A paper released by the Brookings Institution last week shows that the science of climate change is gaining in public acceptance.
The survey, which was fielded in December of 2011, found 62% of Americans agreeing that there is solid evidence that average temperatures on earth have been getting warmer over the past four decades, with 26% of U.S. residents maintaining an opposing view on the matter.
Still not where we need to be. Why the spread? Some of the differences in opinion are due to a very gradual individual acceptance of a global health problem. Some is a reluctance to blame human activities for the warming. Some is indifference in the wake of life's daily grind. And some is direct denial that Earth's temperature is changing. The conversation in the maintstream media (when it actually begins) will air all these variations.
Where is the education for our younger citizens entangled in all this? How do children/youth receive the awareness of the Earth's health they all share?
Here are three very different and current takes on climate change education.
One: We Can Really Engage Children
Earth Junkies is a new organization wound around the idea of a charter written by children and passed forward around Earth, starting in South Africa.
Global warming is at the heart of the message, but in a child's world. Please read their story and visions. The trailer of a coming film is a delight to watch, of both adults and children. Yes, engage children.The Earth Junkies Project uses storytelling to develop creative, social, life and literacy skills around ecological issues, principally among children.
Two: Straight Science For Youth
I was a tad skeptical that the US Environmental Protection Agency had produced a site especially for climate change and especially for youth. No need to worry. This is one comprehensive and age-appropriate site.
Actually, this is a good Climate Change 101 for adults! If we were all as informed on the science of the atmosphere as youth targetted here, we would be much further along on our own journeys.
Interestingly, there is continual reference to anthropogenic warming: we are the culprits. The text is written in a matter of fact way that doesn't sensationalize nor minimize the science.
Start by listening to the quick video- it sets the tone and for the rest of the site.
Three: Youth Activism
Three: Youth Activism
A NYTimes article about the Heartland Institute from a couple weeks ago reveals "a new push to undermine the teaching of global warming in public schools."
Back in the 1990s, the Heartland Institute allied itself with Philip Morris to raise questions about the positive links between secondhand smoke and health risks. Are we back, also, to the debate re: teaching of evolution vs. creation? What is theory? What is fact? What is the belief system?
This message is a youth response to Heartland, with the help of Climate Reality (Al Gore). It's message: Climate denial has no place in our public schools. The quick student video is a smart act of sarcasm
The letter following the video is from 17-year-old Corey Husic. She addresses Heartland succinctly and directly. I am especially impressed that she has developed the foresight that her age group will be dealing with climate disruptions in their future.
Four: A Mom's Perspective
Shannon Hayes, a contributor to YES! Magazine, wrote this week about her wishes for her young daughters and their perception of healthy Earth. Compare this to Number One above.
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Keep up the dialogue…
