Atlantic Activist

Please meet Meg, Marin, Addie, Maya, Melizza, Larissa, and Margaret. They’re graduating this month from Dalhousie University and are part of a growing cohort of young people who have chosen to dedicate their studies and future careers to trying to protect the environment and stop runaway climate change.

The Atlantic Chapter’s Beyond Coal team had the pleasure of working with the Dal students on a research project focused on engaging and educating the public about the climate crisis through social media. While these students know a lot about the science of climate change, they quickly realized that simply restating the facts wasn’t going to make much of a difference. 

So, instead, they took a leap and decided to open up and tell people how they really feel.

Here are two of the videos from the #IFeel campaign they created for Sierra Club Canada Foundation. We hope you’ll take a moment today to listen to what Meg and Marin have to say.

Last week, the students sent along a thank you note that we’d like to share with you.

“I just wanted to send a quick email before my team and I graduate to thank you for letting us partner with you over this past year. 

Oshean, thank you for helping me figure out how to make an impactful video, and taking the time out of your day to go through the process with me. As well, my team and I want to thank you for always lending a helping hand and providing us with ideas when we were stuck. Your support was greatly appreciated by all of us. 

Tynette, we wanted to thank you for being so open and encouraging throughout this term. I recognize it couldn't have been easy to come in as a client and take time out of your already very busy schedule to help us come up with our project, but it was incredibly appreciated by all of us. You showed us kindness, vulnerability and understanding, and encouraged us to trust ourselves and not be afraid of expressing the impacts that the state of our world is having on young people like us. 

This has been a really great experience for all of us, and we are very thankful we got to work with the Sierra Club Canada.” 

—Marin and the Dal team

The students know that the road ahead is daunting, but they’re not giving up, and neither are we. 

Whatever you’re feeling on this Earth Day, know that you’re not alone. We’ll be there with you in a multitude of ways as we work together to co-create—and save—the world we live in.

Best wishes,

The Beyond Coal Atlantic team

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