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Restoring Compassion Interview with Rabbi Awraham Soetendorp

Raising Our Children, Raising Ourselves Interview with Naomi Aldort

Finding Your Unique Voice Interview with Abdullah Ibrahim

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Reality Check

Cape Farewell is a project set up by a British artist, David Buckland, to bring together artists and scientists. The aim is to engage artists to communicate on a human scale the urgency of the global climate challenge. Between September 7 and 20, 2008, twenty-eight young people from seven countries traveled on a Russian icebreaker from Iceland, around Greenland, landing finally at Baffin Island. Organized in collaboration with the British Council, Canada, the youth were acting as ambassadors for their schools and communities, completing art and science projects while talking via the Internet to their schools. For many, the voyage was a life-changing experience. For more information see www.capefarewellcanada.ca.

David Smith, Glasgow, Scotland, age 17

I am a musician. I mostly play guitar but I also play a little drums and bass guitar, and one day we landed in a deserted community and made music on the rusting rubbish. The whole idea of that landing was to identify the lines of the landscape, for example where the snow ended, where the land met the sea, where the clouds met the blue sky. We then created our own line out of barrels and scrap metal where the left-behind, rusting rubbish met the beautiful Arctic landscape, and played the drums on the line.

When I returned home, my main priority was to visit local primary schools in my area to get the younger pupils thinking about climate change. We have already had members of theScottish Parliament and the U.K. Parliament visiting our school to talk to us about what we and they are doing. My ambition is to study business at university and in the future to possibly run my own business, maybe in the green sector or at least somewhere as carbon neutral as possible.

Nico Angerstein, Hanover, Germany, age 17

I wanted to see if climate change was really happening and how the change would influence the Arctic. We talked to Inuit who told us that their life is changing and they are losing their culture. I expected a lot of ice and icebergs, but in fact there was not that much ice; instead there were many rivers: so climate change is indeed happening and it is our fault. When I got home, together with my "ground crew" who supported me, I made a music, drama and computer presentation and talked to many politicians.

George Voronov, Dublin, Ireland, age 15

I have always appreciated nature. However, before it was akin to looking at a masterfully drawn painting; now it's like looking at that very same painting dangling over an open fire, slowly roasting. During the trip I plunged into a blue geothermal lagoon in Iceland, into liquid paradise; I saw glaciers and talked to the native Inuit of the polar region, as well as seeing the mighty polar bear. But at the same time I also saw a deserted beach strewn with old rusted barrels, bricks and even an old bulldozer, remnants of an old weather station.

I am very much part of this human race; I own a computer, my parents have cars, and we, like everyone else, burn up our carbon dioxide. But I am willing to make a change.

The change will be on a small scale; starting recycling campaigns, raising awareness around my community. No matter how miniscule and insignificant it might seem at the time, all of us have to jump on board. Once we realize how important our planet is to us, we have to make sure that the people who are running our countries recognize that fact and try to do something about it. I think that if humankind as a species is capable of flying to the moon, curing thousands of sicknesses and putting thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide into the air annually, then we can use that same power to reverse that fact and change our habits. Of course it is always easier to destroy rather than create.

Hailey Richardson, Canso, Canada, age 17

Upon setting out on this amazing project, my motivation was to keep the planet a liveable place for my generation and the generations that will come after me. I learned how I can choose to use my voice proactively or it will be wasted. The most interesting thing for me was seeing and touching and being a part of this part of the world that is so hugely affected, being able to stand in a river made of meltwater, seeing shrubs growing where they shouldn't, and meeting people whose way of life is threatened because of our actions.

I wanted to tell the stories of what I saw and what I experienced because it's something that few of us will ever get to do and see. Maybe knowing someone or meeting someone who has touched a corner of the world most of us could only dream of might make it a little more relatable and real.

Louise Willneff, Berlin, Germany, age 16

I hoped to establish a tighter network with people all around the globe. I discovered that 28 youth from different backgrounds can work together easily. We are often afflicted with prejudices and worry too much, which none of us should do, including the politicians or lobbyists in high positions.

I realized that when something gets emotional, it starts to hurt. I saw the amazingly beautiful Arctic landscape, so untouched that you always feel you're the first person when you go on land. A scenery that makes you realize how unimportant and small a human being is and how immense time is. I fell in love with the Arctic. Everyone has something in this world that he loves and doesn't want to lose.

I went to the UN-organized Poznań Climate Change conference in Poland, in December 2008. I joined the youth network and we exchanged ideas. I think the action march on December 6 through Poznań with the slogan "Politicians stop clowning around" was a little "hint" for all politicians that young people want them to wake up and become active in an effective way. I'm now very aware of climate change, so I begin to turn off the lights or electronic appliances even if I'm out of the room only for a few minutes. I try to consume as little water as possible, and I stick to a vegetarian diet. My parents try to buy local products and do not use the car very often. I hope that humanity finally wakes up and realizes that difficult times are lying ahead and we have to work together; there definitely is no other way.

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