Climate Action 2014-2015
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"I want to inspire my<br />
generation to be more<br />
proactive in protecting<br />
the environment,<br />
because we are going<br />
to inherit a planet less<br />
healthy than past<br />
generations have had."<br />
TELLING MY STORY<br />
PARRYS RAINES<br />
Parrys Raines is a 19 year old Australian otherwise known as <strong>Climate</strong> Girl. An environmental<br />
educator, writer and blogger, Raines is also a film-maker, a public speaker and an<br />
environmental law student. She has worked with and been an ambassador for many<br />
different organisations that are committed to the protection of the environment, animals<br />
and most importantly people. The list includes Sculpt the Future Foundation, WWF, Earth<br />
Hour, Billabong, Cool Australia, Enviroweek, Kids Teaching Kids, The Australian Museum and<br />
Aim for the Stars Foundation. In 2009, aged 14, she launched her educational website<br />
www.climategirl.com.au.<br />
“I founded <strong>Climate</strong> Girl because I felt<br />
that young people needed to know<br />
and learn the simple facts about the<br />
environment,” says Raines. “It also helps<br />
them to understand the importance<br />
of living sustainably. I want to inspire<br />
my generation to be more proactive in<br />
protecting the environment, because we<br />
are going to inherit a planet less healthy<br />
than past generations have had. I want to<br />
ensure that my generation and the next<br />
will inherit a planet that is able to meet<br />
our needs. <strong>Climate</strong> Girl is not political<br />
but is inclusive, optimistic, energetic,<br />
supportive, understanding and tenacious.”<br />
TAKING ACTION<br />
The primary focus for <strong>Climate</strong> Girl is<br />
to educate young people, to inspire and<br />
motivate them to take action locally<br />
on sustainability issues that ultimately<br />
benefit the communities they live in.<br />
Benefits gained from these sustainable<br />
actions, Raines believes, will ensure a<br />
healthy planet, healthy people and a<br />
sustainable future.<br />
“My passion for the environment started<br />
when I was six years old and over the last<br />
13 years I have worked extremely hard<br />
on increasing my knowledge and sharing<br />
this knowledge with schoolchildren here<br />
in Australia and from around the world,”<br />
continues Raines. To help spread the<br />
awareness of environmental issues and<br />
sustainability she gives talks and runs<br />
workshops at schools for free. “I do this<br />
as a way to give back to the community<br />
and my goal is to foster the next<br />
generation to be better informed about<br />
environmental issues so that they can<br />
make informed decisions now and in the<br />
future. I Skype with other young people<br />
from around the globe who want to ask<br />
for advice or want to share information.<br />
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