Can Tech Save the Literal World? (with Jamie Margolin)

Baratunde connects with Gen-Z author and climate activist Jamie Margolin, to see how this next generation is using tech to save the planet. He was surprised more than once by this 19-year-old’s perspective. She is the founder of This Is Zero Hour, an intersectional movement of young people fighting for a livable planet and co-organizer of the 2018 Youth Climate March. 

Guest: Jamie Margolin

Bio: 19-year-old Colombian-American organizer, activist, author, public speaker, and film & tv student. 

Online: Jamie’s book, Youth To Power, and her Twitter and Instagram; Zero Hour on Instagram

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ACTIONS

 

- PERSONALLY REFLECT 

What do technology and Earth mean to you?

Jamie helped us conceive of technology in a different, more elemental way. When you think of technology, what do you think of? When you think of nature, what do you think of? Do you ever think of the same thing in answer to both questions?

 

- BECOME INFORMED

Learn about climate threats and opportunities. 

For better climate news, check out CoveringClimateNow.org. On social media, follow groups like This Is Zero Hour and Sunrise Movement. For something more local, search online for climate change and your neighborhood or town. Try a search for climate action in the same way. I did and discovered regional climate action plans, zero waste retailers, and forecasts about climate change specific to where I live. I also highly recommend the book All We Can Save. It's an anthology of essays by women representing all the people we’ve ignored on climate and filled with solutions and inspiration. Find it in our show’s online bookshop. 

 

- PUBLICLY PARTICIPATE

Take collective climate action of some kind

Those local searches I recommended might lead you to businesses you can support or groups you can join. I recommend the Citizens Climate Lobby as a possible place to start. An even more basic step is to take a look at your own energy use. I went through my electricity bill closely and saw an option to choose renewable energy sources, and signed up. Boom! Then talk about it. Are you composting, put that online? Trying to understand where your energy comes from? Take it to the socials! Let’s use tech to make climate action mainstream. 

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