I had the honour this weekend to introduce my role model, Severn Suzuki before her keynote at Blissdom Canada. A few have asked for me to publish the speech, so here it is, and thank you to the organizers of the event for thinking of me, and for Severn for getting up super-early to do it!
She has been called an eco-activist since she was 9 years old when she started an eco-team with her friends.
She is speaking at We Day this year.
You all know who her Dad is.
Hmmm. Sounds like me, right?
I’m really proud to have so much in common with a woman who has inspired me so much in my journey as a change-maker, my role model, Severn Suzuki.
When I started my blog my parents encouraged me to find something to write about. They didn’t want me to write about my life as a 9 year old or what music I was listening to. There was already an Alper who had that covered. But like my Dad, they wanted me to find something that I was passionate about – that I could share what I was learning, feeling and doing and perhaps motivate other people to learn a thing or two as well.
I decided that I was going to focus on the environment. I’ve always loved animals and I began to realize that they rely on us to take care of the earth that they call home too. I understood that the things that we are doing are destroying their habitats and that it is up to us – all of us – to do better.
One night my mom called me downstairs to watch a video that she saw online. Dove had just launched a campaign to empower young girls called “Women that should be famous.” One of those women was Severn. I watched it again and again – there she was, a young girl who cared about the environment so much that she travelled to Rio to be part of a conference. While she was there she had 5 minutes that changed her life and it was, I believe, a turning point for the world.
You see, the United Nations had also gathered in Rio and one of the big things on their agenda was the environment. Severn was invited to address leaders from all over the world. She was 12 years old.
I believed every word. So did the world leaders. Severn became known as “girl who silenced the world for 5 minutes.”
“Mommy,” I said “do you think I can do that one day? Do you think I can speak and people will listen?”
She said. “Hannah, I think you can. Keep learning. Keep writing. When you have something to say use your voice and people will listen.”
Fueled by inspiration from Severn, I kept at it. I wrote this post – Tonight I Found My Role Model and I realized how important it is to find people that inspire you – people that have set a path and have proven that ‘it’ – whatever your ‘it’ is – can be done.
It started. People were reading and sharing my blog. The people at Dove did too and they made this for me:
So, I have not spoken at the UN, but I did do this.
So it’s been 20 years since Severn made her impassioned plea at the UN – at 12 years old she talked about the beautiful world that she had travelled with her father – the world that she was scared would not have the same beauty for her to show her children. Today, Severn is a Mom and continues to use her voice to speak out on behalf of the world she wants to show her son.
I’m so proud to introduce you to my role model, my fellow eco-activist, my friend – Severn Suzuki.
Severn is who she is today, not because her Dad is David Suzuki, but because to her, David Suzuki is her Dad. By way, her Mom is pretty awesome too. They taught her to ask questions and find answers. They listened to her concerns and her fears. They supported her when she discovered her spark and was ready to take action.
My parents have done the same for me and I encourage you to help your children discover their spark and DO something. If there is one thing that I have learned through blogging and travelling as an Ambassador of Free the Children it’s that there is no such thing as too young.
PS – Here is Severn’s full speech from the UN!
Hannah: You are such an inspiration. Thanks so much for being such an important voice for my daughter’s generation. I loved this Dove movement and took my daughter to the event in Toronto and Severn was the one who spoke to her too. Such a powerful voice.