Despite the enormity of the task she has chosen, Mirella Ramsay is peppy, upbeat and optimistic.
Her enthusiasm is contagious, her outlining of plans punctuated with smiles and laughter.
Ramsay, 18, is taking on climate change.
But her enthusiasm is not born of naivet茅.
香蕉视频直播淩ather than, 香蕉视频直播楬ey everybody we香蕉视频直播檙e doomed, good luck,香蕉视频直播� why not, 香蕉视频直播楬ey everybody we can do something to fix the problem,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 she says.
Her plans were sparked during her first semester of university studies. Before class each day, her geography teacher would provide tidbits of information on what was going on in the world environmentally.
Read more: 香蕉视频直播�
Read more:
Sixty per cent of wildlife numbers decreasing. Carbon dioxide levels rising. Use of solar panels in other countries successful.
The ratio was about 80/20 good news to bad.
Yet outside the classroom, the big news would be what Donald Trump was saying, not that wildlife are disappearing.
As she was driving home one night listening to a podcast about environmentalists doing all kinds of good work but not able to make massive change, she made a decision.
Mirella decided to become an environmental scientist.
But the idea of running her own business soon eclipsed it, one that would incorporate her desire 香蕉视频直播渢o be part of the solution, not adding to the problem.香蕉视频直播�
Soon the idea to have a group dedicated to a specific issue with a set amount of time to come up with a course of action was born. It would be a two-year plan that would include a goal, a research period and an action period.
香蕉视频直播淩ather than researching for four years and then doing something, it would take six months to a year to start香蕉视频直播� So what we香蕉视频直播檒l start seeing is real change, rather than talking about it.香蕉视频直播�
Read more:
Read more:
In January, Mirella presented her idea to her advisor, Jenny Carter. Carter told her it香蕉视频直播檚 a great idea but she would have to write something down. Mirella did just that, creating a blueprint for the work. Carter dubbed it , a moniker that香蕉视频直播檚 stuck.
香蕉视频直播淲e want to re-brand climate change 香蕉视频直播� let kids my age know it香蕉视频直播檚 not impossible to solve. Well it香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of work but we香蕉视频直播檒l be working together.香蕉视频直播�
Tess Streicker is her co-founder. 香蕉视频直播淚 approached her with the idea 香蕉视频直播� she香蕉视频直播檚 like, yeah Mirella, you香蕉视频直播檙e not insane香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈
Mirella香蕉视频直播檚 enthusiasm has already ignited a passion in others.
香蕉视频直播淲e have a team of 11 girls absolutely on fire to do this work,香蕉视频直播� she says, adding one boy just joined them. Members of the youth-led team range from 16 to 20 years.
They are forming seven different groups, each focused on a two-year plan. The topics are: education; proper waste management; plastics; food; renewable energy; industry and habitat.
They香蕉视频直播檙e also open to working with other non profits.
香蕉视频直播淚f someone is doing the same thing, like Shuswap Solar, we香蕉视频直播檙e not going to just do it on our own.香蕉视频直播�
Regarding education, Mirella says they香蕉视频直播檒l be going into schools, creating programs for educating youth 香蕉视频直播� how they香蕉视频直播檙e able to save the environment, as well as helping schools reduce their waste and invest in more sustainable futures.
Read more:
Read more:
She says talking to kids at a younger level, providing options, will be a focus.
She points out that an 11-year-old messaged her.
香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 want the world to be a flaming ball of fire 香蕉视频直播� will you come and talk to my class,香蕉视频直播� was the message she recounts. 香蕉视频直播淧eople want a solution but don香蕉视频直播檛 know where to go.香蕉视频直播�
Mirella says inspiring just one person to act by the Mirella Project means so much to her.
香蕉视频直播淚 want little boys and girls to look up and say, 香蕉视频直播榦h, that can be me.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈
She gave a two-minute speech to the Rotary Club that was met with a standing ovation.
Mirella points out that small actions can make a difference over the long term.
香蕉视频直播淚 made it my claim to fame that I will only have a drink if I have own mug with me. I want to hold myself accountable香蕉视频直播� When in doubt, go without.
香蕉视频直播淚 haven香蕉视频直播檛 had a latte a lot of days in a row because I forgot my mug. Do I look famished?香蕉视频直播� she asks, smiling.
Read more:
Read more: 香蕉视频直播�
On Saturday, June 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Mirella Project will hold a Clothing Shop and Swap at the First United Church GreenSpace, where people will bring in their clothing to shop or sell. For more information, go to or email: themirellaproject@gmail.com.
In the fall, the team plans to hold a six-week course on how to live 香蕉视频直播榸ero waste.香蕉视频直播�
Mirella says her aim is to have Salmon Arm become an 香蕉视频直播渆co-town,香蕉视频直播� practices that could then be taken around the world.
Her dedication to the project is unwavering.
香蕉视频直播淚 think what we香蕉视频直播檙e doing, I was put on this earth to do,香蕉视频直播� she says.
香蕉视频直播淥ur entire goal is to build community through saving the environment. We want to formulate relationships over an issue that requires a lot of attention and really matters.香蕉视频直播�
marthawickett@saobserver.net
Like us on and follow us on
