Despite the enormity of the task she has chosen, Mirella Ramsay is peppy, upbeat and optimistic.
Her enthusiasm is contagious, her outlining of plans punctuated with smiles and laughter.
Ramsay, 18, is taking on climate change.
But her enthusiasm is not born of naivet茅.
91裸聊视频淩ather than, 91裸聊视频楬ey everybody we91裸聊视频檙e doomed, good luck,91裸聊视频� why not, 91裸聊视频楬ey everybody we can do something to fix the problem,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� she says.
Her plans were sparked during her first semester of university studies. Before class each day, her geography teacher would provide tidbits of information on what was going on in the world environmentally.
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Sixty per cent of wildlife numbers decreasing. Carbon dioxide levels rising. Use of solar panels in other countries successful.
The ratio was about 80/20 good news to bad.
Yet outside the classroom, the big news would be what Donald Trump was saying, not that wildlife are disappearing.
As she was driving home one night listening to a podcast about environmentalists doing all kinds of good work but not able to make massive change, she made a decision.
Mirella decided to become an environmental scientist.
But the idea of running her own business soon eclipsed it, one that would incorporate her desire 91裸聊视频渢o be part of the solution, not adding to the problem.91裸聊视频�
Soon the idea to have a group dedicated to a specific issue with a set amount of time to come up with a course of action was born. It would be a two-year plan that would include a goal, a research period and an action period.
91裸聊视频淩ather than researching for four years and then doing something, it would take six months to a year to start91裸聊视频� So what we91裸聊视频檒l start seeing is real change, rather than talking about it.91裸聊视频�
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In January, Mirella presented her idea to her advisor, Jenny Carter. Carter told her it91裸聊视频檚 a great idea but she would have to write something down. Mirella did just that, creating a blueprint for the work. Carter dubbed it , a moniker that91裸聊视频檚 stuck.
91裸聊视频淲e want to re-brand climate change 91裸聊视频� let kids my age know it91裸聊视频檚 not impossible to solve. Well it91裸聊视频檚 a lot of work but we91裸聊视频檒l be working together.91裸聊视频�
Tess Streicker is her co-founder. 91裸聊视频淚 approached her with the idea 91裸聊视频� she91裸聊视频檚 like, yeah Mirella, you91裸聊视频檙e not insane91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
Mirella91裸聊视频檚 enthusiasm has already ignited a passion in others.
91裸聊视频淲e have a team of 11 girls absolutely on fire to do this work,91裸聊视频� she says, adding one boy just joined them. Members of the youth-led team range from 16 to 20 years.
They are forming seven different groups, each focused on a two-year plan. The topics are: education; proper waste management; plastics; food; renewable energy; industry and habitat.
They91裸聊视频檙e also open to working with other non profits.
91裸聊视频淚f someone is doing the same thing, like Shuswap Solar, we91裸聊视频檙e not going to just do it on our own.91裸聊视频�
Regarding education, Mirella says they91裸聊视频檒l be going into schools, creating programs for educating youth 91裸聊视频� how they91裸聊视频檙e able to save the environment, as well as helping schools reduce their waste and invest in more sustainable futures.
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She says talking to kids at a younger level, providing options, will be a focus.
She points out that an 11-year-old messaged her.
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 want the world to be a flaming ball of fire 91裸聊视频� will you come and talk to my class,91裸聊视频� was the message she recounts. 91裸聊视频淧eople want a solution but don91裸聊视频檛 know where to go.91裸聊视频�
Mirella says inspiring just one person to act by the Mirella Project means so much to her.
91裸聊视频淚 want little boys and girls to look up and say, 91裸聊视频榦h, that can be me.91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�
She gave a two-minute speech to the Rotary Club that was met with a standing ovation.
Mirella points out that small actions can make a difference over the long term.
91裸聊视频淚 made it my claim to fame that I will only have a drink if I have own mug with me. I want to hold myself accountable91裸聊视频� When in doubt, go without.
91裸聊视频淚 haven91裸聊视频檛 had a latte a lot of days in a row because I forgot my mug. Do I look famished?91裸聊视频� she asks, smiling.
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On Saturday, June 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Mirella Project will hold a Clothing Shop and Swap at the First United Church GreenSpace, where people will bring in their clothing to shop or sell. For more information, go to or email: themirellaproject@gmail.com.
In the fall, the team plans to hold a six-week course on how to live 91裸聊视频榸ero waste.91裸聊视频�
Mirella says her aim is to have Salmon Arm become an 91裸聊视频渆co-town,91裸聊视频� practices that could then be taken around the world.
Her dedication to the project is unwavering.
91裸聊视频淚 think what we91裸聊视频檙e doing, I was put on this earth to do,91裸聊视频� she says.
91裸聊视频淥ur entire goal is to build community through saving the environment. We want to formulate relationships over an issue that requires a lot of attention and really matters.91裸聊视频�
marthawickett@saobserver.net
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