Dear Nephew,
By now, you might know that your aunt has tried her very best to fight for the rights of the place we call home. Whether I am still with you or not, I want you to stand for something greater than yourself. Whether its standing up against politicians polluting the air with factories established in low income communities, or whether it is educating your future friends and family that we have placed our only home in danger and it is up to every single one of us to bring planet Earth back to health.
Don’t be afraid to place your voice in the environmental community because you have every right to speak up as an indigenous citizen of planet Earth. I want you to be able to experience the things I experience when I was growing up. I want you to be able to travel the world and experience the wonderful, breathtaking views this world has to offer. I want you to be able to swim with whales that were on the verge of extinction, or encounter a wild elephant in Africa and see learn that they belong to be here just as much as humans do. Or swim in the oceans in Florida or California without having the fear that your health might be in danger. I want you to be able to look up into space and witness the millions of stars that revolve Earth.
I want you to experience a better world. A world where you don’t have to worry about getting sick with the fruits and veggies you eat, or worry about the cruelty and injustices an animal had to go through to end up in your plate. I don’t want you to worry about the trash that piles on top of dumpsters in the alley. I don’t want you to worry about hunger around the world.
I promise that I tried my best. I promise that I will keep fighting for a better future for your and future generations. I promise that I will not give up, for this is a stressful and overwhelming dialogue all across the world. I promise that you will witness great changes as I have had a glimpse of many already. I promise that I will teach you the ways as I have been taught by great speakers. The best advice I can give you is to educate yourself and others. Shine a light in others and start a revolution that benefits all living life on Earth.
It’s not an easy fight, but united we will accomplish great changes for your generation and the generations of your future children.
The fight is in our hearts and minds.
Aunty Yoli