DARE TO DREAM BIG!: The Girl Who Silenced the World for 5 Minutes!

Imagine This: At age 9 you found the Environmental Children’s Organization (ECO) at your elementary school and at age 12 you raise money with other members of ECO to attend the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. You present environmental issues from a youth perspective at the summit and your speech eventually goes viral on YouTube.

 Who: You’re Severn Suzuki, a 12-year-old Canadian girl.

 What: The UN Earth Summit

 Where: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

 When: June 1992

 This is an inspiring story about one young girl who did indeed make a difference!

 You’re born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. Your mother is writer Tara Elizabeth Cullis and your father is geneticist and environmental activist David Suzuki, a third-generation Japanese Canadian.

 While attending Lord Tennyson Elementary School, you found the Environmental Children’s Organization (ECO)—a group of children dedicated to learning and teaching other kids about environmental issues.

 In 1992, at age 12, you and other members of ECO raise money to attend the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where you present environmental issues from a youth perspective. Your speech is applauded and eventually goes viral on YouTube.

 In 1993 you’re honored in the United Nations Environment Programme’s Global 500 Roll of Honour and Doubleday publishes your book Tell the World, a 32-page book of environmental steps for families.

 Postscript: Today Severn Suzuki is an important environmental activist, speaker, television host, and author. She continues to speak around the world about environmental issues, urging listeners to define their values and act responsibly.

 For More about Severn Suzuki:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQmz6Rbpnu0

 Something to Think about: Why do you think Severn Suzuki is so dedicated to global environmental causes?

  Willoughby and I hope you enjoyed this week’s true story and will be back next week for another story to inspire you to DARE TO DREAM BIG!

  Reminder: To be eligible for the weekly drawing for an autographed copy of one of my books (your choice of book), please leave a comment here and also on my blog at http://www.kidscandoit.com/blog

This last week's winner is Tom Blubaugh. Congratlations, Tom!