Interview: Why the pandemic is turning our youth into activists

Kasha Sequoia Slavner says that the COVID-19 pandemic is turning young people into activists for social change. The 22-year-old Toronto filmmaker says that more than ever before, children and youth are aware of global problems that are happening all around them.

“When people are at home and they are observing the way in that the world has changed a lot, it’s a reflective time for people to really to get a grasp of what a real crisis looks like,” she told me this week.

In the face of the rising climate crisis, racism, and conflict, she says that young people are responding by taking action. “Hey, you know what, I want to do something to make the world better,” she says young people are telling her.

• Learn more about 1.5 Degrees of Peace

Stories of youth taking action on what she feels are the two greatest threats to humanity; nuclear war and climate change, are the subject of her new documentary titled 1.5 Degrees of Peace.

In announcing her new project, she said that this film has a bold vision to spark and rebuild a global movement for a culture of peace that will help us achieve climate justice and heal the planet.

Inspired by her mother and producer, Marla Slaver, who is a long-time member of Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, Kasha divides her time between filmmaking and speaking to students. She says showing people what is possible in the face of such overwhelming challenges is key to inspiring action. “Look what’s in our control in this moment,” she tells students, “and that’s pretty powerful.”

Kasha is connecting to people and organizations about how they can support the project. For more information, visit her website: https://www.theglobalsunriseproject.com