Anjali Appadurai, a student at the College of the Atlantic in Maine, addressed the United Nations Convention on Climate Change on behalf of youth delegates. It was a powerful speech.
Some Quotes:
I speak for more than half of the world’s population. We are the silent majority. You have given us a seat in this hall, but our interests are not on the table. What does it take to get a stake in this game? Lobbyists, Corporate Influence, Money?
Now is not the time for incremental action In the long run, these will be seen as the defining moments of an era, in which narrow self-interest prevailed over science, reason and common compassion.
Longterm thinking is not radical. What’s radical is to completely alter the planet’s climate, to betray the future of my generation and to condemn millions to death by climate change.
It always seems impossible until it’s done. So, distinguished delegates and governments around the world, governments of the developed world: Deep cuts now.
And Kudos to the COP President for his personal note afterwards:
Thank you, Miss Appadurai, who was speaking on behalf of half of the world’s population, I think she said at the beginning. And on a purely personal note, I wonder why we do not let half of the world’s population speak first in this conference rather than last.
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