- Tweeter
republish
COP 25 opens this Monday, December 2 in Madrid, Spain. Representatives from 196 countries are meeting until 13 December to try to agree on new ways of action to combat climate change. They will be given letters written to Santa Claus by Irish children.
From our correspondent in Dublin,
Laura Kehoe is nervous. A researcher in sustainable development at Oxford University, this Dublin native is working to hang snow cloth in the barnum that houses children. The little ones are too busy, pencils in hand, to write their letter to Santa, to pay attention to the organizer of the event.
A few months ago, the scientist had a dream: instead of asking for toys, the children wrote to Santa to ask him to protect the planet. " When I woke up, I thought it was not a bad idea! With the help of several friends, including activists from the Extinction Rebellion movement , she organized the Dear Green Santa campaign.
Buddy, the goblin of a day, accompanies a little girl to the table. " You can write, you can draw, to ask Santa what you want for the planet! On the trees that surround the tent, some of these letters have already been hung. " Dear Green Santa, I wish it was snowing at Christmas. Dear Santa Claus, I want adults to wake up and stop destroying the planet. Dear Green Santa, I want to be able to enjoy nature and grow in a safe world. "
pic.twitter.com/XWr3RiAVYt
Dr. Laura Kehoe (@LauraJKehoe) November 22, 2019Letters taken to Madrid this week
" It's amazing, all the kids know about climate change," says Laura Kehoe. And it's worrying that they have to deal with it at such a young age! This concern is shared by Green Santa. The little Leo, 5, hands him his mail where he claims clean oceans at Christmas. " Excellent! exclaims the old man. Do you want me to bring your letter to Madrid next week? The little boy nods.
In Madrid, COP 25 will open on December 2 , where 196 states will discuss their actions to counter climate change. " With these letters, we hope to put pressure on them. Our citizens are worried, even the youngest children! They must do more. Green Santa is touched by the concern of some little ones for his home - the North Pole.
The idea of linking the campaign to COP 25 came quite late to Laura Kehoe. " In the end, Madrid appears as a relevant destination ," she smiles. She herself will not go to Spain. " For it to remain a zero carbon initiative, letters will be given to people who have already planned to participate in the COP ." In this case, it is the young activist Saoi O'Connor , one of the instigators of high school student strikes for the climate in Ireland, who should deliver the mail to the delegates.
Clean Energies and YouTube Videos
A small queue begins to form in front of the barnum to take a picture with Green Santa, comfortably seated on a wooden rocking chair. The little ones are impressed by the "Ho, ho, ho! Strong in decibels of the man in green. But among the authors of the letters, some have passed the age of believing in Santa Claus.
For example, 11-year-old Matthew called for more renewable energy ... " and adults watch Nas Daily videos on YouTube. He gives tips for saving the planet, and it's done very well! An idea deemed " great " by Santa Claus.
Behind the trees, Laura Kehoe relaxed. " I see that even parents are surprised that their children feel so involved. Already at the origin of an initiative to encourage tree planting, the researcher hopes to strike delegates with the symbolism of the action Dear Green Santa .
Laura Kehoe invites all the little ones (and less young) to send their letter on social networks, via the hashtag #greensanta. " If only the children of those who will be in Madrid could also write a letter! Perhaps there will be in one of them something that will make them act. "