Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/962709
Colorado where political activism became paramount for the youth. ey worked to stop the spraying of pesticides in public parks, established an environmental fee on plastic bags, advocated for the municipalizing of Boulder's energy grid, and helped to achieve a moratorium on fracking. Since Xiuhtezcatl became the EG Youth Director, the organization has spread to six continents. Being on Obama's Youth Council honed his leadership skills but Xiuhtezcatl was born with the determination to dedicate his life to the environment and social justice. EG inspires youth to take action — not wait for others to take the lead. ey are cre- ating policy, pledges, campaigns, and useful ways to conserve at their schools. ey're demanding clean drinking water, "ask only" policies for single-use plastic, and projects for cleaner air. Xiuhtezcatl Martinez and Dr. Drew Dellinger together performed their poetry at sold-out venues during the Paris Peace Talks in 2015. Here's a question I asked Xiuhtezcatl, followed by the rap he performed. Sunny: Intergenerational community and conversation mean a lot to me being a mom of two sons. Share your perspective with the rich gifts you've received having Mexican and Aztec elders. Xiuhtezcatl: The youth has creativity, innovation, energy, entre- preneurship, and fresh, bright ideas. We need the wisdom, strength, knowledge, and experience of our elders to help guide us. Many of my generation don't feel heard or empowered to make the changes we see so clearly. We need your support, your trust in us, and to be strong as elders to show us the way while honoring our contributions. Never has there been a generation with more potential to create change in the world and to shape the direction of our culture than our genera- tion does. We are here today. We are the present generation and our voices matter! **** As I neared the end of this article journey, my final stop was with the extraordinarily insightful Dr. Sue Morter. I asked her to speak to our great, great grandchildren. "When we knew, we were among those to turn it around. We felt the tug on our hearts, we realized that it was time to learn from inspi- ration instead of through pain. We began to feel a different way. We felt the subtle cues and recognized that to protect nature we needed to connect to our full potential. We had to access our own self to create harmony within so that we could create it in our outer world. We found a way to tether our minds to heart-meaningful wisdom. "We found ways to make grounding, caring choices so that every- one and everything wins. We began to act like nature acts — collab- orative and cooperative. We felt into the sense of the ways that are complementary to that end. We awakened to the knowing that it's the soul that saves the planet. It was our souls integrating back together that brought forward a higher-functioning human. We started oper- ating like the high-level steward we became. "So, my great, great grandchildren, you are the amazing, loving, and creative beings you are because of those who came before you. The glorious Mother Earth is so alive because of these awakenings we experienced in time. You are so astute in continuing to speak the language of nature that you are indeed experiencing in your lifetime the Heaven on Earth that was always meant to be." Until next time let's feel into the words of poet Maya Angelou, "Each of us has a way to act now to improve the future. Plant the trees and the seeds for whose shade you may never stand." Sunny Chayes is the host of e Sunny Chayes Show airing on ubnradio. com Channel 1 Weds at 2 pm Paci c. Watch her full interviews with Rickie Byars Beckwith, Dr. Sue Morter, Tom Shadyac, and many other episodes lmed at Sunset Gower Studios Hollywood. Enjoy on iHeart, iTunes, and YouTube. **** ROCKIN' RESOURCES P F E-F C: BOOKS 1. Drawdown: e Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming (Paul Hawken, April 2017) 2. e Lorax (Dr. Seuss, 1971) e ecological cautionary tale years ahead of its time printed on recycled paper. 3. Love Earth Now: e Power of Doing One ing Every Day (Cheryl Leutjen, 2018) 4. Lab Girl (Hope Jahren, Feb 2017) 5. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry (Neil deGrasse Tyson answers basic ques- tions about the Universe, May 2017) 6. Messages from Water and the Universe (Masaru Emoto, July 2010) FILMS 1. e Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power (Al Gore, 2017) e current news of our environmental journey — where we are and what we can do from here. 2. Kiss the Ground (Josh Tickell, director) Documentary lm on food justice, environmental responsibility. Organization by the same name. Also commu- nity garden in Venice. Kisstheground.com 3. Rooted in Peace (Greg Reitman, 2017) Film challenges our values and o ers idea of global culture of peace. rootedinpeace.com 4. I AM (Tom Shadyac, 2011) Non- ction lm shows how trees teach us how to use Earth's resources, and what is right with the world. ORGANIZATIONS 1. e Pachamama Alliance: Awakening the Dreamer Symposium ( is sym- posium can be "attended' online or in cities around the world. pachamama. org) 2. e Climate Reality Project: Climate Reality Leadership Corp. (Al Gore per- sonally trains passionate people in storytelling, social media, and personal outreach. climaterealityproject.org) 3. Tree People (Andy Lipkis, founder; great impact in L.A and nationally. treepeople.org) 4. Heal the Bay (Organization that holds beach cleanups and mobilizes L.A.'s many diverse communities to protect our coastline. healthebay.org) 5. Food Forward (Utilizes 300,000 pounds of surplus produce each week from trees, farmers, and markets and donates it to more than 300 hunger relief agencies. foodforward.org) 6. Sustainableworks.org (Activates sustainable behaviors through education and events focusing on the importance of healthy, equitable communities and natural resources.) 7. Waves for Water ( eir mission is to "get clean water to every person who needs it." Travelers can carry water lters in their luggage.) wavesforwater.org Photos on pages 21 to 23: Carl Studna WE SEE BEAUTY IN THE SIMPLEST GIFTS OF NATURE. WE ARE A PART OF THE EARTH — NOT SEPARATE FROM IT WE ARE THE WARRIORS OF THE LAND AND THE GUARDIANS OF THE EARTH. WE CONNECT WITH THE SACRED WISDOM OF OUR ANCESTORS' PAST TO SET THE PEOPLE FREE — WE ARE RISING AT LAST. April/May 2018 23