To my young cousins,

I know you’re probably playing a game on your iPads right now or getting ready for bed, safe and sound in your rooms with everything you would ever possibly need right around you. You may have no care in the world at this moment because you’re all so young and naive, and just maybe in a couple of years your teachers will open your eyes up to what’s happening in the world. I’m writing this to you because I care about you and what you care about. I want to see you guys grow up to be compassionate boys and girls who will change the world. And I am writing this to you because I know you will change the world.

Right now, the world is not doing so well. Everybody is moving and living and working and breathing, but all this ends up harming the Earth because we all are just focusing on ourselves. We’re all taking planes to travel the world, driving cars everywhere, using plastic bottles regularly, taking baths to calm ourselves from a long day, and coating our hair in hairsprays every morning. But all these little things add up to be very bad for the Earth. The Earth is getting warmer which is doing horrible things to the planet like rising sea levels that can put islands under water, melting ice caps and glaciers in the poles that harm the animals there, and increased droughts all over the world. The problem is, some people are denying that this is even happening, that climate change is a real thing, like President Trump in office right now, and that is what’s preventing us from making significant changes.

You may or may not know who he is right now, but can you believe that the President of the United States does not believe the Earth is warming so he is not trying any ways to deal with it? And that’s what I want you guys to do differently. Whatever you do in life, I want you all to think about our planet. Whatever decision you make, I want you to think about who or what the decision is going to directly or indirectly affect. I am asking you to not be selfish when our planet’s health is at stake. I urge you guys to encourage your peers on helping the planet as well because it’s the little things that count.

I hope you understand what I am trying to tell you. You are the generation.

Love you always,

Christine