Abby introduces Governor Inslee

December 4th, 2014 Video from the Seattle Westin ballroom in front of 800 people with VP Gore and Governor Inslee.

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Governor Jay Inslee Introduction by Abby

I am here to tell you today that every person can make a difference.  It does not matter how old or how young you are.  I don’t want to grow up being a bystander and neither should you.  In fact, it does not matter if you are grown up already it is never too late to begin to make a difference.

Let me share with you what I am doing.  I am on a mission with my fellow ambassadors to plant 1,000 billion trees by 2024.  Why?  Our carbon footprint is getting bigger and bigger.  We need to reduce this footprint if we want to sustain life as we know it here on Earth.  And you know what?  I love our Earth and I want my future generations to love it too!

But 1,000 billion trees sounds like a lot.  I broke it down and figured that if every person in Seattle should plant 150 trees…..a much more reasonable number.  But as a kid how was I suppose to plant 150 trees with no job, no money of my own and well in Seattle not a big yard to do it in.  So I thought I could make a lemonade stand.  I offered free lemonade for a $1 donation to go towards planting one tree.  I made $64 dollars this past summer to plant 64 trees worldwide.  And I personally planted 16 trees locally.  Now I still have a ways to go but I am an active citizen not a bystander.

I have to be active because our changing climate and the impact it will have on me and my friends is big.  Really big.  So big I have found that some adults have just given up.

We need adults who refuse to be bystanders.  We need leaders like Governor Inslee who know it matters what kind of environment and climate we leave to our children.  Governor Inslee understands that the time to at is now, not tomorrow or at some point down the road.

My future depends on it.  Please welcome Governor Inslee.

ed. –Governor Inslee, VP Al Gore, and Martha Kongsgaard each referred to Abby in varied ways as the kind of person who embodies what we can do, and must do, if we are to respond immediately to the climate crisis with a \”can-do\” spirit.

VP Al Gore video clip from the luncheon, on Abby and the moonshot, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW70oPOxnl8&feature=youtu.be

Meeting A Hero By: Abby

December 4, 2014

When I first stepped into The Westin I thought, “How lucky I am to be with two of the world’s most influential people.  I can’t wait to meet them.”

Today I had the most wonderful privilege to introduce Governor Inslee at a luncheon honouring him and Vice President Al Gore.  Many politicians champion the role of young people in their campaigns. But while a one-click tweet or petition signature is an easy sell, putting youth opinions and ideas at the heart of campaigning is harder (and braver).

That’s why it was so pleasing to see Governor Inslee putting actions to his words.  He gave me the opportunity to share a little bit of my passion about saving our planet for future generations to many people.  He gave me a chance to show case Plant for the Planet and hopefully this great opportunity will show other kids that they have a voice and they don’t have to sit around watching our planet be destroyed.  Kids and adults can know that it is never too late or too early to make a difference.  I hope I made an impact on somebody or even planted (no pun intended) an interest in somebody to stop being a bystander and start being an active citizen.

I have learned in the past and read about Governor Inslee’s actions in fighting our ever growing Carbon Footprint and knew that he was not a bystander but I today I truly witnessed his passion and his kindness.  He truly is my hero and I hope to join forces with him in the future.  But as for the present I am going to wage war on climate injustice and plant some trees.