Dear friends,
So good to see all the schools' classrooms in one afternoon! It felt a little like A Thousands Clowns (stuffed into a VW),
or some reality game challenge.
But many a song was sung
and we talked alot about frogs awakening.
This is a quick recommendation for viewing:
Youth v. Gov
a documentary about the lawsuit filed by a group of students against the government for neglecting to protect the earth environment, leaving future generations a depauperate world. The case is going to the Supreme Court!
The showing is part of the One Earth Film festival, currently running.
Please consider registering for the viewing. It is both inspirational to see young people taking strong and articulate stands against the destruction of their planet. and also motivational for us adults to step up to use our positions and power to support them.
oneearthfilmfest.org
Our seventh and 8th graders watched a portion of the interview that watersecology did with Yesenia Chavez, a young activist on hunger strike on the SE side of the City.
https://vimeo.com/514942339/c9038a9fb4
In preparation for the lesson I've been studying up on the natural history of the Calumet region, prior to industrialization. It was a wetland / marsh complex the size of the Everglades, with as much biodiversity. The extent to which it has been laid low, destroyed, is made less devastating by the past decade of determined attempts to bring it back. There is hidden treasure there. Part of it is the local activist community, and their alliance with environmental and justice organizations, and part is the general sweep of history that has perhaps come to the realization that the destruction MUST stop and healing and renewal Must begin.
https://www.watersecology.org/wp-content/uploads/Calumet.png
This is a message of hope that we can give to our students and children. I told them about the slag heaps, and poison dredgings, and chemical dumps, the whole legacy of exploitation of divine habitats. But I also told them about the resiliency of Nature, the energy of the local community, and the renewal of sections of marsh, the sky blue waters in the slips of the old South Works Steel plant, the 1/2 mile long giant ore walls now studded with climbing assists for people to enjoy, the poisoned soils capped and planted with native plant communities.
Sometimes the most challenging situations bring us the most hope.
Mr. Leki
So good to see all the schools' classrooms in one afternoon! It felt a little like A Thousands Clowns (stuffed into a VW),
or some reality game challenge.
But many a song was sung
and we talked alot about frogs awakening.
This is a quick recommendation for viewing:
Youth v. Gov
a documentary about the lawsuit filed by a group of students against the government for neglecting to protect the earth environment, leaving future generations a depauperate world. The case is going to the Supreme Court!
The showing is part of the One Earth Film festival, currently running.
Please consider registering for the viewing. It is both inspirational to see young people taking strong and articulate stands against the destruction of their planet. and also motivational for us adults to step up to use our positions and power to support them.
oneearthfilmfest.org
Our seventh and 8th graders watched a portion of the interview that watersecology did with Yesenia Chavez, a young activist on hunger strike on the SE side of the City.
https://vimeo.com/514942339/c9038a9fb4
In preparation for the lesson I've been studying up on the natural history of the Calumet region, prior to industrialization. It was a wetland / marsh complex the size of the Everglades, with as much biodiversity. The extent to which it has been laid low, destroyed, is made less devastating by the past decade of determined attempts to bring it back. There is hidden treasure there. Part of it is the local activist community, and their alliance with environmental and justice organizations, and part is the general sweep of history that has perhaps come to the realization that the destruction MUST stop and healing and renewal Must begin.
https://www.watersecology.org/wp-content/uploads/Calumet.png
This is a message of hope that we can give to our students and children. I told them about the slag heaps, and poison dredgings, and chemical dumps, the whole legacy of exploitation of divine habitats. But I also told them about the resiliency of Nature, the energy of the local community, and the renewal of sections of marsh, the sky blue waters in the slips of the old South Works Steel plant, the 1/2 mile long giant ore walls now studded with climbing assists for people to enjoy, the poisoned soils capped and planted with native plant communities.
Sometimes the most challenging situations bring us the most hope.
Mr. Leki
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