The Climate Teens Issue! | Kids vs. The World | Recipe: Whole Grain Flatbread
Issue No. 12
Welcome to Sunshine + Microbes’ Climate Week issue. The kids are alright. We’re so inspired by the bold and tenacious young climate activists out there taking hold of their futures that we want to dedicate an issue to them. Also featured this week are ideas for what to do next (besides strike again tomorrow) and if all this agitating has anyone hungry — try Jackie’s wholesome flatbread recipe.
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I first heard the name Greta Thunberg last spring. I was chopping veggies in the kitchen when Laura, one of the spunky Ground Floor Farm teens mentioned her. When I asked who she was, Laura said, “You seriously haven’t heard of her? She’s a Swedish teenager that basically started the climate movement.” At the time, I thought that was a very cute, naive thing for a teenager to say. But after what happened on Friday, I’m beginning to grasp the power of Greta. The Youth Climate Strike, organized by Thunberg and other young activists representing vulnerable regions from the Amazon to Nigeria, was the largest climate action in history, with millions of people taking to the streets on every continents.
What started off as one girl, inspired by the Parkland students, striking from school every Friday last year to protest in front of the Swedish parliament has blossomed into a powerful global youth movement. This 16-year-old girl has made people pay attention in a way that countless scientists, politicians, and celebrities could not. Watching her speech Monday at the UN, I felt shame, rage, panic, but ultimately hope. Here is a person who is completely fearless — a Joan of Arc for the crisis of our times. I, for one, am ready to follow her into battle.
love,
Jackie
Earth, in pictures
12 rousing photos from the Global Climate Strike to remind us we’re not alone in this.
UNITED STATES (NYC)
AFGHANISTAN
ANTARCTICA
AUSTRALIA
ENGLAND
GERMANY
GUATEMALA
MALAYSIA
NEPAL
SOUTH AFRICA
TURKEY
UNITED STATES (Austin)
Get Involved!
A panel of climate scientists held a Q&A on Reddit over the weekend to answer burning questions from readers. And of course the classic dilemma came up — what can I as one, lone soul do to fight climate change?
The most popular answer was become a part of something bigger. One reader suggested “the most impactful thing an individual can do for climate change” is join the Citizens’ Climate Lobby. He also linked to comments by world renowned climatologists who recommended the organization as well.
The group has more than 400 chapters across the United States and fights for climate action at the local level to grow support and change politics. Join here!
For Floridians, here are several other local organizations that are promoting climate solutions:
Ideas for Us (Orlando-based)
Fresh Links
Our favorite reads about Climate Week 2019 and the Youth Climate Strike. Give’em a read👇
🚸Its Kids vs the World in Landmark Climate Legal Complaint | Gizmodo
A legal complaint filed on behalf of 16 children from around the globe is making the case that climate change is a children’s rights issue. The case contends that impacts of climate change infringe on children’s rights to life, health, and peace — considered inalienable rights under the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
If the suit is successful, the United Nations would classify the climate crisis as a children’s rights crisis. And more importantly, it would compel Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, and Turkey—the five countries named in the suit—to work with other nations to forge binding emissions’ reduction targets, a sharp change from current international efforts that have so far basically rearranged the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Hear some of the stories of the young plaintiffs and why they chose to join the suit.
🗣️Voices from the Global Climate Strike | The Verge
A favorite 90s childhood show, PBS’ “Reading Rainbow,” featured host Levar Burton recommending books for young adults and children before ending the segment with, “But don’t take my word for it.” And then, young readers would share why their favorite books mattered to them. In Sunshine + Microbes, we write about climate change all the time. But don’t take our word for it:
Listen to the kids. Like the indigenous American protester whose lands are affected by extractive issues (e.g. oil drilling). Like the Caribbean-born immigrant living in Florida whose homeland already has felt devastating effects of climate change.
👧🏼Why Greta Makes Adults Uncomfortable | The Atlantic
What is it about a 16-year-old girl — saying “let’s make the world a better place” —that brings out the worst reactions in some adults? On social media and on right-wing outlets like Fox News, it’s easy to find sexist comments about her activism, stigmatizing remarks about autism and absurd conspiracy theories that Thunberg has debunked herself.
The Atlantic gets into the reasons why a teen challenging one’s worldview can drive adults batty.
Whole Grain Flatbreads
These dead-easy flatbreads are an excellent addition to most meals. Top them with a few slices of fancy cheddar and lightly dressed greens; use them to sop up a pot of tomato-y beans, or fill them with leftovers for a satisfying sammie.
Ingredients
2 cups flour of choice (go for a whole grain, or a blend)
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp salt
1 cup liquid (buttermilk, yogurt, nut milk, veggie stock, whatevs)
Fresh herbs and spices (optional)
1/2 cup sourdough discard (optional)
Extra flour for shaping
Step-by-step
Use a KitchenAid mixer with a paddle attachment if available, but mixing by hand is fine. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and any spices. Then, add liquid, and sourdough, and fresh herbs. Mix until dry bits of flour are no longer visible. The dough will be very sticky, almost a batter.
Cover and rest for at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours. For anything longer than one hour, stick it in the fridge.
To portion, pinch off a hunk of dough — about the size of a lemon. Dunk the hunk in a bowl of flour and make such it is fully coated. Roll it into a rough ball shape. Repeat with remaining dough.
To shape, dust the work surface with plenty of flour. Using a rolling pin, roll out each ball to 1/8-1/4 inch thickness. This is a very sticky dough, so add extra flour and flip as needed to prevent the dough from sticking to the table or the rolling pin. Repeat with remaining dough.
Heat a pan over medium-high heat for a minute or two. Carefully add a flatbread. After a minute, the surface will bubble and perhaps inflate a bit. Use a spatula to flip it. Heat for another 30 seconds, then remove from pan and repeat with remainder of the dough. (Note: Flour from the dough might burn in the pan, but I don’t mind the lovely char marks it leaves on the flatbread.)
The viral GIF of #ClimateWeek2019. The kids won’t back down.
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Sunshine + Microbes team
Jackie Vitale is the current Chef-in-Residence at the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and co-founder of the Florida Ferment Fest. Her newsletter explores the intersection of food, culture, environment and community.
Matt Levin is a freelance reporter based in Colombia. He edits Sunshine + Microbes and contributes other scraps to each issue