Get to Know the 2022 Future Blue Youth Council Members!
May 3, 2022We are so excited to introduce the members of the 2022 Future Blue Youth Council (FBYC)! The FBYC is a group of Bow Seat alumni who work together to empower their peers to advocate for our blue planet. The Council members mentor grantees of the international Fellowship Program, a by-youth, for-youth FBYC initiative that provides funding and guidance to young people who are addressing water-related challenges in their local communities. FBYC members also contribute their ideas and insight to influence and inform Bow Seat’s educational programming and outreach.
These young artists and environmentalists have been working hard this year, and we cannot wait to see what they accomplish during the rest of 2022. Here, you’ll get to learn a little bit about each of them and the work they’re doing with Bow Seat.
Kamakshi, 16 (Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India)
Kamakshi is a feminist and environmentalist who seeks to make her voice heard and stand up against social and climate injustice. She raises awareness about various socio-environmental problems through her love of writing as the founder of the blog, The Changing Planets. With the FBYC, she hopes to advocate for the environment and inspire youth to take all possible efforts that might seem insignificant but actually go a long way in saving and helping our blue-green planet.
What do you aspire to do through the term at Bow Seat?
It pains me to see how the mindsets of people are wired when it comes to environmental action. I want to inspire youth to take actions in favor of the environment, no matter how small, because if every individual would do even the bare minimum for the environment, the earth would become a much better place to live. I wish to not only bring that awareness but also work towards making an actual change for the environment.
What are the environmental issues you are passionate about?
One of the issues that I have always advocated against and talked about among my peers is deforestation, and how recycling can be an aid. With nearly 15.3 billion trees being chopped down each year and 46% of the world’s trees already cleared, it is important to take at least some efforts to preserve the environment. Deforestation not only leads to global warming and problems for humans, but it also threatens the biodiversity of our planet. Recycling paper is, thus, of utmost importance because it not only reduces the number of trees that are cut down, but also saves energy and reduces greenhouse gases. It may seem like an insignificant action to many, but just as little drops make the mighty ocean, if all individuals pledge to recycle paper, it would go a long way in conserving crucial natural resources.
What has been your favorite part of joining the Council so far?
The best part of being on the Council is being able to interact with all the members and the Bow Seat team and getting to know them and their accomplishments. Through the meetings that we have every month, all of us converse with each other, and it really does give a sense of unity and hope.
If you could only say one sentence/one thing to try and convince today’s leaders to take climate action, what would you say?
It doesn’t matter what you’re doing to bring a change, or if it’s on a big or small scale—the only thing that does matter is that you are doing something to bring a change today.
Emma Dencker, 17 (Denver, Colorado, USA)
Emma has been a volunteer at the Denver Botanic Gardens since middle school and has a particular interest in water conservation in the Western United States. Her outreach activities include hosting a podcast on teen participation in water stewardship and serving as a Water Challenge Ambassador for EarthEcho International. Emma is also involved with plant science and spends her summers working as a research assistant to botanists conducting field and lab research. Emma’s essay on the Colorado River, titled “The Lifeline of the West,” won a Judge’s Pick award in the 2021 Ocean Awareness Contest.
What do you aspire to do through the term at Bow Seat?
I am eager to learn how my peers are addressing water challenges around the world and find ways to support their efforts. I want to be their sounding board as their projects develop, and help them identify ways to engage their communities and secure additional funding. No doubt our collaboration will enhance my own environmental efforts in the Western United States. It is a privilege to work with the next generation of water stewards.
What are the environmental issues you are passionate about?
Water is a byzantine subject that fascinates and challenges me. Unrelenting drought has been a constant in my life, and I want to understand its potential to shape our future. I’ve taken college courses spanning water law, the balance between agricultural and urban demands, treatment methods, and conservation. Inspired to apply what I learned, I promoted teen stewardship through podcasts and blog posts for the One World One Water Center. As a member of the Denver Botanic Gardens Teen Leaders board, I researched waterwise options for the annual plant sale, encouraging more sustainable choices for Front Range gardeners. I also serve as a Water Ambassador for EarthEcho International, promoting water advocacy, organizing regional monitoring events, and collecting data on local watersheds. Water is our most precious resource, and I will always be committed to improving its safety and access for all.
What has been your favorite part of joining the Council so far?
My favorite part of joining the Council has been meeting everyone! I have loved hearing about everyones’ paths and how they use their advocacy for the environment.
If you could only say one sentence/one thing to try and convince today’s leaders to take climate action, what would you say?
Protecting the future should always be more important than exploiting the present.
Doğa Dinçbaş, 18 (Istanbul, Marmara, Turkey)
Doğa is a scuba diver, science communicator, and designer. For the last five years, she has spent her summers scuba diving at the south coasts of Turkey in a diving community. Now, as a PADI Rescue and CMAS 2 Star Diver, she is on a mission to protect the waters of Turkey and the Mediterranean Sea.
Doğa has also worked for children with limited educational resources and was selected as a Rise for the Future Global Winner. She is now illustrating and writing a children’s pictorial book.
What do you aspire to do through the term at Bow Seat?
There is a Turkish saying: “one hand has nothing, two hands have a voice.” In other words, nothing can be done without help. We need communities and people who will mentor us. I believe that Bow Seat is what it is all about. In the FBYC, we learn from other projects, grantees, and members from all over the world. Through my work with Fellowship grantees, I aspire to support their projects and grow together.
What are the environmental issues you are passionate about?
When I started to dive, I realized that there’s a whole other world under the water. It has its own balance of life, the balance which we shouldn’t interfere with.
I’ve witnessed the real impact of global climate change on the sea ecosystem. It’s no secret that the temperature of the oceans is rising rapidly. This rise hit Turkey’s south coast a couple of years ago. First, it was the toadies that came from warmer seas to our waters. Then, it was the lionfishes, an invasive species from the Red Sea. The balance was destabilized. Gradually, other species diminished.
During my dives, I started to see more lionfishes and less diversity than I was seeing at the age of 12. Lionfishes are now in every corner of Kaş’ waters, harming the local fish population. That’s why I am most passionate about climate change.
What has been your favorite part of joining the Council so far?
The incredible reach of the Council. We are all connecting from all around the world in our meetings and have the chance to learn from guest speakers. I feel like I have access to a huge resource if I need support or have a question.
If you could only say one sentence/one thing to try and convince today’s leaders to take climate action, what would you say?
It’s not a “future generation” problem anymore; don’t make your 50 year-old self hate the world you live in!
Liz Duke-Moe, 18 (Boise, Idaho, USA)
Liz spends her time camping in the mountains of Idaho and swimming in the surrounding rivers. She is the Co-Leader of the Youth Salmon Protectors, a coalition working to save this endangered anadromous species. This conservation work has driven her to meet with Senators, members of Congress, and artists for t-shirts and mural designs. She volunteers as a wilderness steward for trail restoration and at a Buddhist temple. She throws pottery in her free time, rock climbs, and enjoys Oolong tea. She is the first queer All Student Body President at her high school and a rising freshman at Brown University. She currently works at a local organic plant nursery and flower farm.
What do you aspire to do through the term at Bow Seat?
I aspire to help connect my mentees with connections that I wish I had when I was starting my work as a climate activist. I hope to teach them how to utilize the power of the press through letters to the editor, interviews, and organizing rallies. I want more people to feel encouraged about the current climate change issue, and to know that there are so many young people in this world waiting to help others get involved. I aspire to use my privilege, as someone who has the opportunity to join a mentorship program, to elevate youth voices that are commonly marginalized or ignored around the globe.
What are the environmental issues you are passionate about?
I am passionate about the connection between LGBT+ rights, women’s rights, and environmental justice. Some of the most prominent climate change activists have been LGBT+ women and women of color. I believe this history should be promoted in schools around the world. I am a part of Sierra Club’s youth climate justice team and have been advocating for proper climate education in Idaho schools since summer. I am passionate about indigenous rights, salmon conservation, the American kestrel fund, and native plant landscaping.
What has been your favorite part of joining the Council so far?
So far, I have loved meeting people from around the world. It has made me feel hopeful and encouraged in my own climate change activism. It is easy to avoid burnout when I am surrounded by numerous youth leaders who are working through the same thing. I love being able to share action plans such as how to make banners, or rally people to write letters to their representatives. I have learned a lot from fellow Council members, and I know I will continue to learn so much this year.
If you could only say one sentence/one thing to try and convince today’s leaders to take climate action, what would you say?
The natural world has been borrowed from the younger generation. I hope to remind administrations that these lands must eventually be returned, unless they want to poison the land, and thus poison its people.
Areesha Fatima, 18 (Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan)
Areesha is a climate and gender rights activist. After seeing one of her closest friends suffer an asthma attack in her city, which is currently ranked as one of the most polluted in the world, Areesha realized how imperative it is for us to save our planet. Areesha has been working with various global and national nonprofits to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals; has spoken at various conferences, Model United Nations, and educational seminars about environmental conservation; participates in plantation and clean-up drives; and serves on the World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council and She’s The First Girls Advisory Council. She believes advocacy is important, especially in a society where the majority of the people are unaware of the damage their actions are doing to the environment.
What do you aspire to do through the term at Bow Seat?
Since Covid-19 struck the world, all our daily activities came to a standstill and we were restricted behind the four walls of our homes. Social interaction became impossible; we could not work for things we were passionate about, could not exchange ideas with others. Through this platform, I hope to gain exposure and experience, interact and make meaningful connections with peers from all across the globe. I hope to share my ideas, learn from others, and share the voice of my community to the maximum of my capabilities. In addition, I hope to inspire and encourage others to act for the environment or inculcate environmentally friendly practices in their daily lives.
What are the environmental issues you are passionate about?
One of the environmental issues I feel strongly about is air pollution. Almost every year we see the worst cases of smog. This not only harms the environment but also humans. People experience different respiratory issues, asthma attacks, eye infections, and much more. I strongly believe the harm our actions do to the environment will and are coming back to us. Awareness regarding this is very important because smog is not naturally made, it is created by our actions. It started after farmers burned tons of straw stubble for many years without knowing the consequences.
In addition, I am extremely passionate about spreading awareness about plastic pollution.When plastics and non-biodegradables end up in water bodies, marine life gets entangled or injects plastic debris, killing them. This in turn reduces marine biodiversity. In my country, plastic bags have been banned, but some people, like street vendors, still use them because they find them more economical. It is only through awareness that we can tell the degree of the harm their actions are causing.
What has been your favorite part of joining the Council so far?
Through this platform, I am able to interact with people from across the globe with different experiences and perspectives around a single passion. In addition to this, I am able to find a group of people who are accepting and non-judgmental, a place that I can call my safe place.
If you could only say one sentence/one thing to try and convince today’s leaders to take climate action, what would you say?
Climate change is a reality. It is affecting us today, and if we don’t take action, there will be no tomorrow.
Colletor Gumbo, 17 (Harare, Harare, Zimbabwe)
Colletor has a plethora of skills such as public speaking, music, and volunteering, all of which she hopes to zestfully fuse to make invaluable contributions to the Council. She has worked previously with organizations such as the Leo Club and the Environmental Management Agency on clean up-campaigns and refuse collections.
As she is about to complete high school, Colletor hopes to dedicate more time to environmental justice and make an impact in her country, where people are focused only on getting a good economy.
She passionately hopes to be able to extend information about the oceans and the environs to underprivileged groups such as orphans and persons living with impairments, all who she strongly believes deserve to have a voice in this good fight.
What do you aspire to do through the term at Bow Seat?
I would love to build a strong connection with the amazing FBYC members and the Bow Seat team, who are all already showing how fabulous and accommodating they are. I have a burning desire for this program to reach the special members of our society. More and more people living with imparities should be motivated to participate in ocean awareness programs. I would also like to go to local radio stations to educate my home people more on oceans. Documentaries for television can also be made to ensure the message reaches far and wide. I want to find multiple ways to motivate more people to be environmentally conscious.
What makes you angry when it comes to nature stewardship?
I have been discriminated against in my primary years due to how “different” my eyes were. People have this harmful, vicious cycle of bullying anyone or anything different, as they deem them weaker. This is the grave injustice people continue to unashamedly impose on the earth, all because it does not have a normal mouth to speak out with or typical eyes to cry from. People judge environmental justice advocates for being too radical and overcaring, but hey! Nature plays a paramount role in our survival and yet we do not return the favor—we neglect it and treat every element as some waste dump. Like one nature enthusiast once said, “Try counting your money whilst holding your breath or spending a day in those hot resort areas without water.” That should be ample drive to get more and more people to start practicing healthy environmental hygiene.
What has been your favorite part of joining the Council so far?
My favorite part has been having guest speakers who educate us on the various aspects of climate change.
If you could only say one sentence/one thing to try and convince today’s leaders to take climate action, what would you say?
All the sweat to get more money will mean nothing if the earth is destroyed.
Connie Huang, 17 (Sammamish, Washington, USA)
Connie is passionate about advocacy for anti-imperialism and intersectional sustainability. In her community, she is involved in climate justice and education equity groups to work towards a more just future.
What do you aspire to do through the term at Bow Seat?
At Bow Seat, I hope to discover more unique solutions to lessening the effects of the climate crisis and help guide these solutions under the 2022 Fellowship. I also look forward to connecting with the other amazing youth on the Council and learning about their individual environmental projects.
What are the environmental issues you are passionate about?
I’m active in climate justice work to cultivate safer, healthier spaces for communities that are most impacted by the climate crisis. I’m also involved in fighting for health and education equity, as not all communities have access to basic resources. By acknowledging the overlap between the climate crisis and women’s rights to reproductive health and education, a more sustainable world can be created.
What has been your favorite part of joining the Council so far?
I’ve loved getting to know my fellow Council members and learning about their backgrounds, interests, and activities. I’ve also enjoyed working with my Council members on the mentorship project as the experience has allowed me to learn more about youth perspectives and voices.
If you could only say one sentence/one thing to try and convince today’s leaders to take climate action, what would you say?
I’d tell today’s leaders to be accountable and take responsibility for their lack of action against the climate crisis.
Nazaha Izdihar, 17 (Uttara, Dhaka, Bangladesh)
Naz is a humanitarian aspiring to tackle wicked problems through her passion for research and entrepreneurship. She has studied the relationship between access to clean water and menstrual hygiene in slums in the capital of Bangladesh, and travelled to several areas heavily impacted by river erosion and accretion as well as salinity in order to learn how to improve the lives of people there. She is involved with entrepreneurial programs such as the Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge, Diamond Challenge of Horn Entrepreneurship, and Technovation Girls, where she has learned many business concepts and founded startups to help disabled and neurodivergent communities.
Naz is also passionate about creative writing. She has taken part in the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Contest and won the Gold Finalist award. She ranked fifth internationally in the Trust For Sustainable Living Essay Contest. She won third prize at the national level in the Universal Postal Union Letter Writing Competition. She also served as an ambassador to her country for Tunza Eco-generation, wrote monthly reports on environmental issues affecting her country, and organized awareness campaigns in her community. She routinely participates in Olympiads, also.
What do you aspire to do through the term at Bow Seat?
Bow Seat has given me the opportunity to share my work and experiences. I can guide others to contribute to the environment and society. I aspire to become an active global citizen and collectively work towards saving this world along with others with the same goals as mine. With the FBYC, I am meeting people from so many places for future connections and accomplishments. I will be able to expand Bow Seat’s outreach in my community, also. I have seen so many people with potential around me, but they don’t bother doing anything because of their insecurities and the false mindset that they alone won’t be able to make a difference, or that their input is negligible. As a FBYC member, I aspire to inspire these people to come out of their comfort zones and take the steps to preserve nature.
What makes you angry when it comes to nature stewardship?
Angry is the wrong word to describe this, but I am always shocked to see just how many people are indifferent when it comes to nature stewardship. It’s not like they are not aware of climate change, pollution, the cons of using plastic. But most people think, “I am just one person out of many, it doesn’t matter if I am not recycling my plastic.” But they are not “one person out of many” when literally 90% of the world’s population is thinking like that. It’s the same way people don’t bother contributing when they are asked to vote for political parties and then they express surprise over how messed up politics are. In the case of nature stewardship, they don’t bother changing their behaviour on a day-to-day basis and then they point fingers at the government, big companies, rich people. While the higher authorities do have bigger responsibilities, things are not going to change if we aren’t fixing ourselves first.
What has been your favorite part of joining the Council so far?
The meetings aren’t the serious, formal, monotonous types I associate with my family’s professional lives. We have fun with games and icebreakers, meet inspiring change-makers and past Council members—while also completing our goals. I love this part about Bow Seat where we are able to accomplish our goals while also maintaining a lively, entertaining environment.
If you could only say one sentence/one thing to try and convince today’s leaders to take climate action, what would you say?
Rather than airing climate conferences of taking so-and-so pledges, people would appreciate seeing the output of taking actions against climate change making headlines—don’t lead to false impressions.
Brooke Nind, 17 (Simi Valley, California, USA)
Brooke is passionate about poetry, social justice, and finding new ways to combine the two. As the founding editor-in-chief of Intersections Magazine, she has worked to create a platform for young voices to share creative work regarding current events and issues that affect young people. Her poetry has been recognized by the National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and the UK Poetry Society’s Young Poets Network. Her poem about mycelium and climate change was featured at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).
What do you aspire to do through the term at Bow Seat?
I’m looking forward to empowering fellow young artists and environmentalists through mentoring the Fellowship grantees. I’m also excited to work on outreach and writing projects, especially with the goal of getting more people to submit to the Ocean Awareness Contest and share their amazing nature-inspired work with Bow Seat.
What are the environmental issues you are passionate about?
Reducing carbon emissions to prevent global warming from getting more severe is a key priority. Global warming is already contributing to the loss of biodiversity and increase in extreme weather patterns/increased natural disasters. Along those lines of natural disasters, I think wildfire prevention and mitigation are really important—in my home state of California, we’ve seen some of our worst wildfires in the past few years. They can be deadly and costly, but there are also huge environmental impacts. In addition, I’m very interested in sustainability when it comes to building environmentally friendly housing and producing more environmentally friendly products to reduce our exploitation of natural resources.
What has been your favorite part of joining the Council so far?
My favorite part of joining the Council has been getting to connect with the other Council members and the Bow Seat team at meetings and while mentoring our Fellowship grantees. Everyone is so supportive, kind, and willing to share knowledge with others. I haven’t gotten the chance to work so closely with such a diverse group of people from all over the world in this capacity before.
If you could only say one sentence/one thing to try and convince today’s leaders to take climate action, what would you say?
The power is in your hands to help your people and the future of our world, so use it wisely and take action before it’s really too late—for the sake of your family, your home, and our world.
Raghav Pardasani, 19 (New Delhi, Delhi, India)
Raghav is enthusiastic about data science, writing, history, environmental conservation, and economics. He is currently a first-year at the University of Chicago. In high school, Raghav founded Carryubble to convert crop residue, or stubble, into affordable handmade bags to replace single-use plastics. He also spearheaded Stubble Trouble, a social initiative within Carryubble to provide an unbiased picture of why farmers typically burn stubble. He has written a book called History Makes Leaders, which explores the successes and failures of various Indian rulers, highlighting their significance to our understanding of leadership skills.
Raghav believes that youngsters—now, more than ever—need to act on their beliefs. Since the world is replete with wide-ranging environmental problems, he feels that everyone should give back to the planet for enriching our lives.
What do you aspire to do through the term at Bow Seat?
I wish to lend my support to the grantees I am working with so that they can scale their solutions and widen their impact on the environment. More than that, I am excited to take on other independent projects—writing blogs and organizing webinars—with the amazing FBYC! Through these experiences, I wish to know more about how we can save our environment, our oceans, and more!
What are the environmental issues you are passionate about?
Greenwashing. In today’s world, where people are increasingly voicing their concern regarding climate change, businesses are forced to make their practices environmentally sound. However, this has led (and continues to lead) many of them to make unsubstantiated claims about the sustainability of the products or services they offer. This makes me angry, not only because these companies aren’t helping solve climate change, but they are also lying about it. As consumers, we need to think about the choices we make and not fall into this trap of greenwashing.
What has been your favorite part of joining the Council so far?
Getting to know my fellow Council members and the Bow Seat staff! It has been incredibly amazing to learn more about the interests and passions of the people that I have been seeing on Zoom calls. I loved playing Family Feud (go CRACKD!), as well as some thoughtful insights from my peers who served as Guardians at the meetings. I can’t wait to know everyone better and work towards ocean conservation!
If you could only say one sentence/one thing to try and convince today’s leaders to take climate action, what would you say?
Pursuit of everyone is far superior than that of your own interest in the longer run, so act wisely and quickly.
Ajay Sawant, 19 (Baramati, Maharashtra, India)
Ajay is a first-year undergraduate student of English Literature and Environmental Sciences. Growing up on Mumbai’s Worli Sea Face, he has always had a strong affinity for the sea. He has closely observed overfishing and finds it his moral responsibility to work towards ocean conservation.
Ajay is currently a member of Rotary International Club, where he is involved in freshwater conservation by helping clean water sources and more. He has volunteered with NGOs like Stonesoup, Team Everest, and EarthDay.org. Ajay has extensive editorial and digital media experience and serves as Assistant Editor at Southern Humanities Review at Auburn University.
In his pastime, he likes to sketch and write. He believes only a positive outlook and enforcement practices can help the ever-unraveling condition of our planet.
What do you aspire to do through the term at Bow Seat?
Through my term at Bow Seat, I aspire to learn more about ocean awareness and reach a wider audience to create a greater impact. I would love to build strong connections with folks in the field of nature advocacy and explore and the possibilities of working full-time as a conservationist. Besides everything, I hope to successfully mentor our grantees and help them attain their desired oceanic goals.
What are the environmental issues you are passionate about?
Plastic pollution, which accounts for 85% of the global marine litter, is something I am very passionate about. It is a simple thing we hear every day: we know plastic cannot be helped and we still end up buying plastic bags at the convenience stores. We live in a world where human impact is a constant threat to our mother nature. It is saddening that millions of marine organisms are sacrificed every year at the stake of this litter. That our generation has already begun to witness mass extinction. The coral reefs are gradually dying, and even sponges and oysters are unable to play with the degree of pollution.
What has been your favorite part of joining the Council so far?
Interacting with the Fellowship grantees and Council members has been one of the many best parts of being a part of the Council. It is inspiring and wonderful to learn how our generation is so together in driving change towards a better future. I love working on graphics with Ash, playing stickers with Colletor, and hosting meetings with Brooke and Kam. Elane and her magazine inspires me, and it is always incredible to meet and hear from Linda, Eric, and Anne (there’s so much to learn from them).
If you could only say one sentence/one thing to try and convince today’s leaders to take climate action, what would you say?
The world is watching you! We are watching you.
Nuan Ning Teioh, 16 (Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia)
Nuan loves art in all its forms. She particularly enjoys poetry and prose; she has won the Gold Award for poetry in Bow Seat’s 2020 Ocean Awareness Contest as well as the Gold Finalist Award in the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2021. As a national debater, she is familiar with a variety of intersectional perspectives, especially with regards to political issues, which she is eager to explore in practice during her term on the Council this year. In her free time, she enjoys relistening to the cast album of Hadestown: The Musical and Taylor Swift’s evermore.
What do you aspire to do through the term at Bow Seat?
Aside from supporting the Fellowship grantees to the best of my abilities, I hope to bring the work of the Council to my local community of youths in Southeast Asia and encourage them to delve into art and advocacy, via making resources more inclusive and accessible. Translating resources about climate change and activism into different languages could help youths all over the world have the resources to spark conversations about climate change with their communities, even if they may not speak fluent English, ensuring everyone is able to partake in the fight for the future of our planet.
What makes you angry when it comes to nature stewardship?
While it’s a blessing that many large companies deign to contribute to environmentalism, most of their contributions to nature stewardship are full of lies in the form of greenwashing. Fast fashion brands like H&M and Zara have taken advantage of the rise in climate consciousness and distorted the discourse within environmentalism through extensive marketing campaigns. The pivot to more environmentally friendly fabrics, like viscose, may be marketed as sustainable, but has such a chemical-heavy production that they’ve polluted dozens of waterways in Asia, effectively poisoning thousands. Via greenwashing, H&M has lied in 96% of their sustainability claims, where their so-called sustainable clothing line contained 13% more damaging synthetic materials than their original clothing lines. It is agonizing to watch the good intentions of consumers be misled in that way while fast fashion brands get off claiming that they’re environmentally friendly, even as they continue to pillage our planet.
What has been your favorite part of joining the Council so far?
My favorite part of joining the Council so far has been conversing with the Fellowship grantees from all over the world and getting to hear them share their efforts and passion about protecting our planet.
If you could only say one sentence/one thing to try and convince today’s leaders to take climate action, what would you say?
Every year, around 250,000 people die of climate change-related causes, and you are complicit in the murder of each and every one of them.
Ashlee Yin Romero, 16 (Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia)
Ashlee is an entrepreneur, programmer, musician, and plant lover who strives to use technology to fight our climate crisis. She spreads awareness and promotes a sustainable daily life with her eco-friendly online business, Camellia Lifestyle.
She works to address social and environmental problems that affect her country. She plans to use her platform to advocate for the conservation of her country’s biodiversity and fight climate change.
What do you aspire to do through the term at Bow Seat?
Creating a TikTok account is definitely on the list. On a more serious note, I wish to gain more experience on how to support other people to start their projects to protect the environment and exchange knowledge from my fellow Council members!
What are the environmental issues you are passionate about?
Pollution and global warming are words that I hear almost every day, and I went from not even knowing what they meant to using them over and over again to teach people about the matters and how they should consider the effect their actions have on our environment. A year ago I started my small business, Camellia Lifestyle, as the result of my pondering over how I can contribute to the fight against this problem I just realized existed.
What has been your favorite part of joining the Council so far?
Probably just being able to interact with young people all around the world, getting to know their cultures and the everyday environmental issues of their country. It is really mind-opening and enriching!
If you could only say one sentence/one thing to try and convince today’s leaders to take climate action, what would you say?
Money does not buy time—every minute our environmental crisis is getting worse. It is no surprise that money, one of its causes, is also one of the key things for us to stop it. But no matter how much money can help us fight it, it won’t be able to buy us the time we are wasting now, stuck in words and discussions, not taking action.
We can’t wait to see what this team accomplishes during the rest of the year!