This piece is inspired by the speeches and activism of three young women from around the world: Greta Thunberg, a 16 year old climate activist from Sweden, Autumn Peltier, a 15 year old clean water activist from Ontario and the Wikwemikong First Nation, and Mari Copeny, a 12 year old activist in Flint, Michigan. I feel somewhat hypocritical writing this piece. I, too, have so much more to do to ensure we have a future on this planet. My hope is that older audience members can empathize deeper with our children after hearing the desperation that is found in these texts. There is no greater issue, or higher stakes. The message is simple: What we’re doing is not enough.

How dare you.

How
Dare
You.

How dare you say you love me How dare you call me the future How dare you feign concern And still you do nothing at all. (At least not enough)

Entire ecosystems are collapsing
Our world is fraying at the seams
Fires, blizzards, hurricanes are our new normal And still you line your pockets.

It’s happened so slowly
you barely even have noticed

If you truly understood You would do something.

I still believe you love me

I still believe you care.
We’ve just forgotten this earth is a gift So trust us when we say:

What we’re doing is not enough... What we’re doing is not enough...