notice. US Vice President Al Gore was famously quoted as saying "That was the best speech I heard all week!" As the daughter of environmentalist David Suzuki, Severn had the unique opportunity to travel from an early age and see the effects of environmental destruction. Her concern was fueled by a trip to the Amazon rainforest when she was nine.
Back home in Vancouver, she and her friends started ECO, the Environmental Children’s Organization, combining their efforts to raise enough money to travel to Rio, where they hoped to catch the ear of the adults gathered to discuss the state of the environment. They couldn't have imagined the effect they would have. More than twenty years later, the video of Severn's speech continues to receive thousands of hits on YouTube. Severn’s story is about the power that children have to create change when they work together, and how their voices can stand out above the politics and cynicism of adults. Severn Cullis-Suzuki continues to fight for social, environmental and inter-generational justice, and speaks about the power of love to change the world.
Severn and the Day She Silenced the World
Second Story KIDS' POWER SERIES by: Janet Wilson
A speech that caught the world's attention
Severn Suzuki’s speech at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio caught the attention of the world. She was given the chance to speak at the closing of the conference. The media – and the world – took notice. US Vice President Al Gore was famously quoted as saying "That was the best speech I heard all week!" As the daughter of environmentalist David Suzuki, Severn had the unique opportunity to travel from an early age and see the effects of environmental destruction. Her concern was fueled by a trip to the Amazon rainforest when she was nine.
Back home in Vancouver, she and her friends started ECO, the Environmental Children’s Organization, combining their efforts to raise enough money to travel to Rio, where they hoped to catch the ear of the adults gathered to discuss the state of the environment. They couldn't have imagined the effect they would have. More than twenty years later, the video of Severn's speech continues to receive thousands of hits on YouTube. Severn’s story is about the power that children have to create change when they work together, and how their voices can stand out above the politics and cynicism of adults. Severn Cullis-Suzuki continues to fight for social, environmental and inter-generational justice, and speaks about the power of love to change the world.