“AS ANY EDUCATOR KNOWS, BUILDING STUDENT KNOWLEDGE IS JUST ONE OF OUR MANY SKILLS. OUR ABILITY TO EMPOWER, INFORM, MOTIVATE AND ENGAGE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITIES IS OUR TRUE SUPERPOWER. WHILE THE KNOWLEDGE OF CLIMATE SCIENCE IS ONE AREA WE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO, SCIENTISTS AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE HAVE ARTICULATED THE THREATS OF A WARMING WORLD FOR DECADES.”
halting economies are not sustainable, long- term solutions for climate change, they do demonstrate that we can take action when we are immediately experiencing a threat. Unfor- tunately, the climate crisis is slow moving, and we cannot afford to wait until we, the global north, are staring climate change in the face. There is no shortage of evidence-based solu- tions to changing our unsustainable practices and trajectory. The question is less what to do and more how to get our systems to change in advance of feeling the impacts.
5. Benjamin Franklin said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” to fire- threatened Philadelphians in 1736. Preparing for and preventing future risk are not only more affordable, they will also decrease the impacts of climate change and save lives. In the face of the enormity of our next crisis, our democratic systems will be challenged and can fall without early interventions. Accord- ing to Human Rights Watch, the best antidote to the rise of right-wing populism is “for the public to demand a politics based on truth and the values on which rights-respecting democracy has been built. Populists thrive in a vacuum of opposition. A strong popular reaction, using every means available – civic groups, political parties, traditional and social media – is the best defense of the values that so many still cherish” (World Report, 2017).
TEACHERS’ ROLE IN TIMES OF CRISIS
As any educator knows, building student knowledge is just one of our many skills. Our ability to empower, inform, motivate and en- gage students and communities is our true superpower. While the knowledge of climate science is one area we can contribute to, scien- tists and Indigenous people have articulated the threats of a warming world for decades. Understanding climate science is not our
biggest hurdle; inaction has put civilization on the precipice of a perilous future. It is our responsibility as teachers, community leaders, partners in science and public educators to le- verage our skills to compel our governments and communities to take action on climate change. By connecting with people’s heads, hearts and hands we can help engage com- munities in understanding the causes, im- pacts and paramount necessity of preparing for our next crisis. While the enthusiasm and dedication of many eager teachers jumping into outdoor education with two feet and in- vestigating water issues in local communities are valued, climate change education cannot be restricted by subject. We all share the re-
10 ETFO VOICE | SPRING 2021
sponsibility to build empathy for people and the planet, to emphasize problem-solving, to support evidence-based thinking and to ig- nite communities, without inducing feelings of fear and hopelessness. For every problem you discuss, ensure an actionable solution is shared to keep youth full of optimism.
5 PODCASTS TO ENGAGE YOUTH
After feeling inspired by these podcasters, use Education Closet’s K-12 Educator’s Guide to Podcasting to support podcast programming in your classroom. From a listening centre to the rich curriculum connections in commu- nication and media literacy, podcasts are a great way to engage, empower and authenti- cally capture youth voices.
Tai Asks Why
Episode: Freckles, Video Games, and Climate-Changing Farts (All ages) Tai Poole, 14-years-old, talks with a me- teorologist to answer the silly, yet scientific, question, “Are farts changing the climate?” Johanna Wagstaffe shares how we can reduce our carbon footprints and work towards restoring the health of our planet in this CBC podcast.
Fun Kids Science Weekly
Episode: Cooling the Climate and The Blue Angel Sea Slug (All ages) Hosted by United Kingdom’s Fun Kids host Dan, this weekly, 25-minute, attention- grabbing science podcast for kids takes a look at the week’s biggest science stories. In this episode, Dan gives easy-to-imple- ment ideas on how families can make sustainable change and influence others around them to do the same.
Wow in the World
Episode: Operation Earth: How to Be Cool to a Planet That’s Hot (All Ages) NPR’s Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas go back in time to protect our future asking the who, what, when, where, why and how in the world of climate change heroes. This podcast explores the latest news in science, technology and innovation and aims to give kids hope and agency.
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
Episode: Greta Thunberg, read by Jameela Jamil (Ages 8-13) Based on the bestselling book series by the same name, this podcast is an audio adven- ture of diverse stories about extraordinary women from the past and present, meant to
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