Reflection

I have always believed that to solve issues, we must find their roots. Regenerative agriculture is one of the parts of eco-activism that I am most intrigued and inspired by. This system doesn't just examine the roots of environmental problems, but cultivates new ones to create solutions. When searching for eco-activists who utilized nature itself to combat climate change, I came across Elizabeth Wathuti's 2021 UN Climate Change Conference speech. Wathuti spoke about the calamities in her homeland of Kenya that had been instigated by climate change, including droughts, deforestation, and starvation. I began researching her organization, the Green Generation Initiative. I was amazed by how the Initiative engages youth in more than 35 Kenyan schools. Through her Eco Schools Program, students learn regenerative farming techniques that promote food security and help local communities. I have always enjoyed writing poetry, and I found Wathuti's expressive and eloquent speech energizing. I was deeply moved by reading about how she spent time absorbing the natural beauty around her home as a young girl, and how the effects of climate change devastated her, forcing her to watch that beauty wither away. In her 2021 UN Climate Change Conference speech, Wathuti emphasized the importance of unity and persistence, stating that "People who truly understand why this work is really important need to also continue putting up so much pressure on everyone... we need more people who care and are concerned about the planet to join this movement and make sure that we are holding everyone accountable." It dawned on me that Wathuti wasn't just planting trees. She wasn't just sowing soil. She was planting new ideas, new solutions. She was helping people sprout and grow in a new and better way. Because eco-activism isn't just about reversing the horrific effects of climate change; it is about changing ourselves as a collective human race to ensure that we never again make the same mistakes that induced this devastation in the first place.