Environmental activist Jamie Margolin talks about the importance of representation in the climate movement and shares her work through the youth-led climate justice organization Zero Hour.
Environmental activist Jamie Margolin talks about the importance of representation in the climate movement and shares her work through the youth-led climate justice organization Zero Hour.
You can find more about the organization Jamie and Zanagee cofounded, Zero Hour, by visiting http://thisiszerohour.org/
Jamie’s podcast, Lavender You: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lavender-you/id1562027702
Jamie’s show, ART MAJORS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=7VhKYFX4LJQ
1 Point 5: A Kids Climate Justice Podcast
S1 EP7 Why Are All Voices Important in the Climate Justice Movement?
[INTRODUCTION]
Olivia: Hi there and welcome to 1 Point 5: A Kids Podcast About Climate Justice! I’m Olivia Greenspan.
Zanagee: And I’m Zanagee Artis.
Olivia: And we believe that kids like you deserve a livable future.
Smart Speaker: A liveable future. This means a future where no one will have to worry if our planet is healthy enough for humans to live safe and happy lives.
Zanagee: That’s Joanna. She’s our on-hand dictionary if we ever come to a word or phrase you might not know or understand already.
Olivia: This is a show where we explore the challenges facing our planet with scientists, youth activists, and other environmental leaders who’ve experienced the realities of the climate crisis firsthand.
Zanagee: Today we’ll be talking one of those environmental leaders, Jamie Margolin, a friend of mine and a fellow co-founder of the youth-led climate justice organization Zero Hour.
Olivia: Yes. And I'd also like to note that this episode is closing out the intersectionality portion of the season. And the conversation with Jamie focuses on why it's so important to have a variety of voices in the climate justice movement and how you can be a part of the movement.
Zanagee: So, in the past two episodes we talked about what environmental racism is, and what action on climate justice looks like.
Today, we’re excited to dive into this conversation with Jamie about why it’s especially important for young people to share their voices in this effort.
And in addition to introducing Zero Hour and the conversation about the importance of many different types of voices in the climate movement, we also discussed whether one can be an activist and still share your full expression of your interests with the world. So let’s jump in.
[MEET THE GUEST]
Zanagee: Um, and so also, uh, we, yeah, in this podcast and in our book kids book about climate change, we emphasize the importance of raising our voices to make a difference.
And, um, All about, um, one year journey, but also, uh, the book that you wrote you to power your voice and how to use it. And so I want to know from you, why is using our unique voices to call for climate justice so important,
Jamie: Um, using our unique voices to call for climate justice as important because no one should be sitting out this fight.
If they have the, the want, um, to fight for climate justice, truly everywhere. This issue is so big and there are so much fix that everyone has a role to play. And even though it feels so overwhelming and there's no it's too big for just one person to address it, you doing the best that you can is going to make an impact because then if everyone starts doing the best that they can, then the world changes. Um, and I just don't think that. Sitting out as an option at this point. And so it's important for people to raise our voices because we have to raise our voices to save ourselves.
Olivia: I love that answer. Um, and I love when people bring up the fact that, um, this problem is so big and there's room for so many different talents, uh, to contribute to this movement. Um, and you know, you're, you're so unique and that you've, um, You are someone who is using your vast range of talents to contribute to the climate justice movement.
Um, earlier in the podcast we interviewed Levi Draheim who's part of the youth v. gov community, and you're so part of the youth v. gov community. Can you tell us about your, your court case?
Jamie: Yeah, absolutely. So I am a plaintiff in the youth v government, um, lawsuit suing the state of Washington. For their continual worsening of the climate crisis.
Um, for those of you who don't know, there's an organization called our children's trust that helps young people hold governments legally accountable for the climate crisis and try to sue them for, or take other legal action in order to try to get climate action mandated through the courts. Um, so it's another strategy for climate.
There is no one best strategy for climate action. We all have to be attacking this issue at every lens that we can. So in the courts, on the streets lobbying, um, through artwork, like every possible way of taking action is what we have to be doing. And so this is a legal way. And so the lawsuit is still going on.
It still isn't finished, but I've been a part of that for several years.
Zanagee: Awesome. Yeah. And I think definitely it's so important to always share. You know, these things are ongoing. This is an ongoing fight and there's so many ways to get involved. And so yeah, sharing all this information is super useful.
Zanagee: Next we asked Jamie about the organization we cofounded together: Zero Hour.
Jamie: Yeah. Um, well, you know the story, but for everyone listening, uh, Zero Hour is called Zero Hour because we have Zero Hours left to act on the climate crisis. I started the summer of 2017. I posted online that I wanted to start a youth climate march, and then I was going to organize a big like mass youth climate mobilization, but needed a team to help me do it.
And that's when it's a nausea. And I, while I was, while I said that, I think around that time, yeah, I was going to a summer, a political summer camp. Um, and the nausea was also going a met there. We were in a class together, a political communications class, um, for the summer program. And then we brought in other news and built this team to organize youth climate marches, Washington, DC, and as many cities around the world, as we heard.
And also again, climate lobby day and other events to try to push towards urgent clients.
Smart Speaker: To “lobby” means to seek to influence a politician or public official on an issue. Citizens and climate action advocates from across the country often travel to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Congress and ask them to take action on climate change by creating climate justice policy based on their knowledge, stories, and advice.
And we had our youth climate march in the pouring rain, the day of the march came and it was absolutely raining, pouring, but we did anyway, and it was a big success and, um, It was incredible. Um, and then ever since that march there have been more and more protests and actions that zebra has been doing and is still doing to this very day.
But, um, yeah, it's incredible to know that something that we started in high school and early high school is still going strong today with both of us in college.
Zanagee: Yeah, definitely. And I remember that day, like so vividly, um, in the pouring rain, I don't know who said this, but they said the rain brings out the real ones and really happy.
Yes. Um, really felt that one. And there were so many people out on that day, marching across the country, around the world, um, and joining this movement for the first time. And it was really exciting and yeah, still going, which is, which is super exciting.
Olivia: More when we return after this quick break.
[BREAK]
Olivia: Welcome back to One Point Five, a Kids Podcast About Climate Justice. Let’s return to our conversation with climate activist Jamie Margolin.
Next we transitioned into the more personal topic of whether Jamie has felt pressure to have being a climate activist be the only part of her identity so early on in life.
And if any of you listeners have started doing climate activists work already, you may have experienced a similar pressure from peers or adults in your life.
Olivia: Especially because this is a kid's podcast about climate justice, we want to make clear that you don't have to look a certain way or act a certain way to be an activist. And you don't only have to be a climate activist. So can you share with us if you've ever felt that pressure to only show yourself to the world as a climate activist and how you overcame it.
Jamie: Absolutely. I think for a long time, I felt definitely squared in is just like the girl who talks about this catastrophic issue. And that is done once identity, if you're just seen as someone who fights against something bad and that's your entire thing.
Um, and even if it's framed in a more positive way of you're fighting for climate justice, even then just being only purely defined. Uh, very stressful, very stressful cause that you fight for, um, people are multidimensional. People are not just their fight for survival. People are so much more, I'm not just someone who marches in the streets because I want a livable future.
I'm also someone who, um, as a filmmaker and an artist and a screenwriter and an actress sometimes, and a friend and someone who likes going on adventures in nature city adventures and the different cities that I visit and, you know, just maintaining balance in your life, having other things that you do, other obviously you have to focus on something to be good at it.
I don't mean to have a million activities to, you know, don't overwhelm yourself with things, but the point is like, don't feel pressured to sit into a box of weight. Think someone who is an activist or who fights for climate justice should be, you can be someone who. Like for me, my major, what I majored in, in college is a stem major.
I'm not majoring in environmental studies or policy, and people are often like, very confused by that. They're like, what are you doing? And I'm like, I'm doing what I want to do. I like to, I'm an artistic person and I'm going to make art and tell stories and I'll fight for what I care about my way. And, oh, I've seen a lot of people who kind of grew up in the movement, like us who are now in college.
I feel like there's. NC activists kind of like the, we kind of, I guess, rose to almond. I'm sorry, word. I dunno. But just like the movements kind of not peated it's, but, but definitely like that whole generation. The youth who started the March for our lives movement and the Zero Hour youth, like the original, you can start at that.
We're all like in college now. And it's interesting to see how people back when we were kids, a lot of us were so intense and that was the only thing that we did. And we burnt out a lot of us. And now I've been watching kind of from a distance, my other fellow activists on their journey towards balance and, and how they're perceived and what they do.
And like a lot of them are told to be quote unquote professional in terms of. Like people were told, like I went to by anyone in particular, but I have pretty good people felt pressured to like, not dye their hair, a certain thing or maintain a certain level of like quote unquote professionality. But by professionality, it was like, you have to fit into a certain mold to be someone presented well, to be an activist.
And it's like, if you want to dye your hair purple, be an artist, do whatever, like do that. Also you can do both.
[CLIMATE JUSTICE GAME SHOW]
Zanagee: And that concludes our conversation with activist Jamie Margolin! Which means...you know what time it is...it’s time for:
Zanagee & Olivia: CLIMATE! JUSTICE! GAME! SHOW!
Olivia: Ok Zanagee, question 1: What is the value of different and varied voices to call for climate justice?
Zanagee: There's so much value in a variety of voices calling for climate justice and using our unique voices to call for climate justice is important because we need as many people and perspectives as possible to fix this problem.
It’s a global systems problem. And we as individuals I'll make up that system. And so, obviously, we have to solve it through a variety of voices and there are so many different ways to do that.
And this includes the courts by protesting, by making art work, and so much more. And the more voices we have a part of that conversation, the more solutions.
Olivia: Hmm. You know, it's hard to disagree with that.
Uh, absolutely. We, we need as many voices as possible calling for climate justice. Um, A climate activist doesn’t look or sound or, um, speak about any one thing. And I love Jamie's answer to this, about how we need to pursue all different avenues of action.
Okay. Anyway, all to say that's correct.
Zanagee: Amazing. Okay Olivia, question 2: What is Zero Hour and how are the organization’s goals being realized throughout the country and around the world?
Olivia: Yes. Okay. Huge fan of Zero Hour. Huge fan!
And Zero Hour is a global youth led, led by youth like it's Zanagee and Jamie who founded it when they were in their teens, a youth led climate justice organization that Jamie and Zanagee are two founders of.
And some ways that the organization's goals are being realized throughout the country and world...
Well, I've seen you organized strikes. I've seen you speak directly to politicians about what climate action you want to see happen. And I've seen you, um, very often advocate for climate justice policy by doing things like making meetings with legislators and, um, organizing people who share the same goals around climate justice policies.
And basically I would say the theme is organizing the streets and speaking directly to government officials about the climate justice actions you want to see happen in the world. Is that right?
Zanagee: Absolutely! Thank you, Olivia!
Olivia: Oh good! Okay! Zanagee? Third and final question: Can one be an activist and still share the full expression of your interests with the world?
Zanagee: Absolutely. And I think that that is something that Zero Hour has done. And we, we harness the interests that people have. And when you love doing something that is when you're at your best. And you have to choose what you love and how you want to get involved.
And so climate activists don't have to look, act, or be any type of way. And young people who work on climate justice also have lots of other interests in parts of their identity, but they are at their best when they're able to incorporate those interests and those parts of their identity into the work that we do for climate justice, because climate justice is about the whole person.
It's not just about the climate; it is a human problem. And that's why, uh, yeah, we welcome everyone in the movement.
Olivia: Absolutely. It's so important for all of us to remember, so thank you for that reminder, Zanagee!
And with that, that concludes today's round of the climate justice game show as always. Thank you so much for playing with us today!
[CLOSING]
Olivia: Thank you, listeners, for joining us today. And thanks to Jerome for sharing his expertise on designing policies and leading a movement to create a climate just world! You can find more about Jerome’s work by following him on Instagram @jeromefosterii or visiting the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council’s webpage. We will have links to both in our show notes.
One Point Five is written by me, Olivia Greenspan
Zanagee: and me, Zanagee Artis.
Smart Speaker: With occasional support from me, Joanna, from Natural Readers dot com.
Olivia: Our show is edited and produced by Matthew Winner with help from Ari Mathae and the team at Sound On Studios. Our executive producer is Jelani Memory. And this show was brought to you by A Kids Podcast About.
Zanagee: This show is inspired by our book, A Kids Book About Climate Change, and the millions of young people around the world fighting for their right to a livable future.
Olivia: You can write to us at listen@akidspodcastabout.com. And check out other podcasts made for kids just like you by visiting akidsco.com.