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Ella Van Cleave writes about her new documentary film project. She is a Youth Ambassador with Ric O'Barry's Dolphin Project.
It all started because I wanted to save the dolphins.

I've been known as 'Dolphin Girl' among friends, family, and acquaintances alike since I was twelve years old after I was horrified by the content of The Cove, locked myself in my bedroom for a weekend, and emerged having created a website detailing all the horrific aspects of the Taiji dolphin slaughter that my pre-teen self could possibly research. But that was just the beginning of what would turn out to be a lifetime's worth of work battling the threats to both wild dolphin populations and the ones that still remain in captivity, something that Ric O'Barry knows very well.

I've always thought the term 'Dolphin Girl' to be endearing, but as time has gone on, and I've broadened my own horizon of conservation efforts, I've begun to see it as a way that others less familiar with the world of conservation are able to label me in accordance to my 'hobbies' or 'interests.' My love for the ocean and its creatures isn't the status quo, it's something worthy of a title that distinguishes me from the crowd. Maybe, that was the problem. Conservation is seen as a hobby, not a necessity.

It's no surprise that I reacted to The Cove the way that I did. The film was incredibly powerful, capable of moving those in even the most landlocked of places who have never so much as seen an ocean, but there's no denying I was certainly at a predisposition to connect with its content. I was no foreigner to the ocean, having spent much of my childhood romping along the white sandy beaches surrounding the Gulf of Mexico before making the move to Vancouver Island where I have lived just a brief walk away from the shoreline for almost ten years now.

I earned my scuba diving certification just about as early as they would let me and have been fortunate enough to dive in locations around the world. Of course, I was going to resonate strongly with a film that has strong marine conservation themes when I myself had seen the ocean's beauty first hand. If conservation wasn't mainstream, having the experiences with the ocean that I had in my young life certainly wasn't mainstream. The cogs started turning once again, and I thought to myself, 'No, this is the problem.' How can you expect the general public to care about marine conservation when they have no emotional connection with the ocean? Better yet, how can you expect them to care about something when they have no conception of how its health is inherently tethered to theirs?

The plight of the dolphins and all cetaceans is incredibly important, and deserves immense amounts of ongoing attention and support, but it's not the only thing we have to worry about. A warming climate, chemical pollution, and the exploitation of resources vaguely cover just a few of the topics that threaten dolphin populations and beyond in our world today, which isn't exactly revolutionary information. It is, however, information that is tricky to digest for the average citizen that has no particular training or interest in scientific information.

Hearing about the adverse effects of rising carbon dioxide levels in the oceans via scientific paper is likely to peak the interest of a very small percentage of the population. However, If you can show them what those adverse effects look like in application, and explain just how we got ourselves to this point in human existence in the form of a story, then maybe, just maybe, we can make conservation more mainstream.

It's this kind of thinking that lead me to the development of my latest and most exciting project, a documentary film endeavor titled To The Sea that seeks to rekindle the flame between humanity and the natural world by way of the sea. The ocean is at the heart of life on earth, but it is also known for being mysterious and incredibly complicated. I want to do what I can to change that, by making ocean exploration both exciting and personal.

This initiative is about bringing the beauty of the ocean into the homes and classrooms of the general public, and sparking an emotional connection with the sea that far too few people ever have the chance to experience otherwise. It is about taking one of the most inaccessible environments on this planet, and making it accessible, both educationally and experientially.

More than anything, To The Sea is about telling a story, one that highlights how humanity's relationship with the ocean has changed, and what measures are necessary to remedy the damage we have caused. It is a story filled with both despair and hope, and the best part? We get to choose the ending.

To The Sea is an entirely student-run project that hopes to bring a fresh perspective to marine conservation topics. We have a passionate and versatile team, and it is our mission to do this valuable information justice and make it accessible for free. Right now, we are calling on conservationists of all types for your support so that we can make this film as beautiful as possible. With our first filming location set for the beautiful Phoenix Islands Protected Area, it's crucial that we have the right gear to capture the essence of one of the world's last remaining pristine ocean ecosystems.

We have launched a Kickstarter campaign and it has only 30 days remaining. We would love your support! This project is for you, the public, to empower a group of untapped conservationists and change the way we interact with the natural world. Not all scientists need to wear lab coats, and we hope to do our part in creating a better world where conservation is mainstream.

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A Love of Dolphins Inspires Student-Led Documentary | Dolphin Project

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Ella Van Cleave writes about her new documentary film project. She is a Youth Ambassador with Ric O'Barry's Dolphin Project. It all started because I wanted to save the dolphins.

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CommonLit | Malala Yousafzai's Address to the United Nations, July 2013

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Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate. She is known mainly for human rights advocacy and she focuses on women's issues and access to education. Across the globe, millions of girls are excluded from school and educational opportunities because of their gender.

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Water protector Autumn Peltier speaks at UN

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ONE CHILD like so many children,

searched the shelves for herself as the center,

As the star she knew she was,

As the narrator of a brown girl narrative, a story

she already knew-herself on the page and found

One child in the world for only ten years ALREADY KNEW

Of Tubman, of Chisholm, of Sojourner Truth,

of Angela Davis and Black Girl Magic-this power

running through the blood of her youth.

Still, where was she? How was the world of fiction and history moving

without her in it? Already knew

her country's, her classroom's, her world out there's

audacity. Her journey now beginning.

So many before her making ways out of No Way. Change choosing them to show her

how much SHE MATTERED, how much

a black girl on the page, mattered, fingers moving over

book after book where she didn't exist-mattered. Her black life

Mattered. She remembered

Ruby Bridges at 6-eyes straight ahead toward her parents' dream

for her, a world that was not separate, but equal. Her fear

like the satchel clutched in her small hand, MOVING FORWARD

through the doorway of a New Orleans schoolhouse

Through the frustration of fingers searching shelves, came

for Marley, a revelation, an activation

Sometimes the road already knows our journey...

Marley Dias seeing black girls in the absence of black girls, her own

wake-up call, so many books where white boys and dogs crowded classroom libraries

for reflections of brown bodies, grasped air. She knew

the books were out there. STARTED A MOVEMENT

to get the stories where they belonged, into the hands

of the young people, who were hungry

for classroom libraries where they, too, existed.

This absence, to Marley, meant

#1000BlackGirlBooks was born, a hashtag and soon

a revolution-The goal, to collect one thousand books where Black Girls

told THEIR STORIES, she knew the stories were out there

publishers, writers, family friends and strangers got wind of Marley's story

One to One Hundred, 1000 to Ten Thousand-until,

Thousands of books were going out again-

Five thousand books donated into the hands of many

children across the nation and out into the world

from Newark to the Navajo Nation,

from Flint, Michigan, to Jamaica West Indies, one child on a journey

to erase the erasure, to rewrite an almost-history

But why stop there? Her work not done yet, she began

to host book parties where young people donated, exchanged, discussed

the books they've come to love where Black Girls featured FRONT AND CENTER

So many hundreds of girls seeing so many thousands of girls on the page

Finally.

And still

Marley wanted more. Formed #BlackGirlBookClub where black girls

get together to read books that, as Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, who once herself

was a black girl and went on to change the face of Black Children's literature,

so beautifully put it, provided windows and mirrors

into their stories of black girlhood and womanhood-the world

growing bigger and stronger and more loving with the turn of every page.

And still and still

With the help of her mother's Grassroots organization

The books were logged, a list created of 1,000 Black Girl Books

Online now for anyone who wants, needs our stories,

Thousands more books housed in the Grassroots library

near her home in West Orange, New Jersey-until they go out

into hungry classroom libraries, end up in the wanting hands of young people who

for too long have had to read books where they didn't exist. Tomorrow

they will see themselves-for too many, this will be

To date, 10,000 books have been collected

because ONE CHILD was asked the question
So what are you going to do about it?
And did what she had to do.

Then signed a book contract at 12

Marley Gets It Done (And So Can You!), it's true

One child's commitment to social justice and change

has changed a nation.

Marley Dias, 21st-Century Hero who knows

frustration comes determination and innovation, who says
I want to use what I've learned to elevate the voices of all those who have been ignored and left out.
Young person turned activist turned friend-I am proud to know

that I get to walk this road

with Marley who, named for Bob Marley, walks with so many who came before her

her change is part of a continuum-

Yet all HER OWN.

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Marley Dias' Inspirational Goal to Collect Books About Girls of Color

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ONE CHILD like so many children, searched the shelves for herself as the center, As the star she knew she was, As the narrator of a brown girl narrative, a story she already knew-herself on the page and found One child in the world for only ten years ALREADY KNEW Of Tubman, of Chisholm, of Sojourner Truth, of Angela Davis and Black Girl Magic-this power running through the blood of her youth.

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Not every person worth remembering made it into the history books. Each month, the Secret Life of Canada shouts out a Canadian or Indigenous person that has had a lasting impact worth celebrating. These historical figures may not be on money or monuments but their legacies live on.
For the first time in The Secret Life of Canada's history, we're shouting out someone who's not only alive but actually a lot younger than the makers of this podcast.

At the age of 14, Autumn Peltier has travelled internationally to advocate for the protection of water. The Indigenous teen has been nominated for several awards, has spoken before world leaders, and has been fighting for water rights alongside her elders since she was 8 years old.

Here are five things we learned about Peltier, who hails from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory.

1) She carries on her great aunt's legacy

Peltier isn't her family's first water warrior. Her great aunt Josephine Mandamin was a well-known advocate for water protection and conservation of the Great Lakes.

In 2003, Mandamin set out on her first water walk. She would go on to walk the shoreline of all five of the great lakes, an estimated distance of 17 thousand kilometers. Her water walks inspired many others to walk for water awareness.

Josephine passed away in February but through her niece, her work and legacy continues on. Following her death, Peltier said, "Since she can't do it anymore, I'm going to continue it for her."

2) She was shaped by an early memory

Peltier comes from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island. The island is the largest freshwater island in the world, and although her community doesn't have issues with their drinking water she learned early on that this isn't the case in every community.

At the age of eight, while attending a ceremony at the Serpent River Reservation, Peltier saw a sign that warned against drinking the water and warned that it was "toxic." This was when she learned that not all people in Canada have access to drinking water. She decided she needed to start using her voice to speak for the people and for the water.

3) She has spoken at over 200 events

Peltier has spoken nationally and internationally, including at the Children's Climate Conference in Sweden, at the United Nations in New York, and at an Assembly of First Nations gathering where she told Prime Minister Trudeau that she was unhappy with his decisions regarding the development of pipelines in Canada. The Prime Minister promised her, "I will protect the water."

4) She uses traditional teachings

Peltier is deeply connected to her culture and the traditional teachings she has received from the strong women in her family and community. Her environmentalism is a result of her culture in many ways.

She uses ceremony and song to connect and pay respect to the earth and to the water. She says, "I like to share that water is really sacred. Water is life. Mother Earth doesn't need us, we need her."

5) She just took on a very important title

This past June, it was announced that Peltier was appointed the new Anishinabek Nation Chief Water Commissioner.

Through this position, Peltier will help to raise awareness on water issues and share traditional knowledge. In response to the news, Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Glen Hare said, "she has been bringing global attention to the water issues in our country for a few years now. It is an honour to have her be our next Chief Water Commissioner."

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Meet Autumn Peltier, teen water warrior | CBC Radio

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It's our first shout out to a living youth leader! Meet Autumn Peltier. Greatly influenced by her great aunt Josephine Mandamin, Autumn has been using her voice to advocate for water rights since she was 8 years old.

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TEDxYouth@Victoria - Ella Van Cleave - Save the Dolphin Smile

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Teen aActivist Auhtor - Global Push to Promote Diversity in Books

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NEWS ELA- Greta Thunberg

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Newsela | Greta Thunberg backs climate general strike to force leaders to act

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Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old from Sweden and the founder of the school strike for climate movement, called for a general strike when she spoke in London.

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Teen activist Marley Dias on her new mission for racial harmony

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Marley Dias, a 13-year-old girl who has collected more than 11,000 books that showcase black female lead characters, can now add her own book to her list.

"I knew I was frustrated by the lack of diversity in the books I was reading in school, but it wasn't until my mother asked me about what I wanted to change that the [book drive] idea fully became clear," said Dias, who launched her #1000blackgirlbooks book drive in 2017 and is on Forbes' " 30 under 30 " list for 2018.

"It is so nice to see that the black girl is the main character, and not the sidekick."

" Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You! " serves as a guide for children to make a positive change through activism, inclusion and community involvement. Dias, an eighth grade student at her local public school, loves to write, though even she admits she is surprised to have already written a book by age 13.

"Because it was my story I wanted to share 'how' I did it, so other kids can learn how they can use their gifts, talents and passions to make a change in the world," Dias said. "I also wanted adults to know what they could do to help kids change the world."

Film director Ava DuVernay, who directed the upcoming film adaptation of Madeleine L'Engle's fantasy classic "A Wrinkle In Time," wrote the introduction to Dias' book. Though the original book does not have a black protagonist, DuVernay cast Storm Reid as Meg Murry in the film, alongside Oprah Winfrey as Mrs. Which and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Meg's mother.

"It is so nice to see that the black girl is the main character, and not the sidekick," Dias said. "This movie, like the black girl books I collect, will serve as a mirror for black girls and as a window to other young girls to see what they can do."

Having far surpassed her original goal of 1,000 books, Dias now hopes to collect and distribute 1 million black girl books across the globe to libraries, schools and community organizations, as well as create an app to go along with her book guide and possibly a future book club on a global level.
We asked Marley for six recommendations from her collection:
I know this is considered an adult book, but I read it this summer and I think everyone should read it. This story is one of my favorites. It is about a set of girls from Brooklyn and their friendship and how they deal with love and loss.

I love this book because it shows us a different part of black-girl sisterhood and the joy that we can experience together. The story also talks about the Black Panther Party and includes an untold part of the Civil Rights Movement.

This book makes you think and laugh. Luvvie is so funny and when you read her book, which is really a set of essays, you can hear her voice in your head. I think this is a must read for anyone who wants to challenge themselves to be critical and also learn how to be expressive in their thoughts and ideas.

This book has had the biggest impact on my life. It was my first Jacqueline Woodson book. It is a book written in verse and it shares the story of a young girl and the challenges she faces growing up in the racially segregated south. The title, the cover and the story are all inspirational.

This story is a graphic novel about a really smart girl from the Ivory Coast. It is a coming of age story, and like a lot of the books I like, Aya-the main character, is trying to figure things out. The story is a little bit mature but I liked how Aya came out of her shell.

This was one of my first black girl books. I love how happy the little girl is. It's really a great book for showing black girl- and black boy joy.

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13-year-old founder of #1000blackgirlbooks shares some of her favorite reads

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Marley Dias, a 13-year-old girl who has collected more than 11,000 books that showcase black female lead characters, can now add her own book to her list.

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Teen activist Greta Thunberg delivers emotional speech at UN

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Here are 7 Indigenous Youth Activists You Should Know

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Seven Indigenous youth activists share thoughts on how their identity drives their climate work and on how they celebrate Indigenous People’s Day.

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Greta Thunberg is a Swedish activist who inspired a movement of school strikes against government climate inaction

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Autumn Peltier, 13-year-old water advocate, addresses UN

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The Daily Show - Malala Yousafzai Extended Interview

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Fresberg Cartoon – Learning & History for Students

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Women's History: Malala Yousafzai the girl shot by the Taliban (Educational Videos)

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CommonLit | Malala Yousafzai: A Normal Yet Powerful Girl

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Malala Yousafzai (born 1997) is a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Malala is from the Swat Valley in northwest Pakistan, where the local Taliban has banned girls from attending school. Malala, whose family ran a chain of local schools, publicly stood against the Taliban's actions and launched an international movement.

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Nine-year-old Chicago activist Asean Johnson took his Internet-winning show on the road over the weekend and captivated the massive crowd at the "Realize The Dream" rally honoring the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington.

Johnson, a student at Marcus Garvey Elementary, stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday as he expressed pride at his being the youngest speaker addressing the weekend rally -- 50 years after a 23-year-old future congressman, John Lewis, was the youngest speaker at the 1963 march.

"Every child deserves a great education. Every school deserves equal funding and resources," Johnson said after noting he was participating in the march "for education, justice and freedom."

Asean first captured the attention of Chicago and the world when his impassioned speech at a rally protesting the city's then-proposed public school closings in overwhelmingly African-American and Latino neighborhoods went viral in May.

Two months later, Johnson railed against the Chicago Board of Education shortly before they signed off unanimously on massive budget cuts and teacher layoffs in the district.

"You are slashing our education. You're pulling me down. You're taking our educational opportunities away," Johnson told the board while tears streamed down his face. "You need to go tell the mayor to just quit his job."

What's next for the spirited youngster? He's already won some key endorsements for mayor of Chicago in 2025, when he will be 21 years old. Meanwhile, he has fourth grade to tend to.

BEFORE YOU GO

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LOOK: 9-Year-Old Impresses At March On Washington Anniversary

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Nine-year-old Chicago activist Asean Johnson took his Internet-winning show on the road over the weekend and captivated the massive crowd at the "Realize The Dream" rally honoring the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington.

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from Scope Scholastic

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Behind the Scenes Video from "The Girl Who Lived Forever"

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The heartbreaking story of Anne Frank, whose diary shed light on the horrors of the Holocaust

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WASHINGTON - Speaking in front of large crowds is nothing new to 12-year-old activist Asean Johnson. However, speaking at a time where racial tensions run high in America made it a little tougher this past weekend.

"To see that I don't even know if I can make it past the age that I am with everything that's happened," Asean said during his speech, desperately fighting to get his words out while sobbing.

His message highlighted the recent police shootings in response to the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile within 24 hours of each other.

Asean spoke at the Save Our Schools Coalition People's March for Public Education & Social Justice rally in Washington D.C. Hundreds of educators and activists came together to demonstrate and march for education reform and racial equality.

Immediately following the speech, Asean's mother, Shoneice Reynolds, held him tightly in her arms with bloodshot red eyes dripping of tears. The sun formed a radiant spotlight around them as they hugged in front of the Lincoln Memorial on the 90-degree afternoon.

"I want to see him become a man too. I want to see him grow up," Reynolds said. "I want to see him continue to make a huge difference within this world and the impact within this world. And I want to see a safer America for all of our children."

Asean was greeted with high fives and warm hugs after walking off the stage. Some of the audience members recognized him from his previous activism when he participated in a movement to prevent four schools in Chicago from closing.

As a soon-to-be seventh grader, Asean says his career aspirations include becoming a scientist, poet, politician, basketball or football player. He added that his late great grandfather, who was active in advocating for justice in Chicago, never got to see him speak but always encouraged him to voice the truth.

"I just feel that we need to fight for everything, not just education," Asean said. "Because social justice and black lives matter."

Photo at top: Friends and family of Asean Johnson join him on stage during his emotional speech to show support. (Hannah Gebresilassie/Medill News Service)

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12-Year-Old Chicagoan Asean Johnson speaks out against gun violence in Nation's capital - Medill News Service

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WASHINGTON - Speaking in front of large crowds is nothing new to 12-year-old activist Asean Johnson. However, speaking at a time where racial tensions run high in America made it a little tougher this past weekend.

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Live | Hong Kong student activist Joshua Wong holds a press conference in Berlin

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Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

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"I think giving animals a home is important," Says Faye. Faye follows up to that every week! She volunteers every Friday, and sometimes all weekend. Faye took a big interest after she helped rescue a puppy, on her first day. "We picked up a puppy in the pound, on my first day, I really felt sorry for him," said Faye. This supports my claim because Faye believes giving animals a second chance is important.

Faye advertises and grooms all the animals in the shelter, to find them a home. Faye takes her own time to take care of all the animals. Faye set up a Facebook account for a free way to advertise animals. "A good thing is Faye takes time to present our dogs in the best possible light," says control officer Vaughan Oliver. This also supports my claim because Faye takes time to groom and advertise dogs at her local shelter.

Faye is a volunteer worker that comes in every week. People that work with say she is a big help with the shelters. Faye started volunteering last November, and many people at the shelter enjoy Faye working there. "This takes a lot of heat off the shelter, for us trying to put these animals into homes. The good thing is Faye takes time to present our pets in the best possible light," Says control officer Vaughan Oliver. This shows Faye is wanted at the shelter, and she is also a big help.

Faye Carey is only six-teen years old and she is making a difference for animals. Also, she is standing up for animal rights. Faye feels that re-homing animals is important, she is the grooming and advertising pets, and she is a big help for her local shelter. How do you feel about animal right's?

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"I think giving animals a home is important," Says Faye. Faye follows up to that every week! She volunteers every Friday, and sometimes all weekend. Faye took a big interest after she helped rescue a puppy, on her first day. "We picked up a puppy in the pound, on my first day, I really felt sorry for him," said Faye.