Greta Thunberg began one year ealier in August 2018 to demonstrate for more actions in improving our climate. Since this kids all over the world demonstrate on Fridays for Future. Some groups of them began to act. Most of them are still demonstrating. This is great and has moved a lot up to now. But we think young people could go on acting to solve real environmental problems together with society and economy. They should rise the pressur by showing what has to be done actively.
Therefore we are asking for problems they really can work on successfully and f.e. improve CO2 emissions or reduce drinking water consumption or help to reduce the rabbish in companies or help to save food for poor persons aso....I am looking forward to reading your suggestions.
Peter
You ask for problems where the protestors can work successfully on solutions. How would we know, what can successfully be done? Just throw these kids at the problems. Integrate them into your labs. They are motivated. Cooperate with schools, use your networks into business to fund these activities. They are motivated, resourceful and creative. They lack in financial resources, spaces where they can work on solutions. Just create opportunities, they will use them. But do not belittle them, giving them problems that we think are just easy enough for them. See them as partners.
Just think about it: Some of them are only 13 years old. 6 Months ago they pitied a lone, hungry polar bear. Now, most of them can explain the basics (often the specifics) of climate change better than most scientists. Just trust them and provide enough room, the rest will work.
As I was very upset by your question at first, some more random thoughts:
I would be seriously suprised if it turns out, that the protestors do have a higher than average carbon output. From everything I learned from and about FFF-participants, they do try to live as eco-friendly as possible. From avoiding single-use plastics to pestering their parents about their use of cars. They are individually doing a lot.
So: Why would you seriously ask children to solve a problem instead of asking those that actually create and recreate it? Why would you want children to work to solve trhe problems adults create? Why do you want to give that job to the smallest and weakest? Why on earth would you derail the discussion to lower carbon emissions by talking about how the children could reduce drinking water consumption?
There are other people who should be adressed. The people building and selling cars for example. It is not the children's job to clean up our mess. It is ours. They should go to school, but they cannot, because they have to remind us that we fail. Do not create a discussion about what children who have done so much could do.
There are highly paid engineers all over the world and what do they work on? Making Diesl-engines 1.5% more fuel efficient so some of us can drive 203 hp SUVs instead of 200 hp, without buying more diesel? Common... The real question is, what do we need to change to make those engineers be part of the solution, instead of the problem.
And btw.: Please pay people for collecting cash instead of relying on the self-exploitation of people who actually care about the environment.
Dear Klemens,
thank you for your extensive answer. I can understand your reaction on my question. Most of your statements I agree with you. It is not my aim to motivate children to clean up our mess. Not at all. I just want to motivate them to act and not only demonstrate. I want to stimulate more consiousness in their own behavior and that of their families. And I want to help schools to get back the principle of action in this demonstration dilemma.
And it begins to work! We cooperate with 6 schools, manny children and parents and 5 companies, 1 Journalist and 3 Research Institutes.
For 2 months of running I am quite content about this beginning.
Peter
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