Causecast

by MELISSA JUN ROWLEY, Contributing Writer

Children see and hear things we don’t. Their instincts haven’t yet been corrupted by confusion, fear and greed. So we should listen to them, right? According to a short film made by Friends of the Earth in Belgium, we should.

To spread the message that political leaders must take climate change action now, the environmental group and director Nic Balthazar featured children in all their wisdom, with eye-opening facts about pollution. While highlighting the possibility of “runaway global warming,” the video emphasizes the importance of convincing governments to Act Now, before it’s too late.

The film’s November 2008 release occurred right when the United Kingdom became the first country to legally enforce a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. This law came about thanks to the efforts of the people behind the Big Ask campaign. This initiative is comprised of activists from 18 different countries, who work together to urge their governments to cut the amounts of carbon dioxide released each year.

Europe is making great strides in environmental activism and seeing results, and America should, too. Let’s make sure our children can breathe in 10 years, and let’s make them proud. Through investing in eco-friendly products, hybrid vehicles, renewable energy programs, and environmental education, we can actively help preserve the environment and spread global warming awareness.

But awareness isn’t enough. As the little girl in the film says, we must convince the “men in suits” to do more than read the reports. The politicians must create new laws before the earth’s temperature reaches the tipping point. We can be change-makers by communicating with the policy makers in a BIG way.

If you like the featured video clip, send it to anyone and everyone you think could benefit from the knowledge and participate in changing the climate.

To take part in the efforts of Friends of the Earth U.S., check out foe.org.

Have a creative idea on how to encourage the need for action? Share it with Friends of the Earth members. They just may want to collaborate with you.

Image by planetfishphotos, flickr