No 132 Posted by fw, March 9, 2011
“We children think we can plant a trillion trees in 10 years. I don’t have much hope that adults will do something. So we children will do it ourselves.” Felix Finkbeiner. A 13-year-old calls for climate action.
Since they started four years ago, members of Plant-for-the-Planet (which Felix founded), have planted 3.5 million trees. Finkbeiner hopes that many more children worldwide will watch his speech to the UN to open the International Year of Forests, and realize that they, too, can become real superheroes.
And here is Felix’s 10:36-minute UN presentation:
Here’s where Felix’s story starts
In January, 2007, at age nine, inspired by the amazing Nobel Peace Prize winner, Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan environmental and political activist who helped organize the planting of 30 million trees, Felix concluded his grade 4 presentation with a call to classmates to plant a million trees in every country they could. The first tree was planted two months later at his school in Munich. The millionth tree was planted on May 4, 2010 in the presence of ministers of the environment from 45 countries. At last count, and Felix’s organization, Plant-for-the-Planet is working in 70 countries.
Who knows where Felix’s story will end.
But in the meantime, tell all your friends, young and old, to follow Felix’s lead — “STOP TALKING. START PLANTING.” Psst — plant ideas as well as trees.
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This is amazing. i did not know how important he is! all i knew was he was in a book, yeah whatever. but no! he is amazing! this is very amazing and the video is so inspiring!