Think about the Children

Much like Whitney Houston famously sang, we here at Tee Hugger believe the children are our future. That’s why this week we’ve brought in a special guest to help spread our environmental message to the next generation. Please help us welcome a special guest blogger, seven-year-old Internet sensation David, from “David After Dentist” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txqiwrbYGrs). Welcome, David.

I didn’t feel anything. Uuugh. I feel funny.

As well you should, David. We all feel a little funny right now, what with the world economic downturn and the escalating environmental crisis.

Is this real life?

It is, my little anesthetized friend, it is. Although, these days, sometimes reality can be hard to swallow. Right is wrong, up is down, and black is green. Seriously. As more and more people come to realize that our planet is in peril, eco-friendly “green” causes are becoming very fashionable. Some people are even saying that “Green is the new Black.” In fact, those people are us. Check out the shirt: http://www.teehugger.com/product_p/thas1005_thjs1006.htm

Okay, now. Okay, now I. I have two fingers.

We all have two fingers, David, metaphorically speaking. The first finger is awareness. Saving the planet is a big job, and in a battle like this, knowledge is power. Our friends in Canada offer an EcoKids website, where kids can check out awesome games and activities. (http://ecokids.earthday.ca/pub/) And of course the second finger is—

I have four fingers.

Nah-ah-ah-ah! Don’t put it in your mouth! You don’t want to get spit all over the second metaphorical finger: activism. Now that we have learned about the challenges our planet faces, it’s time to take action. “Action For Nature is a USA-based nonprofit organization that inspires young people to take action for the environment and protect the natural world in their own neighborhood and around the world.” Learn what kids like you can do to help make a difference at http://www.actionfornature.org/

I can’t see anything.

Turning a blind eye to the problem does not help to fix it, David. If we don’t start working hard to save our environment and reverse global warming, we could be facing a global depression, acidification of the oceans, and world hunger. (http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/2525/)

UhhhhhDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!

I’m sorry if I got a little intense there. I didn’t mean to scare you.

I don’t feel tired.

That’s the spirit, kiddo! We need you and your whole generation to be tireless in your commitment to ecology. Put that youthful energy to work right in your own neighborhood by recycling, planting trees, or organizing local cleanup projects. (http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/emotions/volunteering/article7.html)

Do I have stitches?

Uh huh.

Do I have stitches?

Yes.

On my teeth?

Yeah. Don’t touch it. Don’t.

You have four eyes.

That is very perceptive. In a way, we all have four eyes: two looking back at the mistakes that we’ve made that have polluted our planet, and two looking forward into the bright future that we are creating right now.

I feel funny. Why is this happening to me?

That funny feeling is a growing passion for nature, David. And it’s happening to you because you are beginning to realize that kids really can make a difference. Kids like the Tree Musketeers in El Segundo, California, who launched their own environmental TV quiz show. Or Melissa Poe of Nashville, Tennessee: kid-founder of “Kids For A Clean Environment” which now boasts 300,000 kid-members worldwide! (http://www.arborday.org/kids/kidsDif.cfm)

Is this going to be forever?

If you kids work hard to save it, then yes, the Earth is forever. If not, you’ve got twenty, thirty years tops before it becomes a lifeless, gas-choked cinder floating in space.

Ugggccch.

Ugggccch indeed, David. Ugggccch, indeed.