Resilient Minds, Inclusive Planet: Exploring Climate Change's Impact on Mental Health and Youth

Ryn Delpapa: Okay. Ryn Delpapa: So to be mindful of time. Ryn Delpapa: we've got a screen.  Everyone's seeing it. I'm seeing   some thumbs and nods. Amazing. Thank  you for sharing that earlier. And this   meeting is recording. So for  anyone who's joining us now. Ryn Delpapa: and Ryn Delpapa: we're here for  resilient minds, inclusive planning. Ryn Delpapa: So that is focusing  on bridging voices and communities. Ryn Delpapa: We are honored and supported  by girls. Inc. Of Greater Houston. We have   2 panelists with us tonight. Watson Institute, a  nonprofit organization based in Boulder, Colorado. Ryn Delpapa: Houston, Energy and Climate Week,  in which we are partnering with them tonight. Ryn Delpapa: and virtual voices tech the  company and venture that I am leading,   as well as Texas children and nature network  with one of our panelists being Alicia. Ryn Delpapa: And to start Ryn Delpapa: what is Ecoanxiety. Ryn Delpapa: it is a non-medical  term that is inclusive of what it   faces like in climate change. When it  has an impact on your mental health. Ryn Delpapa: I'm going to just give you a holistic   lens from there. But we're going  to dive into that topic tonight. Ryn Delpapa: And we're focusing  on bridging health and education. Ryn Delpapa: An effective climate  change. Education is central to   addressing what it means to helping people cope. Ryn Delpapa: making sure that action is coming  through when you have an empathetic heart,   who wants to do something for the environment? Ryn Delpapa: And so it is all about  us all becoming effective leaders. Ryn Delpapa: So this is a 3 part event  series. 1, st one is kicking off right now. Ryn Delpapa: And this is focused on awareness. Ryn Delpapa: We're diving into high level  topics. This is an opportunity to ask questions. Ryn Delpapa: to raise your hand,  to share stuff in the chat. Ryn Delpapa: and Ryn Delpapa: the second event will be focusing  on connection collaboration. It'll be on World   Mental Health Day on October 10, th and our 3rd  one will be bridging solutions. November 9.th Ryn Delpapa: Inclusive climate summit. Ryn Delpapa: More information on those will come Ryn Delpapa: about myself. I am the founder of  virtual oasis Tech. I have a background in Esl art Ryn Delpapa: technology, and I bridge  creativity for planetary health. Ryn Delpapa: and without further ado. Ryn Delpapa: our keynote speaker,  Dr. Marietta Collins. She is a New   York Times bestselling author and co-author  with Anne hazard as well as Marianne Solano Ryn Delpapa: of something happened in our  town, and something happened on our planet. Ryn Delpapa: For over 2 decades. She has been  a faculty member at Emory University School of   Medicine, serving children and families in  Atlanta. She's been involved in community   advocacy, efforts focused on children's  behavioral health and social justice. Ryn Delpapa: Is there anything you'd  like to add to share with the audience? Dr. Marietta Collins: Like to say good evening. Dr. Marietta Collins: and of course I'm just  very honored and thankful for the invitation   just to come and share just some of the thoughts  that not only I had, but my co-author, Mary Ann   Solana, who wasn't able to be with us about  children's perspective, related to the planet. Dr. Marietta Collins: One thing I would like  to add, in terms of your introduction is that   I'm currently on faculty at Morehouse School  of Medicine. I was was a faculty member for   over 20 plus years at Emory retired. And  I'm over at Morehouse School of medicine. Dr. Marietta Collins: I'm a licensed clinical  psychologist. And just really enjoy making   being involved in the community and  making an impact. Wherever I go. Ryn Delpapa: Amazing. Ryn Delpapa: Alright! So this is an opportunity  to hear from the author themselves, and I'll be   navigating the screen. I can't currently see the  chat, unfortunately, so I will be hopping in,   and if any speakers see anything or feel  free to raise your hand, and we can have an   opportunity there. But I'll be kicking it to  you and navigating slides and going on mute. Dr. Marietta Collins: Alright. Great I'd like  to start off, you know, with with this picture,   which does show the a cover of our book, and it  also shows and my co-author, Dr. Marianne Tolano,   and also the person who is the illustrator of our  book, and I hope that I'm pronouncing her name   correctly, it's if I'm not mistaken. But I wanted  to share those pictures with you. Next slide. Dr. Marietta Collins: This slide here just  basically recaps the fact that something   happened to our planet is a part of  the something happened. Book series. Dr. Marietta Collins: These books. For with  another in the making now all present and   explain sensitive but important events that have  happened, you know, in communities and even across   the world. And because I say in language  that's easy for children to understand. One   thing that's really important about this  book as well as our other books, is that Dr. Marietta Collins: even  though they are children's books,   they are the kinds of books that we really  want parents and educators to utilize and   to read with their children.  Our New York Times bestseller,   was. Something happened in our town which looked  at children's responses to racial injustice. Dr. Marietta Collins: Something happened in our  park. Standing together against gun violence was   our second book, and it's really timely given.  The gun violence that's happening all over our   country. And more more recently, just last week  here in Georgia, there was a school shooting.   So something happened in our park provides  a way for parents again to talk to children,   and in ways that they can understand and talk  about the importance of community empowerment. Dr. Marietta Collins: Something happened to  my dad. Talks about A young girl whose father,   unfortunately, is picked up by ice and deported,   and the last one here something happened to  our planet is the one that I'm going to be   reading and discussing tonight. All of our  books are, published by imagination press,   which is an affiliate of books for kids  from the American Psychological Association. Dr. Marietta Collins: Next slide, please. Dr. Marietta Collins: Okay, now, this is a  slide where I would like us to be a bit more   interactive, if at all possible. Would people be  willing to look at this slide and just tell me,   what do I see what comes to mind when you  see this slide? What do you see in it? Dr. Marietta Collins: Raise your hand,   or you can just verbally answer as  well. What do you see on this slide? Ryn Delpapa: Otupu Ryn Delpapa: feel free. Dr. Marietta Collins:   I know some people can see all kinds of  things on this slide, and this is really how. Dr. Marietta Collins: How, how we began  our activities in schools with children.   We start with this picture and ask them,  What is it that this, what is this? And   what is it that they see? I think I heard a  response. What do you see there? I'm sorry. Attendee: Okay, I I can. What I can see  is think this is biodiversity. Right? Attendee: Well, that's what comes to mind. Like Attendee: videos. Attendee: kind of Attendee: should I say? Sea animals. Attendee: Yeah, we. Attendee: Thank you. So I  don't see that biodiversity. Dr. Marietta Collins: Yeah, I see people  are writing in the chats that it's an   ocean scene with plastic forks and lots  of debris, spoons, forks, anything else. Dr. Marietta Collins: and and also the  animals I see trash in the oak in the ocean. Dr. Marietta Collins: Yes, for sure. Dr. Marietta Collins: Yeah. And  this is a scene that is captured   on the inside of our book a lot of one  time. Use plastics, correct, correct. Dr. Marietta Collins: and we get children to kind  of look at this and give us their reaction to what   this is. You know that they're looking looking at.  And do they think that this is a good thing to be   happening in our oceans today, plastic bottles,  right? And one thing that's gonna become a bit   more apparent as I read the book, is that this  picture shows a scene, an ocean scene where things   are not very bright and vibrant, and that's  what we would like for the ocean to look at. Dr. Marietta Collins: So what we're going  to do now is, yes, thank you. For those   great observations is to is to go on to the  next slide where I start reading the book. Dr. Marietta Collins: Okay, something happened  to our planet kids tackle the climate crisis. Dr. Marietta Collins: Thank you. Next slide. Dr. Marietta Collins: And here  we see our main character. Dr. Marietta Collins: She says. Dr. Marietta Collins: I'm worried.  Something bad is happening to our planet Dr. Marietta Collins: next slide. Dr. Marietta Collins: Dad says the  air and oceans are getting warmer,   and that's why storms and fires are  worse now than they were before. Dr. Marietta Collins: Mom says  these changes won't hurt us now,   but a warmer planet will make life harder  in the future when I'm as old as Grandma Dr. Marietta Collins: Grandma says, humans  hurt the planet and humans can fix it. Dr. Marietta Collins: But I'm just one human Dr. Marietta Collins: next slide. Dr. Marietta Collins: The planet is  so big and I'm small. What can I do? Dr. Marietta Collins: And so smaller  than you, said my little brother Cameron. Dr. Marietta Collins: A colony of  ants can move a mountain of dirt,   said Dad, and they help the plants grow. Dr. Marietta Collins: How? I asked. Dr. Marietta Collins: The colony makes a deep nest  in the ground, led by the queen. Ant, said Dad. Dr. Marietta Collins: the ant ant turns the soil  which helps water and food to reach the plants Dr. Marietta Collins: next page. Dr. Marietta Collins: Yay. Dr. Marietta Collins: I thought about  how much I could do if I was an aunt. Dr. Marietta Collins: but what's  the 1st thing? An ant needs Dr. Marietta Collins: other ants. Dr. Marietta Collins: So I asked my friends  to be part of my colony to help the planet. Dr. Marietta Collins: At 1st I thought  I'd be the leader, since it was my idea. Dr. Marietta Collins: But we  ended up having 3 leaders,   me, Carter and Tally. We're  human, after all, not ants. Dr. Marietta Collins: Okay. Dr. Marietta Collins: Now we had to  decide what we could do to help the planet Dr. Marietta Collins: I  already knew about pollution. Dr. Marietta Collins: How do we make  the air cleaner? I asked. Grandma Dr. Marietta Collins: plant trees, she said. Dr. Marietta Collins: I was confused. Dr. Marietta Collins: But trees are  part of nature. How can they help? Dr. Marietta Collins: We  are a part of nature, too. Dr. Marietta Collins: and we do  our part. Nature heals itself. Dr. Marietta Collins: She explained  how trees clean the air by taking   in the harmful gases humans make and  giving us the oxygen we need to breathe. Dr. Marietta Collins: The trees  were working hard to save the earth. Dr. Marietta Collins: What can we do to help them? Dr. Marietta Collins: Next page Dr. Marietta Collins: we  named the group Earth Control. Dr. Marietta Collins: The trees we  planted were as small as Cameron,   but we knew they would be big one day. Dr. Marietta Collins: but we wanted to do more. I   wanted to do something that would  help the planet. Now something big Dr. Marietta Collins: oceans are big, said Carter. Dr. Marietta Collins: Next page Dr. Marietta Collins: I asked our  teacher how we could help the ocean. Dr. Marietta Collins: Have you ever  seen a coral reef? Miss Nesme asked. Dr. Marietta Collins: She showed us a picture on  the Internet, my eyes. They stuck to the screen. Dr. Marietta Collins: The coral reef  has thousands of colorful plants   and creatures. They need each other  and the water to survive, she said. Dr. Marietta Collins: She said, that warmer  water hurts the coral and it turns white,   so it's no longer the vibrant color. Next phase. Dr. Marietta Collins: What's making  the water so warm? Asked Tally. Dr. Marietta Collins: The fuels we burn to  make and move the things we use and throw away Dr. Marietta Collins: even the cans  and water bottles we recycle ex Carter. Dr. Marietta Collins: It's better to  reuse than recycle, said Miss Nathme. Dr. Marietta Collins: It uses less room. Dr. Marietta Collins: Maybe we can look for  things that we can reuse here at school, I said. Dr. Marietta Collins: perfect, Mr. Nephew said. Dr. Marietta Collins: Your group can start our   1st schools clean because our  our school's 1st climate plan Dr. Marietta Collins: next page. Dr. Marietta Collins: Cali Carter  Kelly and I gathered the Earth Patrol. Dr. Marietta Collins: Let's look everywhere  in the school to get ideas, I said. Dr. Marietta Collins: We looked  in the classrooms, the library,   the cafeteria, hallways,  bathrooms, and playgrounds. Dr. Marietta Collins: We even  looked in the trash cans. Dr. Marietta Collins: It was easy to  find the room with the biggest trash can. Dr. Marietta Collins: Okay. Dr. Marietta Collins: alright,  biggest raskin. Okay. Next one Dr. Marietta Collins: alrighty. Dr. Marietta Collins: We talked about  what we could reuse at school. In the   end we decided on lunch trays that  could be washed and used again. Dr. Marietta Collins: We wrote  our ideas and reasons why,   on a piece of paper which we did not throw away. Dr. Marietta Collins: Miss Nesmith went with us  to the principal's office. When we were ready,   we stood tall like trees, and showed him our paper Dr. Marietta Collins: next page. Dr. Marietta Collins: He said he liked our  idea, but the school didn't have the money   to buy the trays, and the extra  dishwasher needed to clean them. Dr. Marietta Collins: We were disappointed Dr. Marietta Collins: when I got home from  school. I might have leaned on Mom and cried. Dr. Marietta Collins: I'm  human, after all. Not a tree Dr. Marietta Collins: next page. Dr. Marietta Collins: but we did not give up. Dr. Marietta Collins: We asked our parents to help  us talk about our idea. At the next Pta meeting   we called it trays for the planet or Tp. For  short. Now Cameron loves saying our short name. Dr. Marietta Collins: We talked to my  dad's friend, who knows about energy   and recycling. We wrote more reasons why our  school should buy the trays and the dishwasher.   We said students could help collect and  stack the trays. At the end of lunch. Dr. Marietta Collins: I kept looking at the  live feed of the of the coral reef on my tablet. Dr. Marietta Collins: That's when  I read that the plastics we throw   away end up in the ocean and hurts the fish. Dr. Marietta Collins: Next one Dr. Marietta Collins: we went to the Pta. Meeting. Dr. Marietta Collins: All  of us brought our parents,   and Carter brought his cousin,  who was a newspaper reporter. Dr. Marietta Collins: A lot of teachers  were there. We waved at Miss Netheme. Dr. Marietta Collins: We took turns reading aloud  all the reasons why we thought the school should   buy reusable trays. When it was my turn  I was as shaky as a leaf in a rainstorm. Dr. Marietta Collins: The people  in the meeting looked so serious. Dr. Marietta Collins: What if they laughed at me Dr. Marietta Collins: next page? Dr. Marietta Collins: At 1st my voice was wheat. Dr. Marietta Collins: then it got stronger. Dr. Marietta Collins: When I was done I  looked into the faces of the grown-ups. Dr. Marietta Collins: I still  felt small, but I also felt dead. Dr. Marietta Collins: I would like to see  a coral reef in real life. One day I said Dr. Marietta Collins: we all would, said Tally. Dr. Marietta Collins: 1st Dr. Marietta Collins: there was silence. Dr. Marietta Collins: then clapping. Dr. Marietta Collins: then waiting Dr. Marietta Collins: next. Dr. Marietta Collins: the Pta said,   yes to trades with the planet. We can  start to help the oceans right now Dr. Marietta Collins: even better.  The kids got their got the parents   and teachers talking about how to help the planet. Dr. Marietta Collins: They are  planning a way to get our schools,   energy from the sun. But here's the best part. Dr. Marietta Collins: Carter's cousin  posted a story about our success,   and now other schools may  make their own climate plans. Dr. Marietta Collins: We are all a part of  nature. If we do our part, nature heals itself. Dr. Marietta Collins: So I want you  to pause right there, ran, okay. Dr. Marietta Collins: now, I want you guys to  think about the very 1st slide that I showed you. Dr. Marietta Collins: And now look at this slide. Dr. Marietta Collins: What's different  other than the kids that we see here,   tell me what's different about this slide? Dr. Marietta Collins: The  image of the ocean. Okay, yeah. Dr. Marietta Collins: What's  different? Cleaner ocean. Dr. Marietta Collins: Thanks, Marty. Anybody else Dr. Marietta Collins: looks more help. Attendee: Careful to see Attendee: the scene. Then the 1st slide. Attendee: We have cleaned Attendee: this app. Attendee: I think that's if we do our part Attendee: in trying to Attendee: reuse things, not to throw them away.  They will end. They will not end up in the ocean. Dr. Marietta Collins: Oh, yes, for  sure. Vibrant colors is what someone   said. I see the balance. I would agree. 100%. And  you know, kids. We show them this slide to the   children being happy in a clean ocean, and they  can tell us, you know there is no plastic bags,   you know there's no trash in the in the ocean.  The colors are are brighter and more vibrant,   and this is what they want  their oceans to look like. Dr. Marietta Collins: for sure. Hey? Dr. Marietta Collins: Alrighty! Dr. Marietta Collins: Next slide. Dr. Marietta Collins: Now, before we go on. Okay,   I'll talk just a little bit about this  this slide, maybe, and the next one Dr. Marietta Collins: to let you know that.  This is just a slide of some of the school   visits that dr. Solano, or Marianne, as I  call her, and I made over the year trying   to to take our books to to children,  you know, to read in their classrooms.   We would use you. We would read it on a large  screen, and the children would be listening   and asking questions. One of the things that  we did you can turn the next one, I believe. Dr. Marietta Collins: is to next slide,  please. Yeah, we visited over 500 students,   really in public and private  schools. 1st to 6th grade. Okay. Dr. Marietta Collins: and that. And  our book does align well with George's   science education standards for 3rd graders in  terms of recycling and conservation. However,   you know it's very limited other than that  in the lower lower grades we would bring   props to discuss what consumer items  are better. We would bring a styrofoam Dr. Marietta Collins: tray, which is what many  schools continue to use versus a tray that can   be washed and used. We bring bags that  you can get. You know the canvas bags and   shopping you get when you go shopping versus  a plastic bag. So we would talk about which   is better. And kids, you know, very early  on can tell us which is better. And why? Dr. Marietta Collins: For older grades, impact  of the climate crisis on humans is discussed,   and climate justice which countries and  regions contribute most Ghc emissions,   and which suffer the most. Dr. Marietta Collins: First, st  from climate change. We talk about   all those kinds of things. With the  older kids. And the emphasis, again,   is on the importance of collective  and systemic climate action. Dr. Marietta Collins: So before we go any  further, do people have any reactions to the book. Dr. Marietta Collins: any reactions to  the book. Anything anybody wants to say. Cassandra: Hi! This is  Cassandra. Can I just speak. Dr. Marietta Collins: Yes. Cassandra: So I just want to say, I love the  book. I think it's great. I have 5 children,   and I would love to share it with them all. Dr. Marietta Collins: Thank you.  Thank you. I appreciate that. Dr. Marietta Collins: I liked it.  And it's message. Thank you, Erin. Ryn Delpapa: Feel free to unmute Otubo. Attendee: Yeah, for me. The  book is very comprehensive. Attendee: Wouldn't have been. Attendee: I don't think there's a  better way to explain to the kids Attendee: that climate action is really,  really important. So this book is very,   very comprehensive, explanatory, and  easy to understand. So and it's very,   very important. We let our kids know these  things as because the better they know it now. Attendee: the better they start working on Attendee: climate action. So Attendee: thumbs up to the author  of this book. This book is very,   very comprehensive. Thank you, ma'am. Dr. Marietta Collins: Thank you.  I appreciate I appreciate that.   And I'm sure that I ran. Put in the chat  that I thoroughly enjoyed it. I plan on   adding it to our to our library. Thank  you so much. Explorer. Adventure pack Dr. Marietta Collins: programming. I  was. Gonna say, I think that man probably Dr. Marietta Collins: has put in there where  the book can be purchased at hopefully some of   the local independent bookstores. In Houston.  One thing I wanted to also say about the book,   and I do have it here with me now.  I don't know if you can see it,   but in the back of this book, as well as  other. Something happened. Series books. Dr. Marietta Collins: It's something that we  call a reader's note, and I'm going to refer   to that a little bit later. Because, you know,  really, we, we know how difficult it can be to   talk to children about these challenging topics,  especially in language that they can understand.   Now, we're psychologists and we work with  children, you know. So we're used to trying   to break things down in what we call  developmentally appropriate manners. Dr. Marietta Collins: I'm from Nigeria.  Nigeria. Hi can. How can I get this? Well,   you can certainly email me or Ren. And you know  I could help you to make sure that you got that.   You know you were able to purchase the book  from our publisher, or just let let us know,   and we make sure that happened. What I was  saying about the readers note in the back   of our book is that it does it? It takes its  time in terms of explaining. You know what? Dr. Marietta Collins: What is happening in  terms of the climate crisis. It provides   definitions on the impact of the climate,  correct of the climate crisis. Okay,   it tells you how you can talk  to children about the climate Dr. Marietta Collins: crisis. It provides  vocabulary and a child friendly definitions like,   what is the carbon footprint. How can you explain  that to a 6 year old? A carbon sink climate? What   is? What is the climate? What is climate  change? What are fossil fuels. All of these   we've already taken the liberty of explaining in  child friendly language to everyone who wants to   read our book. We even have sample child parent  questions. For instance, a child might say. Dr. Marietta Collins: What's so bad about the  temperatures getting a few degrees warmer,   you know. That sounds like a question that a  child would ask, and the answer we gave was   2 to 3°F. Warming is not a big deal when it comes  to weather, but it's a huge change in the climate,   because the word climate is used  to describe weather everywhere.   So anyway, we have these kinds of questions  and more, how can the world? How can the earth   to be warming up? It was cold outside. So one  thing that we urge parents and educators to do. Dr. Marietta Collins: It's prior to  reading the book, especially to children,   to read it to yourself, and even start off  reading the back of the book. The readers note   and cause that really does help to make things  clearer, it will help you hopefully be able to   chart a path for being able to have a real,  meaningful discussion. About the book. Okay. Dr. Marietta Collins: any other  questions or comments before I go on? Dr. Marietta Collins: What was the motivation  or inspiration to write the book? Okay,   any student or encounter stand out  from? I can't see the rest of it,   but I can certainly tell  you part of your motivation. Dr. Marietta Collins: And if Dr. Tulam over here,  I would certainly give her the lead in that,   because it was this was really her idea,  her idea that we tackle this topic. Dr. Marietta Collins: You know we were  both very touched by what's happening   in our country in terms of the  climate crisis. And you know,   the other books that we wrote also handle  these really difficult subjects. So there   wasn't just one encounter per se  that prompted us to write this book. Dr. Marietta Collins: but that we really we  had. We were just really kept encountering   again grocery stores here in Georgia, where  they still use plastic, you know, and also   people with plastic water bottles and kids who  bring plastic what do you call them? Lunchables? Dr. Marietta Collins: And also just so, things  like that, just over and over. This kind of,   you know, touched us. So we decided that we would  try and and open the conversation, you know,   for both educators and children and parents  about how we can make a difference in this? Dr. Marietta Collins: Okay. Dr. Marietta Collins: alrighty. Dr. Marietta Collins: Any other questions. Dr. Marietta Collins: Okay,  we can go to the next slide. Dr. Marietta Collins: Okay. Dr. Marietta Collins: okay, how do State states  how to state public schools, science standards,   address climate change. What I wanted to  do with this slide here is to just to give   an idea of outside of the book. You know  what is happening in terms of, you know,   public school science and and climate  change. Expert reviewers. And this is   based on a report from the National Center for  Science Education and the Texas Freedom network. Dr. Marietta Collins: evaluated how State  science class standards address key points   in terms of scientific consensus. And you  know, one thing that's that's definitely been Dr. Marietta Collins: articulated, you know, by  these science standards is that the climate? The   climate crisis is real. It's real. It's not on a  made up phenomena, but it's a phenomena that we   are experiencing. And it's bad. It's bad, and it's  and and we are experiencing it. And it's really Dr. Marietta Collins: our fault as humans. But  there is hope. There's hope, because, you know,   there are lots of scientists who are working on  it. There is more of a systematic approach, and   even with some, an individualistic perspective,  people can decide to do things differently Dr. Marietta Collins: differently. As opposed to,   you know, when you leave rooms you can make  sure you turn the light off. For instance,   you can make a choice to not use plastic  bags. When you go to the grocery store.   You can make a choice to Carpool. You can  make a choice to do things very differently. Dr. Marietta Collins: And I see this typo  here on this screen here, where it says,   here only 27 of the 50 States and the  District of Columbus have standards   that are under b plus, or better in  terms of the standards that address Dr. Marietta Collins: climate change Dr. Marietta Collins: the ones that  got a's. This should be Wyoming. So   excuse the typo there at Alaska and North  Dakota. Now those are the ones that got   an A of the remaining States. 10 received  a grade of D or worse and 6 receiving F. Dr. Marietta Collins: And I. And  I'm in good company here in Georgia,   because we received an F as did the  State of Texas. We also see Pennsylvania,   Alabama, Virginia, and South Carolina.  They receive grades of F in terms of Dr. Marietta Collins: school science standards  that address climate change. So we have a have   a a long way to go here in Georgia, as  you guys do in Texas. But again, you know,   things are happening there. There's reason to  be hopeful. You know, you guys are having this   this big. First, st you know, Houston climate  change programs. I think that's excellent. So. Dr. Marietta Collins: yeah. Dr. Marietta Collins: how does this relate to  you to communities you're joining from? Yeah,   I think that's great. That's a great question.  How does this relate, you know? And again,   here in Georgia, you know, we have an  F. You know, we're not doing a good job   of trying to address climate change here  in Georgia. How about other communities?   Anybody else have anything they'd like to  say about the communities in which they live. Ryn Delpapa: Feel free to share in the chat,   or you can think about this, we'll have  an opportunity for QA. As well later. Ryn Delpapa: which is something to start thinking. Dr. Marietta Collins: Sure. Okay? Dr. Marietta Collins: And and our next slide here. Dr. Marietta Collins: Okay, this is  something that you know, people often   talk to us about as psychologists. How does  climate change affect children's mental health? Dr. Marietta Collins: But certainly, you  know, it certainly most certainly does. Dr. Marietta Collins: Excuse me. There are  direct effects, you know, depression, anxiety. Dr. Marietta Collins: Ptsd. From the  from the the events that keep happening,   these extreme weather events that keep happening. Dr. Marietta Collins: Victimization. You know the  the countries that have have cost the least amount Dr. Marietta Collins: of damage in terms of our  climate. You know we are. Those are the countries   that end up, unfortunately bearing part of the  hugest burden. Okay, some people become experience   more depression. There is. Echo anxiety.  Ptsd, from people have experienced floods,   and I've been involved in the wildfires so  they're certainly the direct effects that have   much damage, you know, on people's mental health,  and you know they're indirect effects as well. Dr. Marietta Collins: and direct effects related  to family violence. There's an increase in family   violence. There's grief in terms of what's lost.  You know the home that you live in the community   that you once loved. It's no longer there for you.  There's anxiety about what's what next? And again,   you know, as Rand said earlier, you know,  with their feelings of of hopelessness   and powerless and and doom. You know, there's  some some children and adolescents experience   as a result of them becoming aware  of what's happening in our climate. Dr. Marietta Collins: And of course there's  the climate anxiety, too. So you know,   it's important to be aware of the fact  that these things are are happening,   and they are affecting children's mental health. Dr. Marietta Collins: You know. One thing  that we certainly do recommend is that,   you know, is that parents and educators read  our book, you know, read the back of the book,   because it certainly does have suggestions  for how to talk to children about this,   and how to empower children,  because again, you know,   just everybody doing one small thing can make  a big difference. If there is a child that Dr. Marietta Collins: that likes to get  Earth control happens for all of us,   for sure it could be, you know. Let's let's let's  form an Earth Patrol team and clean up the beach Dr. Marietta Collins: where we live. Let's Dr. Marietta Collins: free. Let's let's  do. Let's see what we can figure out to   do in our own homes. What is one thing  we can do one decision we can make. Dr. Marietta Collins: You know, what can we  do in the school? Can we? Can we come up with   a climate action plan in our school that other  people might be interested in taking a part of. Dr. Marietta Collins: And you see here, the  percentage of youth worried about climate change   ranges from 44 to percent to 80 84. So you know,  certainly this is on the minds of of children,   you know, and adolescents. And we, as adults, you  know, don't want to neglect that we want to pay   attention to. We don't want to acknowledge  our own anxiety related to what's going on   and in the environment we want to become more  educated as to what we can do to make changes. Dr. Marietta Collins: Yeah, next slide, please. Dr. Marietta Collins: Okay, how can we best have  children in the context of a climate change. Dr. Marietta Collins: Oh, certainly, preparing  for and helping children cope the extreme   weather conditions, you know, we've talked  about. Oh, family emergency plans, you know,   if there's a you know, if there are wild wildfires  or tornadoes, or you know there, you know, people   have to leave unexpectedly. Can we have an  emergency plan. For where families can can know Dr. Marietta Collins: where we can meet  together, what can we do? Can we pack a   kit just in case there is an emerging  situation. What can we do as a family   to prepare ourselves? And you know, on the  positive side, let's engage in climate actions,   you know we can. You know. One thing we  can do as adults, as adults is to really   advocate. We can vote for politicians who  also are concerned about the environment Dr. Marietta Collins: and who want to make  positive changes who are not overlooking   the environment. We can educate our children  again in an developmentally appropriate way   about what it about climate change, what is  it and help them become climate activists?   So there are things that we can do as adults  to help our children. Cope better. You know,   with what is happening in our world  related to the climate crisis. Dr. Marietta Collins: Okay. Dr. Marietta Collins: okay. And here  we see kids. You know, our future is in   your hands. You know we have a young gardener  there, you know. Everybody can do something. It   doesn't have to be big. It can be something  as small again as planting that tree there   and and children becoming activist helps to  promote coping and also bolsters social support Dr. Marietta Collins: fosters hope helps in terms  of building problem solving skills, and it also   captures the attendance. The attention of adults.  Again, thinking back about our book, once the kids   decided that they would form the Earth control of  Earth Patrol rather, and and do something in their   schools. Try to make a difference. The adults  started talking about it. The adults started   paying attention, and they decided that they  were gonna try to do something bigger than just Dr. Marietta Collins: the reusable tray. So  again, you know, when children become activists,   it captures the attention of adults.  And we want to really reinforce that. Dr. Marietta Collins: Okay. And I do believe Dr. Marietta Collins: I'd  like to end with this here. Dr. Marietta Collins: What would you do to heal   the planet? What could you  do within your own family. Dr. Marietta Collins: within your own, you  know, within your own neighborhood, you know,   if you're an educator within your your own  classroom. What could you do? The hill. Dr. Marietta Collins: the planet? And again. Dr. Marietta Collins: you know, we see  here, you know the vibrant colors of a   of an ocean that's clean, where people have  been more mindful about not about reusing Dr. Marietta Collins: and not just recycling,   not just, you know, getting the plastic  bottles and recycling them supposedly,   but just trying to reuse and be more thoughtful  in terms of how we take care of our planet. So   what would you do to help heal the planet. Are  there any any thoughts about that? Any comments. Ryn Delpapa: Got one from... Haana: Sorry. Ryn Delpapa: Hannah. Haana: Hi! I'm Hannah. My  name is Fauna, not Hannah. Dr. Marietta Collins: Hi, Hannah! Ryn Delpapa: Appreciate that. Haana: So in grade 3 in 3rd grade. Haana: I actually had started my own  club called the Green Earth Club. Dr. Marietta Collins: Hey! Haana: in school. And basically, we just did. We  just talked about after school. We just talked.   We had some Zoom Meetings every Wednesday  after school that just talked about how we   can help the climate. What are some things  affecting the climate? And we at the end of Haana: at the end of every month.  We would have a project to do so   like for one month. We went to  school, and in our recess area,   the playground and stuff. We just went around  and picked up trash, and we planted some seeds. Haana: And then in the next month. We just did a Haana: we did the same thing. We planted  some trees, we planted some lemons. We   just did like a bunch of different  activities to help out with that. Dr. Marietta Collins: Oh,  that is great! That is great,   hon, and that is excellent. Excellent you  should be, you know, even in the 3rd grade,   you know. So you guys already became aware of  the fact that you can make a difference forming   together. You had your own Earth Patrol. So that's  excellent. Thank you so much for sharing that. Dr. Marietta Collins: Yeah,  exactly engaging with decision   makers encouraging children to participate  in activities, but certainly advocating,   engaging with decision makers who can and  do understand how serious this matter is. Dr. Marietta Collins: Volunteer  to book a community garden. I   think that's a great idea. Great idea! Ryn Delpapa: There was an interesting conversation  from today's presentation at the opening ceremony,   and the facilitator, Katie asked a very similar  question of a group of audience that was adults,   policymakers, very much energy centric. Ryn Delpapa: and someone voiced Ryn Delpapa: a willingness to give up comfort. Ryn Delpapa: and by that they  also reference Europe's practice   of either increasing or decreasing  the temperature in their own homes   to show that by decreasing their own comfort  they're collectively increasing all of ours. Ryn Delpapa: and we've got someone  from Otubo, and then Carolina Ryn Delpapa: feel free to unmute. Attendee: Okay. Thank you, doctor. Attendee: Thank you for the messages Attendee: for me. I I am a project lead at  an organization, a nonprofit organization. Attendee: Eco-friendly Africa initiative  here in Nigeria, Plato states. To be precise. Attendee: I took it. I I did a course in  January which was organized by Inco Academy. Attendee: The name of the course is green digital   skews. So these are skills,  you know, that keeps you Attendee: environmentally conscious of what you  do. So I I put it on myself to raise awareness   about these skills and next month I'm hoping  to starting a just a mini training for young Attendee: or for youth around my community where  I'm going to teach them green digital skills,   such as green digital design,  which is about incorporating   green digital principle into the creation of  websites. Or, for example, we teach people Attendee: that okay, instead of  you watching video on Youtube,   which consumes more data and more energy. Instead,   you download the video into your phone and watch  it, because the more you watch it on Youtube,   the more your systems emits carbon emission.  So this is about the green digital design. Attendee: and then the green digital marketing. We  advise people to market eco friendly products. We   teach them how to market. Eco, friendly product.  And then, the green digital infrastructure.   We tend to teach them how they can advocate  for energy renewable energy to power up data   centers instead of the bulk. Traditional  energy that we have that uses force that Attendee: uses fossive well, and in turn  emits large tons of common carbon emission,   which are very, very detrimental  to our society, and then the last   one green and carbon accounting, and  a area. We teach them how to measure Attendee: to know the amount of emission they  are emitting. So by so doing, the kind of Attendee: be watchful of or be  mindful of their activities which can Attendee: cause or we can Attendee: initiates carbon  emission into the air and   eventually become detrimental. So this  is the little I'm doing for my own end,   because of my passion for climate change and  climate action. Thank you, doctor, and that   is the reason why I'm here to come and learn  more and put it out there for people to know. Attendee: Thank you, doctor. Dr. Marietta Collins: Oh, thank you! Those those  sound fantastic! That's great! That is great. Ryn Delpapa: Thank you, Otubu, and then,  Carolina, you had your hand raised earlier. Attendee: I was actually going  to mention the same thing. You   said that this was a question that was  done in the open ceremony this morning. Attendee: I was surprised.  Coming from a 3rd country. Attendee: 3rd World country! Attendee: How behind some action of  adults and professionals in energy and Attendee: professionals and  sustainability are here like Attendee: going into Atb Attendee: and seeing other people snagging their Attendee: products in plastic bags where  many other countries already have a lot   of laws forbidden them. You've seen the the bags. Attendee: having I I when  I arrived to Houston I was Attendee: I got a Attendee: a fine, was it? Wasn't a fine.  I don't know how to say it English, but Attendee: the landlord of the house we rented. Attendee: I made a spray like it like it. Attendee: bill for not leaving  the A/C. On when we left the house Attendee: a few for a few weeks like in my  country. You wouldn't dare to think. I mean,   if you're not in the house, you just don't Attendee: of the A/C. Or you. If you  leave the house, you close everything. Attendee: Using plastic bags. Attendee: Is forbidden nowadays. Everyone goes  to their supermarkets with their own bags. Attendee: So some things that I consider Attendee: normal to do like. It's a habit Attendee: here is not so. It's  it was surprising for me. Here. Dr. Marietta Collins: That's great.  So what country are you from? Attendee: Argentina, but I was sitting  on a table with someone from Spain,   and someone from Chile and there's a  there was a Guy from Nigeria as well,   and they were all saying the same things  like some things feel like 3rd world. Here. Dr. Marietta Collins: Okay. Oh, yes, oh, yes. Dr. Marietta Collins: thank you  for sharing that. I appreciate it. Ryn Delpapa: And in the chat we have the   culture surrounding single use.  Plastics is different, agreed Ryn Delpapa: a lot of different uses here. Ryn Delpapa: Is there any additional questions,   for Dr. Collins feel free to raise your  hands, or we can keep this dialogue going. Ryn Delpapa: or I can start asking  questions, too, to start the the ball. Ryn Delpapa: So Ryn Delpapa: Dr. Collins. Ryn Delpapa: mention a lot of different things. Ryn Delpapa: specifically, with ecoanxiety. Ryn Delpapa: You talk about children and teen  navigating these emotions and turning them into Ryn Delpapa: effective uses for positivity  and actual steps for climate advocacy. Ryn Delpapa: when it comes to supporting Ryn Delpapa: like a Ryn Delpapa: acute versus chronic support  with children. Do you have any advice there. Ryn Delpapa: You know whether it's a single  experience. They've experienced a hurricane,   and they're having eco anxiety afterwards,  or someone who has long term reflections and   fears around the growing changes in climate  change. Has any of that kind of evolved your   way of working with students and  patients and community at large. Ryn Delpapa: and. Dr. Marietta Collins: I think I  think that's a great question. Dr. Marietta Collins: you know. One thing that we Dr. Marietta Collins: often tell parents is, you  know, especially, you know, following. You know,   traumatic events is to really limit media exposure  on your kids, you know, once they, you know,   once the event has happened. It's replayed time  and time again, over and over, you know, on TV,   or, you know, on social media. Try to really limit  how much exposure your children have to that. Dr. Marietta Collins: and also to acknowledge,  you know that. This is something that happened,   that that's bad, and that was scary for you, too. Dr. Marietta Collins: and that you guys are  doing everything that you can to make sure   that they're safe, and that there are lots of  scientists who are even working to make the Dr. Marietta Collins: to make things  better, you know. So it's not, you know,   so individualistically, you know, we can do  small things. But we can also do bigger things,   you know, working, working more  systematically for sure. So you know,   limiting exposure, acknowledging your own  anxiety, acknowledging it that it's okay for Dr. Marietta Collins: for your child, you  know, to have those feelings, you know,   and that you you're doing everything  that you know you guys can to try and   be as safe as possible. And let's try  to think of something that we can do Dr. Marietta Collins: to help in this situation.  What could we do to help? And of course, you know,   if things continue, you know, in terms of high  levels of anxiety, you know, with children,   you know, or teens, or even with adults, you  know, related to echo anxiety. You know. You   know there's certainly professionals who can  help. You know what have what we found is Dr. Marietta Collins: doing things, you know, on  a I guess I'll say a day to day basis, you know,   feeling like you're making a a difference, you  know. If you're if you if you let's say you're   an artist, you can make a sculpture using, you  know, you know, reusable or recycled materials,   you know, doing things to make it make you  feel as though you are making a difference.   We found those steps, you know. What  can you do to commit to make a change? Dr. Marietta Collins: Can you and your family  do? What can you in your classroom. Do you   know those things we found to really kind of  help decrease the anxiety overall? But again,   if high levels continue, then of course,  you want to seek professional help. Ryn Delpapa: Thank you. Ryn Delpapa: and I'll I'll start with another  question until we have some more in the chat. But Ryn Delpapa: another one is, you know. Ryn Delpapa: ecoanxiety isn't a medical diagnosis Ryn Delpapa: so Ryn Delpapa: correct me if I'm wrong on that. But Ryn Delpapa: have you experienced  patience? Kind of been like? What   am I feeling and confusion around even  the concept and the experience of what Ryn Delpapa: this is bringing into their their  life and resistance, on even acknowledging it. Dr. Marietta Collins: I would say that I  haven't had patients myself who have come   and experienced that, I think Dr Tillano and I've  talked about it, and she may have. But certainly,   even though it's not a quote, unquote medical  condition, and I don't believe it's even Dr. Marietta Collins: in our Dr. Marietta Collins: in  our diagnostic manual that   we use as psychologists. But that doesn't mean Dr. Marietta Collins: excuse me, that  it does not exist. Okay. And you know,   that's what's most important. You know if  someone patient were to come in to you with   these concerns is to talk with them about, to  acknowledge that you know the fears are real,   you know, and that you know the things that  they saw, you know, and that are happening   in our world can be scared. But what can we  do to control that. What can we do to help? Dr. Marietta Collins: Okay, we can become  advocates. We can take action ourselves, you know,   and rather than give in to feelings of  of powerlessness, or or you know, our Dr. Marietta Collins: are making it feel like  the world is coming to an end. No, what we're   gonna do is we're gonna take small steps now to  make things better. Small steps from one person,   from 2 people, from 3 people like the Earth  Patrol. Okay, those. And over time, those Dr. Marietta Collins: steps. There are more people  doing the right things, so things will get better,   and things are starting to get better.  So again acknowledging the feelings,   you know, and the reality of what's  happening, but as opposed to staying in Dr. Marietta Collins: in feelings of anxiety  and negativity. What can you do to start to   make things better, you know, not only  for yourself, but for our planet too. Ryn Delpapa: Thank you very well, said. Dr. Marietta Collins: Well, thank you. Ryn Delpapa: I have another one. I  can keep asking tons of questions,   but if anyone else wants to raise your hand  or add one in the chat. Want to give space. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): Lot and. Ryn Delpapa: Not. Ryn Delpapa: Oh, yeah, we'll  go to Ahmad. And then Alicia Ryn Delpapa: Ahmad feel free to unmute. Attendee: Can you hear me now? Dr. Marietta Collins: Yes. Ryn Delpapa: Yes. Attendee: Actually. Attendee: I have a fear I have. Attendee: I feel, because I live in Egypt,  in a region called Delpa, near Alexandria. Attendee: near the coast. Attendee: and I actually know  that if the earth is, temperature Attendee: continues to Attendee: rice for one or 2 Attendee: another degrees. Attendee: this area is threatened  to disappear because of ice melting. Attendee: so Attendee: I fear that Attendee: my children will not live a normal life. Attendee: I feel about the future  of my children and my grandchildren. Attendee: so Attendee: we try to take some  actions. Many people in our region. Attendee: Okay, try to Attendee: save energy by Attendee: installing solar panels. Attendee: Above our houses. Attendee: instead of depending on Attendee: on electricity, which need fossil fuels Attendee: to run power stations.  Instead, we install solar panels Attendee: it to generate electricity. Attendee: So it's an renewable source  of energy that we can depend on. Attendee: So I see that Attendee: expanding Attendee: in using solar panels will help a lot. Attendee: It will. Attendee: I don't know Attendee: how to Attendee: make people aware Attendee: of the the importance  of using solar energy Attendee: it will. Egypt has Attendee: a good climate or a hot climate. Attendee: a many, many areas. We can use solar Attendee: panels Attendee: and many areas in Egypt to generate  electricity. So I would like to share. This Attendee: was a doctor. Attendee: Let me see. Attendee: I'm sorry I forgot Attendee: just a second. Please Attendee: give me a second, please. Attendee: Okay, so I wanted to share  this idea with Dr. Marita Collins. Yes,   to me. Your opinion about that. Dr. Marietta Collins: No? Well, yeah,   I think that you know what what you  just said really does. I guess I'll say Dr. Marietta Collins: and capitalize  everything that you know the approach   that that we that we have now to climate  change? It's it's awful. What's happened   to our planet is awful. It's scary, you  know, to think about the things that Dr. Marietta Collins: you know. This place  might not be here for our children to see.   The glaciers are are getting smaller,  you know. It's it, it's it's really. Dr. Marietta Collins: it's heartbreaking.  It's anxiety provoking, you know. But Dr. Marietta Collins: we could choose to not do  anything and let that let these negative things   continue to happen, or we can do as what  you're doing make changes, make changes.   You talked about solar panels. That was one of  the things we had written about in in our book,   you know, we're trying to figure out. How can  you explain solar panels to children, you know,   but certainly again, what's happening  in our world in terms of our climate. Dr. Marietta Collins: It's real, it's  awful. But you know, people are doing   things like what you just said and that's  had that's helping to heal the planet,   because if we don't do anything,  things will continue to get worse. Dr. Marietta Collins: But if we do some things  now make these changes and encourage other   people to make these changes. Little by little  by little, things will, I'm hopeful, get better,   and climate action and climate advocates  don't give up, you know, continue to to really Dr. Marietta Collins: not Dr. Marietta Collins: not accept, as is that  we can do better. We can do better. We can   have some discomfort. Someone said, use that  word of yes, we can, you know, as opposed to   having air conditioners running all the  time. Even when you're not not there,   we can have some discomfort. We don't have to  have temperatures, you know, just to to make us so   comfortable all the time. We can make some small  changes ourselves. We can. We can make sacrifices,   we can become involved. We can vote. We  can vote for people who will, in fact. Dr. Marietta Collins: be climate  advocates and also be willing to   make. Take the action to make sure  that we have a planet, you know,   in the long run. So thank you so much  for what you said, and I agree, 100%. Attendee: Thank you, doctor. Dr. Marietta Collins: Well, thank you. Ryn Delpapa: Thank you for sharing.  And then, Alicia, you have a question. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): Yes, 1st of all,  I want to say thank you, Dr. Collins,   for your lovely presentation. I'm super  excited to share this book with so many   people in our network and as someone within  the environmental education and nonprofit. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): Realm or, Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): yeah, round Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): introducing this  book to them, it would be greatly accepted.   Just because we're all environmental  advocates for the most part. But what   do you feel like is probably one of  the biggest barriers in introducing Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): climate  change and importance of climate   change to individuals who may not have that Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): passion for environmental  advocacy, or who may not even believe that it's   real, or may not have time for it, or whatever  the excuse may be, how do you break that Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): barrier, or begin  to break that barrier of introducing it   to individuals. Whether that's a a  parent, a student, even a teacher. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): Policy  makers and things of that nature. Dr. Marietta Collins: Yeah, that's  you know, that's a that's a great   question. I would agree. 100%,  you know. What I would say is, Dr. Marietta Collins: bring data, you  know, bring data with you, you know,   data that they can hopefully understand. You know,  some of the data that I've presented. You know,   there is, you know, you know what I I was  looking at the States that got, you know,   A's versus the States that got F's in terms of  what they're doing in terms of the science of   integrating the science of climate action into  the curriculum. You know, what are the States   doing? Is, is there any other States that  are doing what you guys are trying to do. Dr. Marietta Collins: you know, in terms  of in in Texas, as a matter of fact. But Dr. Marietta Collins: so, you know,   it's interesting that you know. One  thing I thought of is you could give them Dr. Marietta Collins: a copy of our book, really.  And I'm not just saying that to push our book. Dr. Marietta Collins: you know. But if  children can get this and pay attention to it,   and also again reading the back of the book that  has all this really important information in it,   and hopefully it will open the eyes  of individuals that we have to make a   change. We can't keep doing the same old, same  old look. What's happened to our planet? You   know we want this planet to continue to be  here, you know, for for future generations. Dr. Marietta Collins: And you have to, you  know, sometimes people, you know, when you know,   when they think about climate change and think  about scientists, and they don't understand,   and it's very complicated. But you know it.  Acknowledge that. But they can. We can learn   about it, you know. It can be broken down  into very simplistic terms that everybody   can understand. And if people have to get on board  and try and be committed to making small changes,   you don't have to to feel like you have  to go and tackle the mountain today. Dr. Marietta Collins: But you can start doing  something like the urban patrol. You can plant Dr. Marietta Collins: trees. You can clean up  a beach. You can do it. I don't know. I think   it was Hannah who said the 3rd grade class. They  would. They would clean up the playground. You   can do things that will have a positive impact on  our environment and not to do anything is awful.   We want this planet to continue to exist, and we  want it to get better, and it can get better. It   is getting better. But we all have to push  to make sure that these efforts continue. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): Thank you so much for  your response. It's funny enough. During the   presentation I thought to myself this book would  be a great conversation starter for the topic. Dr. Marietta Collins: So. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): Thank you. Dr. Marietta Collins: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Ryn Delpapa: Awesome. Ryn Delpapa: all right. So  if there's no more questions,   we'll move on to some closing statements  by Dr. Collins, and if there are,   feel free to add them in the chat, but  we want to be respectful of their time. Ryn Delpapa: and we'll move on to the next slide. Dr. Marietta Collins: Well, certainly.  You know this. This slide shows how you   can reach both me and Mary Ann Solano, you  know my other co-author. And also, you know,   imagination press our publishing company. You  know there are these books, and I think there,   there are not a lot of children's books that  talk about climate. But imagination press   does have a couple of others that are that  are are good as well. So I would certainly. Dr. Marietta Collins: I recommend that you look  at imagination press. And not only, you know, does   it allow. You know, psychologists like myself and  Mary Ann to write about these difficult subjects. Dr. Marietta Collins: But it all. But you  know the planet racial injustice. As I said,   you know the the book that we're writing  now that has been accepted for publication,   talks about talks about a family who was impacted  when the mother became addicted to painkillers,   you know. So there are lots of  there, you know. So imagination   press has lots of resources. And we  also have a have a website. That is Dr. Marietta Collins: that is, because  I'll say, man, staff by imagination press,   that's updated. I'll say, every 6 months  renew resources for educators related to   climate action and what we can do so,  you know, please. You know one my take   away is to don't. I don't give in to echo  anxiety. Don't give in to feeling hopeless. Dr. Marietta Collins: but make a  determination to do something, do something   small, do something one step at a time,  2 steps at a time, one step backwards,   3 steps forward. You're making a difference,  doing nothing. It's just not acceptable. Dr. Marietta Collins: not acceptable  at all. But we can make a difference. Dr. Marietta Collins: And we can  begin to heal our planet. It was   humans that put our planet in this  shape, and we can make it better. Dr. Marietta Collins: Those are my closing  thoughts. Was there another question? Ran? Dr. Marietta Collins: I don't. Ryn Delpapa: I don't think there are, but I  just want to express gratitude for you for   showing up today, for sharing your powerful  book and for your voice and recommendation,   and shedding your insights and  research and learnings with fall,   so feel free to unmute for anyone who'd like  to vocalize that, or spread that in the chat. Ryn Delpapa: But I am seeing another question as   that gratitude is showing up  for Dr. Collins. Thank you. Ryn Delpapa: One last question is, how can  we effectively collaborate with schools to   integrate environmental activities into  the curriculum. It's a good question. Dr. Marietta Collins: Oh, yeah, it is a. It is a  good question, and it was interesting. Is that it?   It kind of all depends with well depends upon  which school which school system you know your   approach. What we did is we approach individual  schools as opposed to starting at the top,   you know, with the Board of Education, you  know, we would just approach individual schools. Dr. Marietta Collins: And they said, Either  you know, Dr. John or I had a contact and say,   we'd like to come and read our book. Okay?  We'd like to begin to have conversations with   children about about the climate crisis. We'd  like to talk about climate action change plans. Dr. Marietta Collins: Is it something that  you're open to? Is that something? And so   we we've been excess, you know, pretty  successful again, I think. Last year we   talked over 500 children. So again, I think it's  the. It's it's the small steps that you take,   you know, finding out what within each school  system, within each State. You know. What Dr. Marietta Collins: does the science curriculum  look like in terms of conservation in terms of   recycling in terms of reusing. You know at  what point do things related to the climate?   When are they introduced to children, and try  and figure out a way in from that perspective. Dr. Marietta Collins: Thank you.  Thank you, Alicia. I appreciate   that. I appreciate everybody's time,  and you know certainly your thoughts   and you know I am on Link Linkedin, so so feel  free to follow me on. Linkedin ran certainly does   know how to get in touch with me. And if people  are having any kind of difficulty accessing,   you know the book, I can certainly make that  happen. I thank you so much for your time,   and you guys continue to have a  wonderful program this evening? Dr. Marietta Collins: Thank you. Ryn Delpapa: Thank you, Dr. Collins, and  I'll be sharing some research and contact   information with them in the Post Luma series.  So look out for that, and thank you all for your   participation. Next is a panel and a quick  little break. Thank you. Dr. Collins. Feel   free to share some love. We've got a lot of thank  yous for you in the in the chat and appreciation. Dr. Marietta Collins: I I appreciate it.  I see him thank you so much. Love it! Dr. Marietta Collins: Many  thanks to you, Ren, as well. Ryn Delpapa: My pleasure. Thank you. Dr. Marietta Collins: Bye, bye. Ryn Delpapa: Okay. Ryn Delpapa: all right. So our next opportunity.  If you could take a quick moment to save this,   this will come later. But at the closing of  today's event. I'm asking for a survey. So Ryn Delpapa: if you want to  take a quick little bio break,   this is a great opportunity. So this is  going to be something we could share with   Dr. Collins and with our larger efforts  of research on ecoanxiety and climate,   education and action needs. So it's a  quick 15 question survey, and this helps Ryn Delpapa: us organize, and  a better event series as well. Ryn Delpapa: So take a few minutes, and Ryn Delpapa: our official panel will begin  at 6 15. So 4 min to take some water break,   move around. I'm gonna start stretching. Just so   other people feel comfortable  to do the same and move around Ryn Delpapa: and Ryn Delpapa: come back at 6 15 Ryn Delpapa: feel free to take some wiggles Ryn Delpapa: bio breaks, and then we'll  be back with some amazing panelists. Ryn Delpapa: 4 min ago. Attendee: And   please, is there a link to the survey  questions, or I I really have to Attendee: snap these Attendee: barcode. Ryn Delpapa: Yes, there is a link. That's a  great question. Let me drop it momentarily. Ryn Delpapa:   All right. This should work for you. Ryn Delpapa: Please let me know if it doesn't. Attendee: It's working. Thank you. Ryn Delpapa: Awesome. Thank you, Odoku. Ryn Delpapa: Am I saying your name right? Attendee: Yes, I actually made a mistake.  Pamuel is my real name, so you can call me. Ryn Delpapa: So Ryn Delpapa: alright. Attendee: That's my. Ryn Delpapa: Pleasure meeting you. Samuel. Attendee: Yeah. Ryn Delpapa:   All right. So we are officially at 6 15. Ryn Delpapa: So for panelists and  everyone, let's take a quick moment to Ryn Delpapa: ground into that amazing  presentation screens turn on cameras,   turn on, and let's all just quickly  stretch. I know it's evening or late,   for some people, or the day is closing,  and you've already been wonderful for   being here and active already. So,  without further ado, our panelists are Ryn Delpapa: Cassandra Bowen, Leonard  Naveen, Shaw, Alicia Fontanette. I hope   I'm saying everyone's names right as well  as from girls Inc. Of Greater Houston. Ryn Delpapa: Anna. Ryn Delpapa: and saying that,  right or wrong, please tell me. Haana: Hana, Hannah. Ryn Delpapa: Anna. Ryn Delpapa: Yes. Haana: Yes. Ryn Delpapa: Okay, sorry. And then Jenna as well.  So we have 2 wonderful individuals from girls Inc.   Of Greater Houston, who are joining us and making  sure that this panel is truly reflecting youth as   well as different minds and brilliant educators  across communities in Houston as a whole. Ryn Delpapa: So we have Ryn Delpapa: an artist esteemed educator as well  as Alicia. So I'm going to do a quick little bio,   and then, if anyone else wants to add more to it,  feel free to jump in. But we have Naveen Shah. Ryn Delpapa: They are esteemed  educator, biomedical innovator,   consultant across Earth and space  with experience spanning Space Center,   Houston to cancer genomics research.  He brings environmental engineering   and educational leadership to guide  our generation's next giant leaps. Ryn Delpapa: Please give a warm welcome to Naveen. Ryn Delpapa: Thank you so much for being here Ryn Delpapa: 2 and. Nevin Shah: Thanks, so much. Ryn Delpapa: Yay, sorry. Yeah. I'm  gonna give a a moment for everyone   to say hello and introduce as well. And thank you. Ryn Delpapa: Next we have. Cassandra. Cassandra Ryn Delpapa: is a native  Histonian parent and artist,   who has been painting oil and  acrylic for over 25 years. Ryn Delpapa: They are a fine art. Ryn Delpapa: creative who designs and  sells Houston, or designs with butterflies,   including having art exhibited and  sold at Houston Museum of Natural   Science. They incorporate sustainability,  source butterflies into their artwork and   captivates natural beauty. Thank you so much  for being here. Please give them a warm welcome. Cassandra: Thank you. Ryn Delpapa: Absolutely. Ryn Delpapa: and Alicia Ryn Delpapa: as a masters of public health.  They are the health and natural liaison for   the Gulf Coast region, for Texas children  and native or nature network. Excuse me,   and they are a native hysterian with a passion  for environmental justice, health, equity,   and community based participation. They have  experiences spanning EPA and research in the   environment. Health Science with various  organizations, agencies like the Cdc Ryn Delpapa: World Health Organization and  Undrr. Please give a warm welcome for Alicia. Ryn Delpapa: Thank you Ryn Delpapa: all right, and then Ryn Delpapa: please feel free to add anything  that I didn't already add. And Jen and Hannah. Ryn Delpapa: if you'd like to add anything for the   audience as well. Please feel free  to unmute and introduce yourselves. Haana: Hello my name is Hannah. I am 12 years old,   and I am currently in the 8th grade  in 8th in advanced math and English. Haana: I really do. I really? I accepted this.  This chance to be on the panel because I really   do enjoy one of my favorite subjects  in school is science, and this, like Haana: active activity Haana: and learning about the environment,   how we can contribute to it. It also  contributes to science. So that's why   I accepted this, plus a chance to be  on a panel in front of amazing people. Ryn Delpapa: Awesome. Thank  you so much for being here,   and for that introduction.  I'm glad you like science. Ryn Delpapa: Jenna. Anything  you'd like to add for yourself. Jenna: Yes, I'm trying to get the video started. Ryn Delpapa: Mistake. Jenna: My name is Jenna and Jenna: I accepted this panel  because I really like to learn Jenna: and hear about the environment because I   was hearing about earlier. That  something resonated with me was. Jenna: What would you say? It was what it was, the Jenna: what what did you say earlier? It  was, I had the anxiety, or whatever. Oh, the Jenna: eco! Anxiety! Yes, ego and  anxiety. I feel like I really have that Jenna: because whenever,  like we eat out or something. Jenna: I'm always like, put the  paper bags in the recycling bin Jenna: or just like with pretty much  anything. And it matters a lot to me. Ryn Delpapa: I love it. Thank  you for using your strong voice. Jenna: Thank you. Ryn Delpapa: Awesome. Ryn Delpapa: So for today Ryn Delpapa: we have an opportunity  for the next hour or so, as long as   there's questions and dialogue still  rolling in to focus on this question,   and I hope you can all still see my screen. Ryn Delpapa: Raise your hands, if not otherwise. Ryn Delpapa: Alright, we're good, awesome. Ryn Delpapa: The question is, what  is the visible and invisible impact   of climate change for yourself,  your community and the planet. Ryn Delpapa: So I'm going to start  the questions I have some prepared   while the audience asks theirs or just engages. Ryn Delpapa: So we're going to start with Naveen. Ryn Delpapa: In what ways can  science, health, and technology Ryn Delpapa: be leveraged to inform young people   about climate change and empower  them to take meaningful action. Nevin Shah: Okay. So I think we've kind  of, we started kind of talking about why,   it's going to be important to engage young people Nevin Shah: to start thinking about this topic. Nevin Shah: kind of 1st and foremost,   because the effects of climate change  are going to affect their generation Nevin Shah: the most in the coming years,   but one of the really cool things  that I kind of picked up on Nevin Shah: through both. You know our  previous discussion when we talked about   how to kind of present this topic to  young people using. Dr. Collins book Nevin Shah: was, how educators  and parents would all Nevin Shah: kind of be going on  this journey with young people. Nevin Shah: To to kind of work together  to solve this human being problem. Nevin Shah: This is not just an issue that we need  to just send down to the younger generation to Nevin Shah: to solve on their behalf.  This is something we need to work as a   team. So both young people who are still  in school, young scientists and engineers Nevin Shah: who are currently  in the workforce as well as   parents educators. And you know older  generations that we all need to kind of Nevin Shah: work together to say,  kind of like we saw in the book, where Nevin Shah: the the earth Nevin Shah: but the group of students kind of came   up with the idea. They put the seat  down first, st saying, Hey, this is Nevin Shah: something that  we think is important. Got,   you know, the parents and the community involved. Nevin Shah: and then they, together, as humanity,   were able to find a solution. Get the capital  and actually make this change in their school. Nevin Shah: And then, you know, see? Kind of the  effects of it when they eventually went on there. Nevin Shah: that last image where they're  kind of scuba diving in the coral reap. So. Nevin Shah: When we talk  about like science education,   I think something that's really important. Nevin Shah: Like, with my background is being  built up. I was a public school teacher. Nevin Shah: And now I, you know, work  in informal education closely with Nevin Shah: NASA and other  space agencies. Here is. Nevin Shah: you know, something that's really  important. We need to start talking about. Nevin Shah: how do we bring up climate  change and the basics behind it? So Nevin Shah: you know what caused it or the  effects of it. And how do we incorporate that Nevin Shah: and align it with the existing   curriculum that's out there? So  I can tell you from experience. Nevin Shah: here in Texas  our our standards are not Nevin Shah: very inclusive of talking about Nevin Shah: Climate science is actually, I think. Nevin Shah: something I've talked Nevin Shah: more in depth with,  actually with some of the people   who are on this call. So I was excited.  You guys, to kind of get to talk about   this again. But one of the ways that I would  incorporate it when I was in public schools,   when we had our units about whether  ecology or even like space sciences, Nevin Shah: having students who Nevin Shah: wanted to learn  more about these topics,   kind of put the seed there,  and then help facilitating Nevin Shah: their meetings to kind of get  together after school or in their community Nevin Shah: together to learn more about these   events and those types of things. That  was more of an extracurricular thing. Nevin Shah: But in the classroom, one  of the ways we were doing. It was,   you know, kind of driving in the importance of  understanding the scientific method and then Nevin Shah: showing resources that are out there Nevin Shah: for climate modeling, understanding. Nevin Shah: not necessarily that  we understand. Like, Hey, today,   it was really hot and humid in Houston. Nevin Shah: but understanding what it was maybe  like back in the nineties and previously using Nevin Shah: you know, different satellites  and software that we have now that luckily,   NASA and the European Space Agency  make, you know, very readily available Nevin Shah: to kind of do both retroactive  understanding of how the climate Nevin Shah: has changed, including things like  temperature, carbon dioxide levels, and how those Nevin Shah: kind of in those  graphics different colors. We,   you know, students can really get that  visual that's important to understand. Nevin Shah: Maybe in the Nevin Shah: the emitters, maybe in certain  parts of the world, but how that is affecting Nevin Shah: us throughout the globe,  and how the whole climate changes. Nevin Shah: affecting both their community and  macro things like the sea level or extreme weather   events which those of us who live in Houston can  probably cite. Plenty of effects of how those   have happened to us. Even, you know, sitting  on our doorstep right now with Hurricane. Nevin Shah: But even some of the micro effects  that might affect us kind of closer to home. Nevin Shah: That kind of ties in with the  health education side, where we talk about Nevin Shah: how the implications of  climate change, especially changes in   the air quality are affecting us a lot  more. That's another kind of inroad to Nevin Shah: explaining, for you know, with  kids kind of giving them that background Nevin Shah: tied in with the curriculum. Nevin Shah: talking about, maybe how different. Nevin Shah: specifically exciting  carbon dioxide emissions. Nevin Shah: How that kind of changes  and affects us in our health so that   can cause respiratory problems, allergies, other Nevin Shah: foodborne diseases  that come maybe down the pipeline Nevin Shah: using our food sources,  cause that's another kind of. Nevin Shah: I would say, kind of a lesser  talked about thing, about some of the effects   of climate changes the way agriculture is in  the Us. And throughout the world is is kind of Nevin Shah: that has had to change, and  that affects things like the price of food Nevin Shah: and the scarcity of grocery stores,   so kind of tying that all to important  aspects of environmental health and   good clean water and air for us all to  breathe. That's a really important thing. Nevin Shah: And then technology wise.  There's some really cool. I I talked   about kind of the massive visa resources  that are out there. The best one I would   say that I always like to point to is  one called NASA eyes.com. Let's just see Nevin Shah: not only the Earth kind  of what it looks like right now,   but gives us all of those climate  layers and data, so we can look at it. Nevin Shah: And then something that's  really cool about is we kind of Nevin Shah: turn it out. Instead of looking out at   the earth from space kind  of look from the earth up. Nevin Shah: And then we start to see a  lot of the space debris that's out there. Nevin Shah: And I I like to always kind of  include that in this climate change discussion Nevin Shah: about, how are  we going to address this Nevin Shah: space debris problem that we have kind   of going out with the earth  so as great as it's been with Nevin Shah: this expansion of space  exploration and getting the cost to launch Nevin Shah: down. That also means that, you know,   we're sending more satellites. We're providing  more Internet, more broadband for everybody on   Earth. But we're not necessarily doing  a great job of cleaning up some of this   clutter and unused space debris that's out  there. And eventually that could. There's any Nevin Shah: kind of a a theory out  there that at some point. We might,   if we continue at the rate we're going, kind  of polluting our orbit, our oral space and Nevin Shah: lower Earth orbit,  we might actually end up kind of Nevin Shah: closing ourselves in  and wanting to be able to clear.   You know that boundary to continue, say  interplanetary explorations, and even Nevin Shah: settlement so Nevin Shah: d Nevin Shah: as as much as we use, like  low Earth orbit to study our climate   back here on Earth. We we also want  to make sure that we're taking care of Nevin Shah: that lower climate  in that part of our atmosphere,   because that's got some important things Nevin Shah: going forward. So tech wise,  I know we have a lot of student challenges Nevin Shah: and trying to activate young people  to start thinking about solving these problems   coming up with innovations. And that's a really  cool thing that we use with technology kind of Nevin Shah: open up those areas. So Nevin Shah: I felt like that was Nevin Shah: my short little spiel  about how I I like to incorporate   climate change and kind of science, health and Nevin Shah: in technology, education. Ryn Delpapa: That was awesome.  There's so much there I love it. Ryn Delpapa: Does anyone have any direct  questions or responses for Naveen? Ryn Delpapa: I'm definitely going to  be looking up NASA eyes and seeing I   really love how you can zoom in and  back. It's a perspective. Not many Ryn Delpapa: humans have ever had the opportunity   of looking up and down from  Earth. So that's pretty cool. Ryn Delpapa: And I think it's a really  interesting point, specifically on   interplanetary health. This is a topic that  space Center, Houston amplifies in different   types of museum exhibits and education, but also  thinking in a forward momentum of education and Ryn Delpapa: it highlights one  element that I think Naveen's,   you know, presentation and kind of  dialogue shares is that you know our   practices on earth are being replicated  now in low Earth orbit. And so our space Ryn Delpapa: is filled with a  degree of junk. It's not everywhere,   and it also has levels to it. Correct of,  you know, orbit as a whole. But that means   that very quickly like to your point, which  is really startling. We may not even be able   to access different areas if we can't even  address the space junk as it is right now. Nevin Shah: Yeah. So I I would say, that's  like one thing about low Earth orbit,   I think another. Maybe this is more  of a like a philosophical argument is. Nevin Shah: we want to kind of learn some  lessons learned that we have here on Earth. About Nevin Shah: maybe how we got to the  status with climate change and humans Nevin Shah: interacting and like making this   kind of become an issue. We want to  find ways to solve it here on Earth,   but also learn from the past maybe what our  ancestors did, and maybe don't do those things Nevin Shah: when we go and have  lunar or Martian settlements. Nevin Shah: because obviously atmosphere is a  little bit different there. The effects could   be a lot more catastrophic and just  the general, like living conditions   on the Moon and Mars are going to be much more  extreme. So there's less of a margin of error. Nevin Shah: For us to kind of Nevin Shah: do maybe those same things  there. There are a lot of discussions Nevin Shah: about mining lunar resources. How do   we do that in an ecologically safe way  that doesn't put human life in danger on Nevin Shah: the moon is, you know, really  important question to think about as well   as then the governance behind. How do  you use those resources? etc, etc, etc. Ryn Delpapa:   Awesome. Ryn Delpapa: Alright. So I'll be moving on  to ask other panelists different questions,   and then we can jump back to any of the  panelists as well, and then feel free to   add a question in the chat. If you have  a specific one or one of the panelists. Ryn Delpapa: So for Ryn Delpapa: let's ask girls Inc. Of Greater  Houston feel free, either one of you,   I'll I have several questions, so whoever feels   more comfortable with the question to  vocalize, raise your hand or unmute Ryn Delpapa: as a young activist  with an interest in nature. What   do you wish to communicate about  climate change and mental health? Ryn Delpapa: Yes, Bill. Haana: For them. Haana: Both are equally important matters. But I  would say definitely for both to take care of it. Haana: Mental health matters as much  as nature and nature matters as much   as mental health to obtain both, to keep both Haana: in a working manner. They both  have to be obtained. So just starting   off small by planting a tree could help release  dopamine in your mind and get you happier or Haana: you know just  something. Suppose that just to Haana: let people know how  important those things can be. Ryn Delpapa: Love, that Ryn Delpapa: we need to get  some seeds out for people Ryn Delpapa: to start planting Ryn Delpapa: anything you'd like to add. Jenna: Yes, so I just want to piggyback  off of like what Hannah said. I think that   they're both equally important, and I think  upcycling is a great way to preserve nature,   because only like 25% of what gets  recycled is actually recycled. So I   think that it can also benefit our mental  health if we do things for ourselves. Jenna: Which I feel like they can go hand in hand. Ryn Delpapa: Beautiful Ryn Delpapa: any reflections from  audience or anything you'd like   to ask either of them. Before I ask  another question of the panelists. Ryn Delpapa: Okey, Dokey, we'll keep this going. Ryn Delpapa: Let's go to Alicia. Climate change   disproportionately affects marginalized  communities. And I think, with your   specific experiences of research with  EPA, Cdc. As well as in Tci, in in. Ryn Delpapa: How do we ensure that our  approaches to addressing climate change are   inclusive and equitable, particularly when  it comes to mental health and well-being? Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): Thank you for  your question. That's a great question. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): first, st  I think we should acknowledge that Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): in order to best serve  those underserved communities or historically. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): left out communities. We   need to include them at the table of  the conversation of mental health and Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): environmental  change, environmental climate change Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): and how we  can create solutions. So they need   to be. There needs to be a seat for those  community members to be able to voice how Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): climate change  impacts their mental health, and how Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): pre-existing factors like Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): access  to health care or pre-existing Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): health concerns and Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): maybe living in a area  where there's not access to fresh fruits and   vegetables, how that also goes hand in hand with  climate change and the stress that comes with Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): climate  change. So, for instance. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): the hurricane impacted. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): Hurricane Beryl  impacted all of Houston. Correct. But Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): there's disparities in   the way that certain populations  are impacted. So, for instance. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): people who  may not have access to health care,   in addition to not having power and  maybe having health concerns that require Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): routine visits or certain  things that have that require electricity. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): Those are different  layers that we need to sit down and assess as   a community, and how we can better overcome  and navigate those different barriers and Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): factors  that impact those communities   in unique ways. So just being able to  assess how each community is different Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): and acknowledging the  difference, the differences that they have and how   that uniquely impacts them when they do experience  different health disasters, natural disasters. Ryn Delpapa: Beautiful. Ryn Delpapa: Yeah. And I,  I think to that point. And Ryn Delpapa: one thing that we heard earlier  today in the opening ceremony of this week. Ryn Delpapa: and in your response, as  well as having a seat at the table. Ryn Delpapa: And it's not only having a seat at  the table, but it's having active participation,   active listening and engagement, and the ability  to design solutions specific to your location,   your community, and being able to share that with  the wider audience. So you can get engagement,   but also collaboration, because a  solution alone, without community   to implement it won't go very far. Ryn Delpapa: Is there any additional   questions responses for Alicia  before moving on to Cassandra. Ryn Delpapa: Alrighty! Ryn Delpapa: Cassandra! Cassandra: I'm. Ryn Delpapa: Is Ryn Delpapa: Hi is an artist. We use  butterflies, but also as a parent,   and directly sees climate change impacting  probably in a different way than a lot of us,   because of using sustainably sourced  butterflies in their day to day work Ryn Delpapa: so for you, I'd love to know. Ryn Delpapa: How Ryn Delpapa: have you reflected  your nature, oriented designs. Ryn Delpapa: And has that been impacted in  climate change? So in the sense of is climate   change impacting your work, your designs,  even people's responses to your artwork. Cassandra: Yes, if forgive me if I Cassandra: talk too much, just stop me. Ryn Delpapa: Sometimes I go. Cassandra: On but thank you for  having me here. So I just like to   tell everyone that all my butterflies I I  use real preserve butterflies in my art. Cassandra: So I do. A lot of  nature based painting. But I   use real preserve butterflies in my  art. They're all sustainably sourced. Cassandra: meaning. They've  all died of natural causes. Cassandra: I just bring them back to  life in my art. And one of the 1st Cassandra: encounters that I've Cassandra: had in my artistic Cassandra: life or journey with climate change was Cassandra: it was early on when I  1st started using butterflies, and Cassandra: one of my clients was wanting  a specific butterfly from Madagascar. Cassandra: and it it's a common  butterfly in Madagascar, and Cassandra: I couldn't access it right. The  butterfly farms didn't have this butterfly Cassandra: so I I didn't understand. It's   so common. Where? Where? Why  can't I have this butterfly? Cassandra: Turns out there was a drought Cassandra: in Madagascar. Cassandra: I was on a wait list  for about 2 years before actually   receiving this butterfly. But  this one event opened my eyes to Cassandra: climate change and how  they're impacting butterflies. Cassandra: I began doing a lot  of research started discovering   so many things about butterflies in our  world, right? How butterflies are so Cassandra: sensitive to climate  change that they're actually   used as an indicator species for  scientists, for conservationists. Cassandra: because they're so sensitive to  temperature changes, they the minute changes that Cassandra: that are imperceivable to us. Cassandra: They cause butterflies  to change their migration patterns. Cassandra: they Cassandra: they move if it if  it's too warm. But along this   these move the migration patterns.  Sometimes they're moving to areas   where they don't have the necessary,  the necessary food sources. Right? Cassandra: There's there's so many things related  that to the butterfly with climate change. Cassandra: Their numbers are  decreasing all around the world. Cassandra: and aside from the things that we know  that I knew back then, I I had. No, I didn't know Cassandra: as much as I do now, but I  knew about deforestation, habitat loss. Cassandra: Climate change is a major major  factor in the decline in butterfly numbers Cassandra: and and it's it's really sad. So   we can do all these things. We can.  Going back to Hanna and Jenna about Cassandra: mental mental well-being. Cassandra: I, there's research in the UK. Cassandra: So we have citizen scientists right?   There's organizations all over the  world that use citizen scientists to Cassandra: go out and Cassandra: count butterflies. They get  data from citizens like us, like me Cassandra: all over to to monitor  butterfly populations to submit counts Cassandra: and Cassandra: scientists researched in the Uk.  That just counting butterflies for 15 min   a day can reduce anxiety and increase  mental well-being by as much as 10% Cassandra: to me. That that's amazing. Cassandra: I personally love to just go  outside and and look at my garden and Cassandra: I I don't actually count them,   but I love looking at nature I love.  I love being with nature. I love Cassandra: seeing the butterflies. Another  thing that we're talking about here is   planting trees. Well, what I do is I plant  butterfly gardens? Right? So my backyard is   full of native species that butterflies  need I plant milkweed nectar plants, Cassandra: different flowers. Cassandra: Cater caterpillar plants,   right? So there's different ones like  milkweed is what the monarch needs. But Cassandra: it's opened my eyes, and every every  time I get a chance. As I'm so happy to be here,   I I take the opportunity. I have artists talk  sometimes. I've gone to schools and churches,   and I try to touch on this right. But  butterflies are so meaningful to so many people,   they're so therapeutic. I have one of my pieces  in a psychiatrist's office in Canada actually. Cassandra: and the therapist uses  it for her patients, and everyone Cassandra: reflects on the butterfly and what  it means. But sadly, species are in decline. Cassandra: and the way we  can help that, aside from Cassandra: these things, like planting Cassandra: food sources is to help the climate. Cassandra: But that's a big, big challenge. Cassandra: Big challenge. Ryn Delpapa: Thank you for sharing that. Ryn Delpapa: And Ryn Delpapa: Is there any any questions  or immediate responses for Cassandra's? Ryn Delpapa: We've got a. Ryn Delpapa: Chat. Oh, yeah. Jenna. Jenna: Oh, sorry! No chat can go  first.st I don't know who that was. Ryn Delpapa: Okay. What are the best ways  to organize regular meetings between youth   and policymakers, to discuss  climate change issues. Ryn Delpapa: feel free to anyone. Cassandra as  well feels they have a response for this one. Ryn Delpapa: Well, I'll just  vocalize. Oh, Alicia, please continue. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): Could you? Oh,   could you repeat the question one more  time, cause I think I have a response. Ryn Delpapa: What are the best ways to  organize regular meetings between youth Ryn Delpapa: and policymakers,  to discuss climate change issues. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): Yes, so  actually. And I've learned a lot   of a lot about this initiative or this  idea, just from being in my position   as a health and nature liaison with Texas  children nature network just our partners Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): are so diverse in their  backgrounds, but we all have a common mission of   connecting children and families to nature  related programming. Just because there's   so much research supporting the mental, physical,  emotional, and social benefits of being in nature. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): So  there's actually a lot of Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): or a couple  of initiatives surrounding this idea   already happening. There's the  Harris County climate justice. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): advisory collaborative.  And I believe that's a youth centered Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): group of  individuals. In addition to that,   they have the city of Houston ambassadors.  And so these are networks and subgroups   that are already created that could be great  avenues to support them so that they can have Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): those  continued conversations with Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): higher level policymakers  or officials in the city or local level,   because I believe there's a lot  of change that could be made at Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): the local level,   and especially if it's community centered  and community driven because the community Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): is an expert  in their community. And then you have   experts in environmental education and experts  in policy. And so an interdisciplinary approach. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): meaning that  everyone people from different backgrounds Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): coming  together, having a conversation. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): I believe, is the most  effective way to find attainable solutions. And   so just to answer that question.  There are a lot of organizations. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): kind of already  established where? I'm sure there's ways   to support them, and being able to spread  awareness about those organizations and   helping them set up those regular meetings and  things of that, or having those conversations. Ryn Delpapa: Thank you. That's a great response. Ryn Delpapa: And yeah, definitely, it's like,   there's so many individuals and communities  and organizations like the one that Alicia is   involved in that are already doing this  work that are already intermediaries in   between these 2 different communities.  So how do we collaborate further? Ryn Delpapa: And then, Jenna, you had a question  earlier, and then I'll jump to the the chat. Jenna: Yes, I wish it's like  a question for everybody who   just wants to answer. I was just wondering,   what do you all say to people who don't believe  climate change is a big deal, or even real. Jenna: because I know some people  who don't take it seriously. Ryn Delpapa: Alright Samuel!  Is that a response for Jenna. Attendee: Yes. Attendee: you know, that's  that's a that's a good question. Attendee: Okay? It's something we  are really facing here in Nigeria. Attendee: you know. Attendee: In the local communities  where we work, these are. Attendee: should I say, these are  people that are not really literate. So Attendee: we have to go extra mile Attendee: to like, explain  what climate change is, and Attendee: the reality is that Attendee: they are already experiencing  a negative effect of climate change.   But they couldn't trace where  it's coming from, for example. Attendee: There's a community here in my state. Attendee: We call it Lang tang Attendee: they usually used to be  rainfall like consistent rainfall.   They can. They can actually tell that.  Okay, there's gonna be rain today. Attendee: But as a result of climate change issue. Attendee: this ring didn't fall again like before. Attendee: and they are complaining  bitterly about it, because their farm. Attendee: their livestocks,  they are not growing the way   they are meant to grow. So we actually use  that experience. They are having to explain Attendee: what climate change is to them,  and we'll try to let them know that this   is the reason why you're experiencing  this. So the better you start working on Attendee: the fossil fuels that you use that  emits carbon emission the better it is going to Attendee: affect the planet, and then Attendee: the normal atmospheric condition,   we begin to get itself again. So this is the  best way we explain to them so like what in   in a in a finance. The best way I feel you can  explain climate change to people who don't care Attendee: is to use Attendee: maybe a pressing, or should  I say, an occurrence that is very,   very detrimental to explain it to  them. So they kind of understand. Oh,   so this is the reason for this. But this is why  we need to be conscious of our environment. This   is why we need to be conscious of every of our  activity. So that is my own contribution to. Attendee: and Jenna's question. Thank you. Ryn Delpapa: Thank you. Samuel. Ryn Delpapa: any direct responses  for Jenna's great question. Ryn Delpapa: sounds like yeah, Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): A brief comment. So Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): I think I  asked this kind of similar to Dr.   Collins earlier. And she said to show the data. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): and I wanted to add on  to that, I think the data is very important. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): But in addition to the  data, I think finding creative ways to break down   that data for individuals to be able to digest  and find value in the data. Just because science   is a language. And if you don't have a background  in science. Sometimes it's hard to understand why   something is important. So finding creative  ways to break down data and science. So that Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): you know the   general public understand the  importance and significance of Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): you know, climate change. Ryn Delpapa: Beautiful. Jenna: Thank you. Ryn Delpapa: And I think that speaks to the   question that we had earlier  directed at Cassandra about Ryn Delpapa: how using art and creativity Ryn Delpapa: has enabled not only her awareness,   but maybe even her clients. Awareness on  climate change impacting the work itself. Ryn Delpapa: But there's another  question. Specifically, from Carolina Ryn Delpapa: or Cassandra. Ryn Delpapa: I'm Googling your work,  Cassandra. It's beautiful. What's   the process to use it to use art and  butterflies? How do you collect them? Cassandra: Thank you very much. So I get my  butterflies primarily from 2 sources one are   butterfly farms, so I don't know. If you are  aware, but butterfly farms help from. They   help in native species of butterflies,  they help endangered species, they. Cassandra: they specifically are Cassandra: promoting the livelihoods  of of wild wildlife butterflies. Cassandra: but Cassandra: it with all these butterflies  there's a lot of natural attrition. So when the   butterflies die off, they sell them to artists,  to organizations to help fund the Butterfly Farm Cassandra: and then I also get them  from the Houston Museum of Natural   Science. So the Houston Museum of  natural science. They sell my work Cassandra: and I don't know if you're familiar,  but they have the cockroll Butterfly center. Cassandra: So it's like a a rainforest  they've brought in. It's so beautiful.   They brought in. They brought in so many  different species from around the world,   but like butterflies, they have a short lifespan  when the butterflies die they collect them,   and they give them to me so I  can bring them back to life. Cassandra: And I pretty much.  I just hydrate the butterflies,   and I spread them, using insect boards and Cassandra: insect spreading  boards, insect pins, forceps,   and after about a week they're ready for me  to use in my art, and what I try to do is Cassandra: bring them back to life. Cassandra: and preserve them  before. When I 1st started Cassandra: This was purely  artistic. I I was in love   with the butterfly. It was artistic.  Now there's more, there's more to it. Cassandra: I feel like I've had clients. I've had Cassandra: comments that say you what you're  doing, you you we don't even know if this species   is going to be around for our children. Right? I'm  preserving nature. I'm preserving this wonder, and Cassandra: what I do means so much more to me and   to others. Now in light of  everything that's happening. Cassandra: Oh, thank you. Ryn Delpapa: Amazing, some  local love. And then chat. Ryn Delpapa: Thank you. Thank you. Ryn Delpapa: Yeah. Ryn Delpapa: So I want to jump back to  this overarching question for visible   and invisible impact of climate change for  yourself, your community and the planet. Ryn Delpapa: Is there any response from  the panel that we didn't already ask?   Is there something you'd like to share or vocalize Ryn Delpapa: and we also have  a question in the chat. Well. Ryn Delpapa: someone Ryn Delpapa: takes that, or  I raised the other question Ryn   Delpapa: alright. Chat in the question, then Ryn Delpapa: this is from Samuel. What  about rural communities? For me? The best   method to tell them this is to show them the  negative effects of climate change. I mean,   real world scenarios. Okay?  So it's more a comment. Ryn Delpapa: unless you're  specifically asking about,   how do we share this knowledge  and impact on rural communities. Ryn Delpapa:   Samuel, if you have any additional question.  But while while you're potentially unmuting. Attendee: No, I actually talked  about it the other time, you know,   I was just reading through the chat, and  I saw people giving their own ways of Attendee: no, you you talked you talked  about referring people to news and Ryn Delpapa: Hmm. Attendee: Newspaper. Yeah. So me,   I'm just talking about rural communities.  I don't know. Maybe over there in us. Attendee: But you know, here in Africa we  have people who can't read and who can't   write. So the best thing to show the the  best way, we kind of let them know about   what climate change is, and the effect of  climate change is to show them real scenario   in which they themselves they are actually  experiencing. Just like, I said, about rainfall Attendee: not having enough rainfall,  and the crops and farm produce are just   dying. So when we let them know that this Attendee: the result of the the reason why  you're facing this particular issue is as a   result of climate change. So I think they tend  to understand better, and then they adjust and Attendee: be conscious of  their activities which can Attendee: influence climate change. Thank you. Ryn Delpapa: Thank you for that additional  context that's really appreciated. Ryn Delpapa: We have a question in the chat. Ryn Delpapa: What practical steps can young  people take to raise awareness about climate   change issues and the sustainable development  goals in their schools and universities. Ryn Delpapa: Yes, feel free to unmute Anna. Ryn Delpapa: This. Haana: So with me, with being practical,  I'll take that as like something simple.   So maybe something as simple as gaining a  few signatures to create a community garden Haana: for school or just talking  about, maybe replacing the Haana: our trays for like metal  trays or biodegradable trays   instead of plastic trays that get thrown away, and Haana: even though they may get recycled  like Jenna said before, only of like   25% of what is supposed to be recycled gets  recycled. So just something as simple as that Haana: butterfly gardens. Like, Miss  Cassandra said in the chat box. That's   also something really nice, because  butterflies also contribute to the Haana: environment with pollinating different  flowers that helps with air in the air for the   atmosphere, you know, just small things  that can contribute to something bigger. Ryn Delpapa: Love that. Ryn Delpapa: especially the the signing  up of your community and your fellow   students to create some change.  And yes, Jenna, please feel free. Jenna: I was just gonna say, like,   maybe starting a club like like an  environmental club that could like Jenna: do community service like  whether that's picking up trash or like Jenna: visiting like Jenna: community centers Jenna: where they can talk about how other  people can make a difference. I feel like Jenna: just Jenna: yes. Spreading, spreading. The  word to different people is one of the   biggest steps. I feel like people can really take Jenna: because Jenna: one person can only do so much. Cassandra: Can I add something? There. Attendee: Can I? Okay, I. Cassandra: I just think that is a wonderful idea,  Jenna, and Anna also. But I I have to add, Okay,   so I have 5 children. I have 3 teenagers  and 2 young ones in elementary school, but   I recommend it to my 3 teenagers that they start a  club, and and it was specifically what you said to   try to help go out and clean up the streets,  clean the environment. Bring awareness. But Cassandra: no matter what Mom said,   they didn't do it. And here's why they were  afraid of being bullied. They were afraid Cassandra: of what other people were gonna  think, and and they didn't want to do it. So   I I don't. I? Yeah, I don't know how to combat  that. I mean, I know that's a separate thing.   But I love that idea. I tried to get my kids to  do it, but they were afraid of being bullied. Attendee: Can I add to this? Please. Ryn Delpapa: Yeah, Samuel is free. Attendee: Yes, actually. Attendee: what's Attendee: What she just said is actually true. No. Attendee: you know, because people don't really  know how valuable this sustainable development   go. Topic is. So when they see you talking about,  they kind of like, what are you saying? Because Attendee: maybe because they've not really feel Attendee: the impact or the Attendee: the defects of Attendee: not pursuing these goals.  So before she said about club. Yeah,   I thought about club, too, you know. Maybe they  could establish a club in their in their school Attendee: way is basically for sustainable   development goals like,  there's there's a school just Attendee: not far away from my house. They  are actually on holiday now. So I am planning Attendee: because I am actually attending a  climate leadership training organized by Beijing Attendee: in China is is a  virtual program. Actually. So Attendee: there's a practical aspect of the  training where I really need to organize like Attendee: 100 Attendee: people and Attendee: kind of educate them on sustainable  development goals and particularly climate   change. So I'm planning to establish a club  in that school is a secondary school. No. So Attendee: that club basically named Attendee: Sustainable development  goals. I'm planning to create   something like a box where all the 17  goals will be visible to the children. Attendee: And then I'm going to explain. Each Attendee: goes to them and then focus more on Attendee: climate, action. So I think  that's that's a practical way to. Attendee: you know, raise awareness  about climate change and sustainable   development goals which I'm I'm actually  directing this to the to our panel,   our young panelists, the engineer and  don't know what's her name. Sorry. So Attendee: that's my own addition  to this. This time. Thank you. Ryn Delpapa: Yeah. Ryn Delpapa: And then Cassandra to respond to the  fear of judging and and bullying from your kids. Ryn Delpapa: You know. Ryn Delpapa: there's the challenge that is, you  know, it's very much a reality. And I think you   know, other people can vocalize and share their  experiences too. But sometimes, being the weird   kid means you get to do the weird things. And then  your weird friends find you. And I mean, I started   an art club in high school, and it was really just  for me to just like continue playing with art. Ryn Delpapa: And then other people who wanted  to do it joined. It was a very small like club,   but it still served its purpose  for myself and other people. Ryn Delpapa: and you know the same thing when   it comes to activism. I was involved in  nonprofit work in high school, too, and Ryn Delpapa: it helped me be around the people  that I wanted to be around versus just being   geared towards this type of groupthink and  mentality that wasn't going to serve me   was going to be inauthentic and untrue to  my true character as well as my interest. Ryn Delpapa: And it's the same thing that  we teach adults about being authentic,   you know, be your authentic self, so  that you can attract your tribe and Ryn Delpapa: be aligned with your purpose. So why  wouldn't we usher the same thing for children? Ryn Delpapa: And does anyone  else have a response, or Ryn Delpapa: thank you? G, for the the collapse? Ryn Delpapa: All right. Ryn Delpapa: So if there are  more questions feel free to   add them. But I want to be respectful of time. Ryn Delpapa: We have an opportunity. Ryn Delpapa: Oh, we've got something. Ryn Delpapa: We've got a comment. I'll read this Ryn Delpapa: sadly. Our youth is fueled by  influencer culture. So if you could find a way Ryn Delpapa: to bridge the idea of  celebrity advocates and making Earth   day and environmental preservation  a culture trend that never fades Ryn Delpapa: like, Elisa said,  making it digestible for all,   making it matter to us on a personal level  is the 1st thing, and spanning out by level   by level. So it's not so overwhelming.  My 2 cents. Thank you for your 2 cents. Ryn Delpapa: Valuable. Ryn Delpapa: Oh, yes, we have  another question from Ahmad. Ryn Delpapa: Do you think that climate  summits like Cop 2728 help in the issue? Ryn Delpapa: Do they have  real impact on the issue or   not. And I have a response on this. If anyone else Ryn Delpapa: has one too Ryn Delpapa: welcome, Jamie. Attendee She/Her: Hi, sorry I'm so  late. For some reason I was thinking   it was a different time zone then, and  I realized how silly that was. But I I. Ryn Delpapa: Fine. Attendee She/Her: Recording, and  that you can present with us too Attendee She/Her: good to  see you. Congratulations. Ryn Delpapa: Thank you. Ryn Delpapa: okay, so on this question. Attendee: Okay. Ryn Delpapa: Quick thing. Attendee: Something I've asked a much Christian. Ryn Delpapa: On on the cop. Attendee: Yeah. Attendee: okay. Attendee: yes. Attendee: You know, I was just  like I said, I'm currently   attending a climate leadership training. And Attendee: this I think I should  be able to tackle this question   a little because we have had some  lectures on these. Question. Yes. Attendee: to some extent these cop meetings have Attendee: some kind of positive  impact in the sense that Attendee: the kind of Attendee: should I say? Create more awareness Attendee: on Attendee: climate change issue. Attendee: It is through the cope Attendee: meetings. I got to  know what climate change is, and Attendee: that is the reason why I'm  working towards it on from my own end. So Attendee: the second way, I'm going  to answer this question again is that Attendee: though the meetings  are very, very important, but Attendee: but the major issue  I have concerning this meeting.   Is that what had the mechanism put in place? Attendee: Because every country  have a delegate in these meetings? Attendee: So what are the mechanism Attendee: put in place for each  country to reduce carbon emission,   because each of these meetings they usually said. Attendee: The target of like, let's  say, for example, now for Africa,   we have the target of reducing carbon  emission drastically by year 2030. Attendee: What's Attendee: mechanism is in place to  be able to check me? These are okay.   Africa is working towards  this. And this is a visible Attendee: action they are taking and is  actually reducing carbon emission. Okay,   that's that's broad. Then what about  all these companies that usually okay.   All these things should I say manufacturing  companies, because they are the one that even Attendee: emitting Attendee: carbon emission mode. Attendee: what mechanism is is put in place, and Attendee: this boils down to the fact that each  of these companies needs a sustainability manager. Attendee: Yes, so a sustainability  manager will be able to, you know. Attendee: account for their carbon emission, and  then we'll be able to prefer a better solution Attendee: on the way. They can, you  know, reduce their carbon emission,   whether to scope one scope, 2. Scope  3. I'm sorry I'm going to let me not   convince you people here. So that is the  way I will answer the the question, yes,   the climate? The cops are very, very important  in raising awareness about climate change Attendee: on the other side. What are the  what are the mechanisms put in place. So that   is their weakness. That's what I think is their  weakness. So so make sense. They have advantage,   and then they have disadvantage  as well. Thank you very much. Ryn Delpapa: Hmm! Ryn Delpapa: And a quick reflection on that,  while I have not been directly to cop recently. Ryn Delpapa: there was a World Health  Organization call that I was on last week,   and it was a collaborative effort for  individuals to prioritize areas for the next one. Ryn Delpapa: And so it brought in over  a hundred different individuals across   the world, very reflective of the  international policies. And we Ryn Delpapa: did voting. We reviewed. There was  open dialogue, and the intention was, how are we Ryn Delpapa: shepherding Ryn Delpapa: the next cop meeting and  organization to reflect the present state,   but also the reflections of the past,  to really set strategic prioritizations. Ryn Delpapa: And it's the same thing of bridging  that awareness to solution. So maybe execution   isn't the immediate action. But that execution  can't happen without conversation and awareness.   In the 1st place, so they bridge that divide,  and it takes a lot of us to implement and take   action like we're all speaking on, whether  that's community gardens or speaking up   and educating peers who are reticent to  even think climate change is a reality. Ryn Delpapa: And then there's a comment in Ryn Delpapa: the chat by Jamie, where is the  accountability for follow through. There are no   clear checks and balances. That's a good call  out that these things need to be implemented   in any situation and system that we're thinking  about changing and advocating for change within Ryn Delpapa: any. Yes, Amart. Ryn Delpapa: feel free to unmute. Attendee: Okay. Hello. Again. I have a comment  here. I think that industrialized countries Attendee: which depend on industry. Attendee: should take this point into  consideration. I do think that they are serious Attendee: enough Attendee: about Attendee: the issue of climate change Attendee: as they make their economies Attendee: based on Attendee: industry, which Attendee: requires Attendee: a lot of fossil fuel Attendee: to one touch. Attendee: So I think that Attendee: we need to make government Attendee: governments Attendee: more aware of that issue. Attendee: I think, as individuals. Attendee: maybe we have some awareness of  the issue. Of course we need to more and more Attendee: awareness of that. But I think also,  governments need to be aware enough to take Attendee: steps to take more serious steps  to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels Attendee: which cause a climate change  increasing CO. 2, into the atmosphere. Attendee: So Attendee: we need to reach these governments Attendee: to make them Attendee: aware about Asia. That's the point Attendee: that I wanted to make here. I  don't know if you agree with me or not. Attendee: but it's very important. Attendee: You will notice this point specifically. Ryn Delpapa: Thank you for sharing that. Yeah,  I think you'll find some very sympathetic and Ryn Delpapa: agreed ears here Ryn Delpapa: on that. And,  Jamie, do we have a response. Attendee She/Her: Yes, sorry I had a video  playing I was gonna share with you. This is   me. By the way, you probably don't want to see  this face right now. I'm not my Sunday best. Ryn Delpapa: You're fine. Attendee She/Her: Other pictures better.  Anyways, I have a very dear friend. Some   of you may know that goes to cop every  year is invited. He speaks there he's   able to get into rooms and doors and  conversations. A lot of us aren't able   to. His name is John Beer, Jr. He is with  Pecan Port Arthur community action network. Attendee She/Her: you wanna if you  if you want me to introduce you to   this guy? He! He can give you an idea  of what's going on in the conversations   he's meeting with Al Gore's people.  He's doing all kinds of stuff. So Attendee She/Her: I'll I'll put Attendee She/Her: the link to their  website. But check out John Beard   especially his interview with Jane  Fonda. He's a extremely charismatic,   and and he's a good voice for us to  reach out so that we can help get Attendee She/Her: not only for Port Arthur,   he fights for all of us, but you know Port  Arthur is ground 0 here in this country. So Attendee She/Her: yeah, I'll put  in the chat. Let me know if you'd   like me to introduce you, who's a  very good friend of mine. Thanks. Ryn Delpapa: Amazing. Thank you, Jamie. Ryn Delpapa: and we'll have one last question  from the chat, and then have an opportunity   for the panelists to just do some closing  statements, real, quick, before we wrap up. And Ryn Delpapa: the last question  is, how can volunteering be a   tool for raising awareness about  the dangers of climate change. Jenna:   Do you mind repeating the question. Ryn Delpapa: Absolutely. Jenna: Absolutely. Ryn Delpapa: How can volunteering  be a tool for raising awareness Ryn Delpapa: about the dangers of climate change. Ryn Delpapa: or and placed in  or reframed a little bit, is. Ryn Delpapa: how can volunteering Ryn Delpapa: create that awareness? How can it  shepherd us to have more connection to nature? Ryn Delpapa: And in that nature  reflect what it means to preserve it? Attendee: Okay, I can. I say  something about this Christian. Ryn Delpapa: One moment. Is any Ryn Delpapa: panelists feel free. Attendee: Okay, panelists. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): I have a quick comment. Ryn Delpapa: Yeah. Please, feel. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): Okay, thank you.  So, just speaking for my own personal Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): testimony. When I  was younger, my mom would have us volunteer   for a nonprofit, and we would volunteer during  hurricane season essentially kind of doing like Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): disaster relief like  passing out water, just different essentials   to the community. And I didn't realize how  much that impacted my road to public health.   I didn't know what public health was into  my adult years, but I've always had a really Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): deep  and personal connection to   helping people in that sense. And so I think. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): you know, just  indirectly, those experiences help shape   my career. Trajectory. And so I think  it's extremely important to introduce   those different topics to the youth, so  that they have that lens, and so that Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): they are better prepared  than you know, their parents, their grandparents,   so that they could be more resilient long term  as an individual, a community, and a nation. Ryn Delpapa: Beautiful. Thank you. Ryn Delpapa: And as we're wrapping  up, we have about a few more minutes,   just for the panelists to share any closing  thoughts or any reflections from the conversation. Ryn Delpapa: I will start with. I'm gonna Ryn Delpapa: popcorn. So I'll start with  Cassandra. Anything you'd like to share. Cassandra: Yes. So well, I was gonna  piggyback off of the volunteering also. So Cassandra: earlier, I mentioned how butterfly  counting butterflies for 15 min. Can Cassandra: Decrease your anxiety  by up to 10% right? But also as a   part of that study, they found that just  being outside. Counting the butterflies Cassandra: increase your nature, connectedness,  right? And almost everyone who participated,   they felt more connected with nature,  and the study also found that. Cassandra: being Cassandra: connected with nature Cassandra: prompts you to want to protect nature. Cassandra: It encourages you to protect  it even more more so than those who are   not connected with nature, anyway. So I  just thought that was very interesting. Cassandra: in light of that, I'm also I'm a member  of Naba, the North American Butterfly Association,   right? So if you're interested, they're  always looking for citizen sciences,   and they always need people to count butterflies. Cassandra: It's free. It's fun. It helps Cassandra: research. It helps  scientists, and it also will help you Cassandra: feel more connected Cassandra: just for anyone interested. Ryn Delpapa: Thank you. Fun  organization to know about. Ryn Delpapa: Yes, Jenna. Jenna: I was wondering if Jenna: you could send like a link to  the the chat. That sounds interesting. Jenna: thank you. Ryn Delpapa: Awesome. Ryn Delpapa: And Cassandra,  would you like to popcorn,   choose another panelist to  share their closing thoughts? Ryn Delpapa: Oh, you're still muted. Cassandra: Sure I'm sorry. I will go on to Alicia. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): Funny  enough. I wanted to popcorn or like. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): go off what you say,  Cassandra. With how there's research supporting Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): the mental  benefits of being in nature,   and so I wanted to place the link in the chat.  My colleagues and I created a document that is   readable and digestible for the general public  to understand. So we looked over tons of research Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): papers and gather  information and put it in a way that could   be understandable in terms of understanding.  The different benefits of being in nature. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): And  one thing that I want to leave Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): with saying is that Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): I think Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): getting connected to  nature is essential to finding value in nature,   and that goes for adults as well  as youth. Just because sometimes Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): you know, we think that Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): the solution is to just. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): you know. Tell youth  to take on this burden, you know, get more   connected with nature. Start up these clubs and  things like that. But I think it's also a great Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): oh. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): it it's super empowering  to also see, you know, adults doing the same   thing and joining that journey. I think so.  I can't remember who else said this earlier,   but also the adults taking that journey  with the children and leading an example Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): in in approaching these   different climate change problems. And  just honestly, it just, I feel like. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): if  we don't do anything today. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): I think  we should 1st self reflect Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): and figure out  how we can get connected or reconnected   to nature as an individual just for our  own personal benefit. And I think that's a   great start to any change. Just because  if you don't see value anything, then Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): it's really hard to  make a change long term. If it's not a part   of your core beliefs, your core values, your  core standards. And so I think we we can all Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): you  start with just, you know,   connecting back to nature,  and finding value in nature. Ryn Delpapa: Beautiful, and then, if you  could popcorn and choose a a colleague. Alicia (Uh-Lee-See-Uh): Living. Nevin Shah: Yeah. So yeah, I mean,  totally agree with that. Alicia. I   think that's that's something that  I I really like to stress with. Nevin Shah: when I'm working with young people, is Nevin Shah: it? When we kind of use  space exploration as kind of the Nevin Shah: the Nevin Shah: kind of the vehicle  that we talk about all of,   you know our stem engagement. But of course, Nevin Shah: majority of people on Earth  are never going to travel to space. Nevin Shah: We're gonna live on this planet. We're  all inhabitants of of the 3rd planet from the   sun. We're not necessarily all gonna travel out  there, but there are a lot of important lessons Nevin Shah: learn, say from  the Apollo era, or you know,   other things that we've done since then. Including  like the space station that orbits our planet.   One of which I think that's really  important. And Ren can maybe even   talk about this a little bit more  is a lot of astronauts who have gone Nevin Shah: up into this space station that  was primarily built by Americans and Soviet   astronauts and the 2 agencies at the time  they go up there. They live together for 6   months in 6 months phases, and they kind of  look back at the Earth right? They have this   unique perspective that most of us never have  to like. Look back and just see this blue marble Nevin Shah: in front of them  that they're orbiting every   90 min. But they're getting a different  perspective every time they go around it. Nevin Shah: and just having that  overview effect of realizing that   when they look back there are no,  you know, borders. There's no. Nevin Shah: All the political stuff really doesn't   exist anymore. They're just there  with the 6 or 7 other human beings. Nevin Shah: And you know, they go back with  this overview effect of knowing, how do we Nevin Shah: protect? You know  this this blue marble that's   out there kind of what Carl Sagan talked about? Nevin Shah: Because as they go up there they see   the atmosphere that protects us from  space. It's this tiny little line. Nevin Shah: and that's the only thing that  protects us, and you know, makes life possible   on earth. So one of the big things that you  know astronauts will come back, and they're very Nevin Shah: adamant about inspiring young people,  and you know all citizens of Earth to, you know.   Take care of our planet. And you know, because  right now it's the only one we have. It's where,   you know, we're all based. So kind of going back  to kind of what Cassandra was mentioning about. Nevin Shah: Yes, we want to,  you know, engage young people to Nevin Shah: learn about this. You know this topic,   but as far as the call to action  to get everybody involved it. Nevin Shah: you know, and our our 2  youth activists are doing, you know,   a great job. You guys are stunning. I just  have to say doing so much, but getting. Nevin Shah: you know, not just young people  involved. But getting, you know, parents, other   educators, other human beings, to learn more about  these topics, and then doing little steps kind of Nevin Shah: cumulatively to,  you know, find the solutions to   these issues that we all need, and  things that are all affecting us. So Nevin Shah: it's gonna matter. Ryn Delpapa: Thank you for  the overview effect. Amazing. Ryn Delpapa: And Ryn Delpapa: do you want to choose  a panelist to close the thoughts. Nevin Shah: I think Nevin Shah: I can throw it out to  our 2 youth activists, Hana and. Ryn Delpapa: Jenna. Nevin Shah: Yeah. Yes. Ryn Delpapa: Anything you'd like to add. Jenna: I think that just  the more we talk about this Jenna: the more we learn. And I  enjoyed the meeting a lot. It, provided Jenna: good insight Jenna: and provided me with moral knowledge, so  that I can have evidence and backup reasoning Jenna: to when I'm Jenna: meet, or just know some or  encounter somebody who doesn't believe   climate change is real or is not a big deal. Ryn Delpapa: Thank you for sharing that. Ryn Delpapa: And Hannah  anything you'd like to add. Haana: Nope, all good. Ryn Delpapa: Awesome. Ryn Delpapa: Well, let's send some love to  our panelists tonight. Thank you so much   for being here. Feel free to send some chat.  Vocalization, gratitude. I'm thrilled that   you're all here because you all reflect  and express very different perspectives Ryn Delpapa: from space and biomedical to  art, to practical environmental justice,   to actual youth, education, and lived  experience. It's a reflection of the   community that we need to speak to  what it means to be intergenerational Ryn Delpapa: climate activists who are engaging  different parts of our brains, different parts of   our communities to truly usher in inclusivity  and resiliency across minds and our planet. Ryn Delpapa: So I'm thrilled that you're  here, and I'm I'm truly grateful that   you're all participating, and  thank you for the time tonight. Ryn Delpapa: a reflection on  what this is all about is as   a startup founder. I am leading  virtual wastes tech. And we're   building climate education with a  game and through education health. Ryn Delpapa: So if you could Ryn Delpapa: engage with us, it would  mean a lot. These are our handles. And if   there's any questions or requests for contact  details from the panelists or anyone tonight,   please connect on one of these, and I'll  be sure to reflect and pass back contact   information assuming approval from each of them. Ryn Delpapa: And you can scan the  QR codes and I'll drop the chat in,   or the link rather, for a post event survey. Ryn Delpapa: And this is here. It means  a lot to get feedback, because this is   not a 1 and thing a 1 done situation.  There is 2 more events. One of them is Ryn Delpapa: focused on disability, and that's our  next one on World Mental Health Day, October 10.th Ryn Delpapa: We will have a presentation by Dr.  Stephanie Cawthorne, who is from University of   Texas, an educational psychologist,  and is a recently published author,   and I'll drop in the chat. A short video  that they've made to showcase their work Ryn Delpapa: on their book  called Disability is human. Ryn Delpapa: and that is Ryn Delpapa: tin tin can't wait to see  you there. It'll be very similar. But I   also want feedback from tonight, which is why  that survey is really important to know how   to make this better. This was our 1st one, and  it really means a lot to hear from all of you. Ryn Delpapa: So with that. Ryn Delpapa: send some love,   some emojis and reactions for everyone.  Thank you so much for being here,   and truly grateful for this entire panel and  all of your great questions and participation. Ryn Delpapa: And I wish you all a wonderful  great night, and thank you for the time.