As is so often true with solving the big problems our world is facing, children are leading the way. That was evident when a group of Brooklyn Friends School third, fourth and fifth graders appeared on Focus Earth, a newly launched program on Planet Green TV.
The 12 children were interviewed by ABC journalist Bob Woodruff to explore their knowledge and feelings on climate change. The episode, “Growing Up With Global Warming,” focused on how youth around the country are dealing with this worldwide environmental crisis.
“What’s it like for our children to hear our world is in peril? How do we explain what’s happening to our planet, what we’ve done, and what we need to do to ensure our kids have a future?” Woodruff asked viewers. “We realize our first job is to listen.” He started out by quizzing BFS kids on their understanding of global warming.
“The ozone layer is kind of disappearing, which lets the sun’s heat gets so much hotter,” said one student.
“Fossil fuels means burning fossils to make energy, which is not the best way to make energy, because it depletes the ozone,” explained another.
“Coal is probably the worst fossil fuel because trees take in CO2 and then coal puts it back out.”
“What's CO2?” asked an impressed Woodruff.
“Carbon dioxide.”
“How do you know all this?” he asked.
“We learned it in science.”
Later on, when the discussion turned to recycling, Woodruff asked, “What do you do at your house?”
“When my parents make my lunch they use the same bag over and over. Unless my juice leaks which gets kind of sticky,” answered one girl. “My mom told me this – every little bit helps,” said another.
The questions took a more somber tone. “Is it the young ones like you who are going to come up with the solutions or do you think it’ll be adults even older than me?” Woodruff asked.
“All the adults really do is talk about it. I think the kids can find something to stop global warming. The adults are just talking, discussing ideas but they aren’t really doing it,” suggested one student.
“There are so many issues on the table,” another student grimly assessed. “Iraq, the economy, that global warming gets pushed to the bottom of the list. By the time they get to it, it could be another two or three presidents.”
“Everyone needs to pitch in,” said one student simply yet firmly. “The Earth is our friend. You wouldn’t throw garbage on your friend, would you?”
The group interview was followed by a field trip with the kids and their parents to the “Changing Climate, Changing Environment” exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History. The trip was an eye-opener, not only for the children, but for parents as well. “One mom said that being at the exhibit made her ask questions she’d never asked before,” Woodruff summarized to viewers, “which makes me think our kids have a thing or two to teach us.”