Younger generation rising up to be true changemakers

Environmental activists were thinking about how to ban plastic water bottles on their island, Martha’s Vineyard, and were saying it would probably take about three years. But when fifth-grader, Emma heard this, she said to her environmental awareness teacher, Annemarie “Why wait so long? Why not do it now?”

They were both thinking alike, and so organized a group of other fifth- and sixth- graders. They met during lunch daily, and researched plastic water bottle bans in other places. They organized forums to educate the public. They made phone calls to people in their community; wrote letters, used social media outreach, and passed out flyers all in support of their efforts. They researched alternatives to plastic, and when they talked to business owners they suggested those alternatives. They organized and called their group Plastic-Free Martha’s Vineyard, (or PFMV).plasticfreemv.com .

Finally, they created a model plastic bottle (both soda and water) by-law and brought it to the town meeting, rehearsed their parts to state their case.

At the Town meeting one local store owner stood up and said “I make a lot of money selling water in plastic bottles. I would have to take a loss.”
But then he added, “But after talking to these kids I realize this is not about me – it’s about saving the planet. So I’m supporting the by-law.” (This town meeting can be viewed @ plasticfreemv.com—click on ‘about’—then ‘videos’)

People in the room were moved when it came to vote, and it was a unanimous “Aye!” Everyone cheered. The kids brought it to two more towns. And an elder in the Wampanoag tribe, stood up and said, “It’s a Hopi prophecy that the younger generation will step up and lead – these young people are them. Thirty years from now I may not be here, but these young people will be. My grandsons will be. It’s their future we have to stand up for. I want them to have a good quality of life. (this town meeting can be viewed @ plasticfreemv.com—click on ‘about’—then ‘videos’)

Annemarie & her son Jasper:

Quinlin, one of the PFMV kids, said, “It’s necessary that kids get involved with environmental issues early on, because they will be the stewards of the Earth once this older generation is gone. Another one, Finn talked about how he wants to work on a plastic utensil and container ban. And still another, Broden, said ‘this project gives me hope’.

The PFMV ban was passed in all the three up-island towns, and next they will move on to the remaining three towns and are eager to go beyond the Island to share what they have learned and done.
The PFMV kids were honored at the Plastic Pollution Coalition benefit at the Beach Plum Inn in Menemsha in July and they each spoke about their project:

They’ve caught the momentum of a larger grass roots movement: water refill stations have been installed in public spaces on the island and the kids are selling metal water bottles with their PFMV logo.
Younger people are rising up to be real change makers. These remarkable young activists, along with their teacher, parents, and community, offer an inspiring model of how democracy works. Social change agents, passionate about healing the Earth, taking action now.

The PFMV kids will be joining the Youth Climate March in New York City on September 20.

—Tara Bennett Goleman