After I returned home, Hurricane Maria destroyed Puerto Rico. Inclusivity, not either-or. “We need a massive youth movement. An article came out about me in a right wing blog in which they said I should worry less about the environment and more about getting a boyfriend — which is so funny because I don’t even swing that way, but that’s heteronormativity and sexism for you. She spun off her frustrations as a rhythmic gymnast for a few years before turning to politics. At home, she watched science and history shows, and political satires — the old Colbert Report is still her favorite. We are doing it because our lives depend on it. About. Founder, This is Zero Hour. Our Story. My advice for you all who are looking to support this movement but don’t know where to start is find a local community organization and attend a few meetings. Youth Climate Activist Jamie Margolin on Why We’re Caught in a Climate Emergency She founded Zero Hour, organized a national climate march, wrote ‘Youth to … What started as a handful of students became this international movement. “The climate crisis is intergenerational,” Margolin says. Summers in my home city of Seattle didn’t use to be smoggy to the point that they make me and my friends sick. If you are a young person of color organizer who’s looking for a place where you can be a leader in the climate movement, Zero Hour would be happy to be your home. At fourteen, she volunteered as an intern in Hilary Clinton’s Washington state campaign headquarters. Get started at This is Zero Hour. About Jamie Margolin. One she’s not so thrilled about — she’s in 10th grade. As of writing this article, I am 17. We spent the next year working to organize a historic weekend of youth climate action — we had so many conference calls, we probably spent more time that year on calls than we did sleeping. In the summer of 2017, I started gathering friends to make the idea a reality. “We shouldn’t be pitting generations against each other, or putting all the burden on one generation.” Lately, Margolin hears adults saying kids will take care of climate change. Grandparents. In 12 years, I’ll only be 28! Humanity. Jamie Margolin is known for his work on Crosstown (2013), Bob Marley: Legacy (2020) and The Cook Up (2018). I grew up in Seattle, Washington, in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Actor, director, environmentalist, and the Harry Potter movies‘ Ginny Weasley, Bonnie Wright, has recently streamed a brand-new Instagram Live chat, this time with Jamie Margolin. She recognized a problem and dove in to start making a difference. Jamie Margolin is known for his work on Crosstown (2013), Bob Marley: Legacy (2020) and The Cook Up (2018). She looks more mature in person. We must speak out because it is our lives that are on the line. Youth don’t have any hidden agendas. I was doing this weird thing where I cared about [climate issues] so much that I wouldn’t even think about it . I see my fair share of trolls online too. www.ultimatecivics.org, This is Zero Hour Youth Climate March Video, © 2017 Ultimate Civics / Design by Bright Designs & HelloZark |, Interactive Timeline of Rights & Privileges. Nadia Nazar, 17 Sensing no meaningful action to ratchet down global warming, Jamie became overwhelmed. The views and opinions expressed by individual authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Malala Fund. In 2019, the Washington native was included in the prestigious list of 100 Women, published by BBC. 17, Zero Hour. I'm Suing My State for a Cleaner Environment and Here's Why You Should Too - You know what I truly believe is going to save us from the climate crisis? I went up after the hearing to confront them about how what they said was a lie and one of the men squeezed my shoulder and said, “Sweetie, don’t worry yourself so much about this ‘environment’ thing, because we corporations are actually the ones who do the most for the environment. This will educate communities around the country and abroad about the Green New Deal. Started by lightning in 2014, the wildfire burned approximately 12,660 acres and 22 structures, including homes and cabins. Her advice to other students who want to be game-changers is simply, “Just get started.”. Our Google Drive was crammed hundreds of planning documents, spreadsheets and graphic designs. “Attend a community event and start talking to people there and work your way into that world. Jamie Margolin. We had no power in creating the systems that are destroying our world and futures — and yet we are and will be paying the biggest price for the older generations’ recklessness. We got it covered. In her day job (school), she was taught to change light bulbs and recycle to help cool the climate. Everywhere.”. Jamie founded the organization, This Is Zero Hour, in summer 2017. Talk about it being #ZeroHour to act on climate! “System change, we need system change,” she said. Jamie Margolin on Writing for Climate Justice Writing environmental journalism requires you to confront a massive problem—climate change—and zoom in on one captivating angle, element, or issue. Jamie Margolin is an 19-year-old Colombian-American organizer, activist, author, public speaker, and film student. We are going to make the politicians take action for system change -– or we will vote them out.”, The March for Our Lives rally in April 2018 demonstrated the power of youth voices. 48.2k Followers, 765 Following, 960 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Jamie Margolin (@jamie_s_margolin) We talk to climate activist Jamie Margolin about the importance of coming together and taking to the streets to push governments to act, and how we can't face this crisis without tackling human rights. We’re not organizing or speaking out for money. This will educate communities around the country and abroad about the Green New Deal. From deforestation to droughts, fracking to floods—there is no shortage of material to investigate. 4. Inspiring youth to engage in activating democracy and emerge as game changers, Young Game-Changers in Action: Jamie’s identity as a queer mixed-race latina and daughter of a Colombian immigrant and an Ashkenazi Jew influences her activism and passion to fight for those who are marginalised. Jamie Margolin. If only a handful of youth that started the #ThisIsZeroHour movement can have the impact that we had, imagine what millions of us can do! Jamie Margolin: More excited than I was before he changed it, but still like tentatively like just cautious and like understanding that we’re going to keep pushing and keep pushing for more action. “No little girl is like dreaming and she's like, I hope to spend the rest of my life desperately fighting against this massive catastrophe,” says Jamie Margolin, co-founder of the youth climate justice organization Zero Hour. Thousands of youth in 25 cities around the world held marches for a safe and livable future. Jamie is a 17-year-old Colombian-American writer, community organizer, activist & public speaker. No one was really paying attention to our cries for help. Jamie realized changing light bulbs wasn’t enough. This isn’t ecocide. --Michael E. Mann, Distinguished Professor, Penn State University and co-author of The Madhouse Effect: How Climate Change Denial Is Threatening Our Planet, Destroying Our Politics, and Driving Us Crazy a project of Earth Island Institute is a 17-year-old writer, activist, organizer, rebel and high schooler. Hope in the face of climate disaster does not come by sitting and waiting; it comes by doing. Jamie Margolin’s 2019 Congressional Testimony My name is Jamie Margolin, and I’m a 17-year-old climate justice activist from Seattle Washington. One time, I took a day off of school to lobby with other youth activists for common sense climate policy in my state capitol of Olympia. “I left with a clear idea of what it means to take civic action and I understood community organizing.”. 2,451 Likes, 101 Comments - Jamie Margolin (@jamie_s_margolin) on Instagram: ““What is hateful to yourself, do not do to your fellow man. “Capitalism is cashing out Earth without limit.” Sensing no meaningful action to ratchet down global warming, Jamie became overwhelmed.