Concerned People say “Change is Needed”

Two very different people…

Two very different years…

A common message: “WAKE UP!”

1992, the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro (Brasil).

A 12-year-old Canadian girl, Severn Cullis-Suzuki’s speech:

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJJGuIZVfLM

TEXT: http://www.thinkglobalgreen.org/suzuki.html

Future,

Environment,

Species’ Extinction,

Humankind,

Poverty,

Inequality,

Solutions.

“At school, even in kindergarten, you (grown ups) teach us how to behave in the world. You teach us to not fight with others. To work things out. To respect others. To clean up our mess. Not to hurt other creatures. To share, not be greedy. Then why do you go out and do the things you tell us not to do?” … “You grown ups say you love us, but I challenge you, please make your actions reflect your words.”

20 YEARS LATER:

2012, the United Nations Summit on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro (Brasil).

77-year old Uruguayan President, José Mujica’s speech:

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCEgcd7G9Bg

TEXT: http://thewanderlife.com/human-happiness-and-the-environment-address-by-uruguayan-president-jose-mujica-at-rio-20-summit/

Humanity,

Sustainable Development,

Poverty,

Consumerism,

Resources,

Waste,

Competition,

Material Progress,

Globalisation,

Solidarity,

Political Challenge,

Environment,

Human Happiness.

“… the problem we are facing is political. The old thinkers, Epicurus, Seneca, the Aymara put it this way: ‘A poor person is not someone who has little but one who needs infinitely more, who desires more and more.’ This is a cultural issue.

So I salute the efforts and agreements being made. And I will adhere to them as a ruler. I know some things I’m saying are not easy to digest. But we must realize that the water crisis and the aggression to the environment are not the cause. The cause is the model of civilization that we have created. And the thing we have to re-examine is our way of life.”

“… These things I say are very basic: development cannot go against happiness. It has to work in favour of human happiness, of love on Earth, human relationships, caring for children, having friends, having our basic needs covered. Precisely because this is the most precious treasure we have; happiness. When we fight for the environment, we must remember that the essential element of the environment is called human happiness.”

I have very little to add to this.