Generational Blindness

Today in New Zealand Strike 4 Climate will be making noise once again, in the hopes our leaders will listen and heed the call for greater change.

Scrolling through my news feed over the past few days i have been largely disheartened by what i am seeing. From our politicians, from our news readers, from the generation that raised me.

I am seeing screeds of complaints from the older generation specifically bemoaning the youth for all they are trying to achieve. Labeling them as selfish, entitled, and in one particularly abysmal piece of ‘journalism’ whiny spoiled brats.

Here’s the thing though, our climate is facing change, these ‘children’ are not wrong. The numbers they are using are supported by the scientific community. They haven’t just pulled this shit out of their asses for a day off school as i have seen suggested. My own daughter is in the city as i type, saying her piece, lending her voice to change, and while I’m sure some of the students attending today have skipped out on school altogether, mine was at school this morning, squeezing the most out of her education before putting her scientific knowledge and her voice to good use.

These kids aren’t out there fighting for their own lives on this big old rock, they are fighting for change that will see them secure the future of their children, and their grand children. They are fighting for generational change without the blindness that is ever present in those older than them.

This morning i saw a post being shared around Facebook that proclaims innocence of the older generations, it goes as follows:
It’s hilarious, all these school kids preaching to us oldies that we damaged the planet! Back in the 60’s and 70’s not a plastic bottle to be seen it was all glass that were reused, Fizzy bottles taken back to the shop. No plastic bags, loose food was put in brown paper bags, All lollies bought were put in a paper bag. Mothers used shopping trolleys to carry heavy stuff or used a linen bag. You walked to school from 5yo to 16yo not jumping into mummy’s 4×4. No McDonald’s or Burger King plastic toys, no polystyrene food boxes for you to litter the streets with, We had used newspapers to wrap our hot food in. Our milk was delivered at 6 am 6 days a week by a milkman who had trolley boys running up the streets, Holidays were in a caravan or Tent in New Zealand not on an Aircraft to far off destinations. So I think these youngsters need to take a look in a recycled mirror and think “Was it my wasteful generation who are ruining up the planet!”

I have some thoughts on this.
Yes, Absolutely you all used glass bottles that were returned and had a certain fondness for paper packaging. Walking to school was almost standard for all children. International holidays were few and far between and the milk was delivered right to your door. These are all facts, certainly not wrong in and of themselves, but shall we take a moment to look a little bit deeper here?

Who made the decision to move away from glass bottles and paper packaging?
Was it our older generations, or was it the 16 and 17 year olds who are out in force asking for change?

Who made the decision that it was no longer safe for our children to walk to school?
Was that us all as parents, older and younger combined, or was that the 16 and 17 year olds who are out in force asking for change?

Who pays for, plans and books the international holidays instead of choosing local campsites and caravans?
Was that us all as parents, or was that the 16 and 17 year olds who are out in force asking for change?

Who created plastic packaging and sang its praises as a superior product to the point that plastics overtook renewable, biodegradable options globally?
Was that older generations, or was that the 16 and 17 year olds who are out in force asking for change?

While our children have been raised in an increasingly wasteful society they can hardly carry the blame for that on their own shoulders. The choices that led us all here are the choices of adults, adults now, adults a decade ago, adults who are now grandparents and great grandparents.

The fact the youth feel that they must carry the weight of change on their shoulders, is a dismaying turn of events. These children did not create the problems we are seeing in the world, but they are some of the only ones trying to change them.

So instead of protecting your own generational blindness, instead of feeling offended by these students for calling you out on your shit, do something, join them instead of tearing them down from behind a keyboard.
All they are asking for is a better future for the people we will all leave behind on this planet.

Small changes, can have huge impacts.
When you are out for a walk and you see rubbish on the ground, pick it up, take it home, dispose of it thoughtfully.
The next time you do your groceries, collect your produce loose instead of grabbing a plastic bag from the roll.
Recycle all you can.
Compost.
Reuse containers.

While these kids are out there making noise for the big changes, you can sit at home and quietly work towards the small ones.

Stop blaming everyone else for the state the planet is in, we all get to wear some of that, regardless of when we were born, accept it, do something, or shut up.

-B