When: 1992- Present
Where: Based in Boulder Colorado with
programs and crews spread across six continents.
Practitioners: Xiuhtezcatl Martinez and the Earth
Guardians (thousands of youth across the world).
Contributed by: Annie Nagel
A
group of children, the youngest looking no older than nine-years-old, march
through the streets of downtown Boulder and dance through fields with the
Flatirons as their background. They sing, “It’s time to be the change, stand
for what you know is right. It’s time to be the change and build a world of
light.” “Be The Change” is one of many music videos the Earth Guardians have
posted on their YouTube channel dedicated to raising awareness for a cleaner
and healthier planet.
Starting
out in 1992 as a high school in Maui, Hawaii, the Earth Guardians gained global
attention for their dedication to teaching youth how to grow their voices as
social activists within the environmental activism world. Twenty-five years
later, the Earth Guardians have grown as a community of thousands of youths
across the world. At just 17-years-old, the Earth Guardians Youth Director,
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, acts as a role-model for other youth activists to own
their power as the new generation of leaders. Xiuhtezcatl’s love and respect
for the earth was fostered by his indigenous, Aztec heritage. Beginning at age
six, Xiuhtezcatl has travelled all around the world speaking on environmental
issues such as fracking and pesticides. He also uses self-written hip-hop music
to inspire his community. In 2013 Xiuhtezcatl was chosen by President Obama to
sit on the President’s Youth Council.
Currently
the Earth Guardians are in the process of suing the U.S. Government, “for the
constitutional right to a healthy atmosphere,” (Xiuhtezcatl, Vice Profiles).
One of the biggest issues the youth-led movement is addressing is the amount of
influence money from oil (big corporations) has over the U.S.’s democratic
government and how that has affected the way the government addresses and takes
action on matters of environmental importance. The group is suing on the
grounds that the government has known about the dangers of climate change for
decades and has neglected to take preventative measures in protecting the world
current generations are growing up in.
Earth
Guardians from all over the world come together at four separate times a year
for their “Protect our Future Campaign” with times of the year dedicated to
Protect Our Earth, Protect Our Water, Protect Our Air and Protect Our Climate.
By
constantly redefining age boundaries the Earth Guardians function as a
collection of youths representing a generation affected by years of climate
change neglect and they have had enough. They might be too young to vote but
they are making their voices heard and demanding their rights be upheld.
“A lot of people say
that this generation is the future but the truth is we are the present, we are
here now,” (Xiuhtezcatl, Rolling Stone, 2015).
Why It Worked:
The Earth Guardians are
using their age to their benefit. They are placing themselves in positions
normally reserved for people twice their senior. By using various mediums of
protest such as music, open mic chants, public speeches and marches these
youths are rewriting the “millennial” definition. The Earth Guardians have also
been successful because they are educated. They don’t hesitate to give a
scientific definition of fracking and they are knowledgeable about the way the
oil business works. Being so young and calling out major companies is an
intimidation tactic and it’s working.
Theories: Environmental Justice, pg. 228
Capitalism, pg. 216
The Social Cure, pg. 264
New Tactic Used: Citizens Suing the
Government
On several
occasions the Earth Guardians have had their stand in court to defend their
rights as the “new generation.” From direct action hearings against Boulder’s
processing of oil and gas where 15 children started an open mic chant and sat
in the places of county commissioners until kicked out by police, to being
deemed justified to sue the federal government. These children are proving that
age is just a number and they will not be looked over just because they are
young. The Guardians are holding their government accountable for neglect and
corruption. “With diversity in participants comes diversity in tactics. We have
to be creative, innovative. Young people suing our government over climate
change—that’s unheard of,” (Xiuhtezcatl,
truthdig, 2016.)
Beautiful Trouble
Tactics Used:
Distributed Action (pg. 36): The Earth Guardians are very active
on social media sites like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. They use these
platforms to reach their network of young activists around the world as well as
to inform the public about what they are currently doing.
Other BT Tactics at Work:
Direct
Action, pg. 32
Mass
Street Action, pg. 68
New Principle at Work: No Matter How
Young You Are, You Can Make a Difference
Since the Earth
Guardians’ birth in 1992, it has been focused on educating young people about
social movements and how to be an activist in today’s world. Citizens suing
their government is a new tactic and when those citizens are minors, it makes
it all that more significant as they will be the voice of the U.S. in years to
come. Xiuhtezcatl and his comrades have shown that if you are dedicated enough
and willing to put your voice out there you can be heard, no matter your age.
Beautiful Trouble Principles
at Work:
We are all leaders (pg. 202): The Earth Guardians utilize
horizontal organization rather than vertical. Through the numerous crews of
young people throughout the world, these climate activists each play an
important role in taking initiative. Xiuhtezcatl is currently the most public
face of the movement but the Earth Guardians are a group without one single
leader. They encourage their members to all be leaders within their
communities.
Use the Law, don’t be afraid of it (pg.
196): At a very young
age these youths are learning what their rights are, exploring them and
expanding on them. The Earth Guardians have filed several lawsuits at the state
and federal level including their current case against the U.S. government for
neglecting to uphold their constitutional rights to life, liberty and property.
Other BT Principles at Work:
Use the Power of Ritual, pg. 198
Turn the Tables, pg. 190
Strategic nonviolence, pg. 88
Further Insight:
The 15-Year-Old
Environmental Activist Suing the Government Over Climate Change https://youtu.be/gXBR5ZrKdws
Meet the Teenage
Indigenous Hip Hop Artist Taking On Climate Change http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/meet-the-teenage-indigenous-hip-hop-artist-taking-on-climate-change-20150713
Earth
Guardians “Be The Change” Music Video
Earth
Guardians Home
Xiuhtezcatl
Martinez Facebook Page
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