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If I was Prime Minister…..
Published by mikehudema, February 6th, 2007 Act Locally , Canada , Clean Cars , Climate Justice , Direct Action , International Affairs , Oil , Video 12 Comments12 Responses to “If I was Prime Minister…..”
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that’s amazing!
Honestly, I find this to be slightly disturbing and not so cute. A child that age shouldn’t be concerned with tar sands, kyoto or politics. Either her parents have indoctrinated her into performing this little piece of theatre or the age of innocence has truly been lost. Either way, I think it’s sad.
I loved it. Clearly, she’s memorized a script. Even though it would be incredible if she really knew what she was talking about, I doubt that she does. Because it’s SO far fetched, I think it’s really creative and potentially really useful. Can’t you imagine this on a national TV ad in Canada? You think this sweetheart is about to tell you how much she loves her Welch’s Lite White Grape juice and instead, she’s making a plea to decision-makers not to ruin her future. I think it’s powerful. I enjoyed it! Thanks!
She’s got my vote!
Tim, I really don’t think she’s been indoctrinated by her parents – I actually don’t think she’s even memorised it… it looks to me like she’s reading directly from a script positioned above the camera. Watch her eyes carefully. Harmless fun I’d say, and very well done – should get people’s attention.
I don’t know, I guess it’s subjective like most everything else. Harmless? Maybe.
It does bring up an interesting question, which is “how do we raise our children in an age of seemingly dire and apocalyptic climate change?”.
I suppose my reaction to the video was influenced by a book I read lately – Earth In Mind by David Orr. In this book, Orr talks about instilling and then maintaining in our children a sense of awe and wonder for the natural world. He quotes Rachel Carson who says: “It is not half so important to know as to feel”. Orr himself says that “the sense of wonder is fragile; once crushed, it rarely blossoms again but is replaced by varying shades of cynicism and disappointment in the world.”
We need our kids to be environmentally literate, but first and foremost, we need them to be able to dream and marvel at the inescapable beauty of life on this planet, for we will not fight to save what we do not love. I’m sure this little girl didn’t fully grasp what she was being made to say, but nonetheless, there’s something there that makes me feel uneasy. That’s all.
Peace people.
While part of me wants to reply like Josh and Kim did, I think there’s more to this picture and I’m grateful that Tim raised the questions he did. Assuming that little girl didn’t write that, you could say, “she is being used as a mouthpiece/puppet for whoever did. Someone is using her “cuteness factor” to draw attention to their political message. It’s emotional manipulation.” However, like Christine alluded to, this is done all the time in advertising (Welch juice).
I think the important factor is the intention and purity of motive behind any action. Assuming that most of us here reading this blog support the messages contained within this tar-sands video, it’s harmless from our perspective. In fact, it’s actually potentially helpful to the cause of changing culture into one that supports clean energy and a stable climate. If, on the other hand, there was a little girl who was the grand-daughter of a tar-sands executive, reading some message about how important tar-sands development is for the economy and her future, is it still okay? The tactic would be the same, the message different.
Is it all subjective?
Tim, I agree that children’s sense of beauty and awe is critical for their development, and I think you state an important question: How do you raise children in the 21st century? To elaborate if I can, I’d add: What is the best way to evoke ecological consiousness without compromising children’s own ability to develop naturally and fall in love with the world rather than cry about global problems? How can passionate activist parents not impose their concern for the children? Should they try not to? Perhaps there are parents reading this who could chime in?
in love.
in love
thats great
And in the 20th and 19th century, people shouldn’t have raised their kids in love?
What is different about the 21st?
Since she says Ky-yo-toe, instead of Kyoto, I’m guessing shes reading. I wish I could read that well when I was that little.