The Planetary Healing Mandala hopes to activate the compassion and love in each of us for our human family, our fellow creatures on the planet, and the beautiful fabric of life that connects us all. With this realization we can move into the consciousness of responsibility for ourselves, our actions towards each other, and our individual and collective impact on the life, water, soil and air that nuture us...
Endorse the Earth Charter - the time is NOW!
Youth
'When Nike says, just do it, that's a message of empowerment. Why aren't the rest of us speaking to young people in a voice of inspiration?'
- Naomi Klein
The Earth Charter Initiative
"Honor and support the young people of our communities, enabling them to fulfill their essential role in creating sustainable societies." Earth Charter, 12.c.
Young people who care about their communities are increasingly getting involved in philanthropy. Anybody can be a philanthropist, why not us?
By forming youth advisory committees (YACs) within our local community foundations, we come together to raise money, build endowment funds and make grants to local youth projects. We are in our teens and twenties, we have a lot of ideas and energy to bring to the table, and we want to make a difference – today and well into the future.
We are already making a difference in more than 55 communities across Canada, and the momentum is building. Come and find out more about why youth philanthropy is here to stay.Young people who care about their communities are increasingly getting involved in philanthropy. Anybody can be a philanthropist, why not us?
By forming youth advisory committees (YACs) within our local community foundations, we come together to raise money, build endowment funds and make grants to local youth projects. We are in our teens and twenties, we have a lot of ideas and energy to bring to the table, and we want to make a difference – today and well into the future.
We are already making a difference in more than 55 communities across Canada, and the momentum is building. Come and find out more about why youth philanthropy is here to stay.
Environmental Youth Alliance (EYA) is a youth driven non-profit organization dedicated to the health of our urban environment, our planet & the wellbeing of its people. By providing young people with meaningful experiences, in projects that benefit our communities, we support our environment socially as well as ecologically.
The Canadian Youth Climate Coalition is a united front of youth from across Canada tackling the biggest challenge of our generation, the emerging climate crisis. In the absence of significant action by industry and government, we will make climate stabilization a priority that all Canadians need to address. Acting locally, provincially, federally, and internationally, we combine our forces to organize actions, influence government and implement concrete solutions. Working in schools and communities from coast to coast to coast, we are calling for and building a just and prosperous transition to the new Canada we all need to see.
Whale Rider http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE7-_Z03Aw4
A young Maori would be in line to become the next chief—if it weren't for the fact that she's a female. This movie is much more about humans than whales, as it shows cultural tradition struggling to survive modern times. But whales are indeed at the center of the subplot, and there are some great shots of the leviathans. The movie is a nice change of pace from the typically overwrought fare from Hollywood.
March of the Penquins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB_GisVFboU March of the Penguins opens with stunning distance shots of seemingly impossible icescape formations in the Antarctic wilderness. No creature could live in such a beautiful but utterly barren place. Or so one would think....
Grey Owl http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHJojFl9zYM&feature=related
In the 1930s, upon realizing that the woods of the great north are slowly vanishing, a frontier trapper decides to fight for the land he loves. From the Director of Gandhi and the Executive Producer of Dances With Wolves and A River Runs Through It.
HOOT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgT_xT587MY
Three middle-schoolers take on greedy land developers, corrupt politicians, and clueless cops in the mystery adventure HOOT based on Carl Hiaasen's Newbery Honor-winning book.
The Man Who Planted Trees http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MbosrkVYPU
You can watch the whole movie on utube, 3 parts
This animated short film is a story about a shepherd's long and successful singlehanded effort to re-forest a desolate valley. The sense of mystery about the shepherd and his unflappable approach to life give the film a warm, intriguing feel, and the plot pacing ensures the viewer's attention never wanders. The animation style is wonderfully blurry and impressionistic, adding to the enigmatic effect. You won't regret giving this film a half-hour of your time.
'If we are to achieve true peace in this world, it shall have to begin with the children.' - Craig Kielburger
'Give young people a chance, our generation may just surprise you!' - Marc Kielburger
'Under your shoulders. Dear young people of the entire world, weigh the responsibility to transform tomorrow's world into a society where peace, harmony and fraternity reign.' - Bishop Carlos Belo
'The young generation can influence their elders and can make them understand the environmental problems that are faced by us today. The youth can make them see that our environment is deteriorating day by day.'
- Chief Oren Lyons
'One world, one people, living together as a global family! Young people will cross religious, ethnic and cultural divides to recognize the universal human as family. WE ARE ONE and the elders of tomorrow will carry this torch.' - Nina Meyerhof
'If a person would intervene on behalf of one child, shouldn't we all be intervening for those thousands of children? So we're asking young people to get involved. We want young people especially to know what's going on and to figure out what they can do about it.' - Benjamin Quinto
'...you can make little choices that can change the world to be a better, happier, lovelier place every day.' - Alicia Silverstone
'This is a time for bold measures. This is the country, and you are the generation.'
- Bono
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The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible, and achieve it, generation after generation. ' - Pearl S. Buck
'Every night on the stop global warming college tour, Laurie and I would tell these great young people that they have the power to do anything they want. That we all have the power to create a movement for change. That the best part of ourselves is the part that rises up instinctively from compassion. ' - Sheryl Crow
'We live in an age when to be young and to be indifferent can be no longer synonymous. We must prepare for the coming hour. The claims of the Future are represented by suffering millions; and the Youth of a Nation are the trustees of Posterity. '
- Benjamin Disraeli
'We have a powerful potential in our youth, and we must have the courage to change old ideas and practices so that we may direct their power toward good ends.'
- Mary McLeod Bethune
