My name is Bronwyn Simmons, and I go to school at Bard College, where I’m studying international affairs. I’m interested in all kinds of activism, as well as investigative journalism. On campus, I’m involved in many activist groups, including the Sunrise Movement. Our Sunrise Movement chapter is involved in pushing local politicians to back radical climate policies and pledge to stop taking fossil fuel money. Our message is one of urgency and necessary direct action to save the planet from the catastrophic effects of the climate crisis. I’ve spoken at various climate events, organized and attended protests to prompt legislators to act, and taught others about the importance of vocal political pressure in the face of the dangerous world young people are met with. The Sunrise Movement is the largest and fastest growing environmental movement in the country, fueled by young people.
I also volunteer with the nonprofit Kiss the Ground, which is dedicated to spreading the benefits of regenerative agriculture as a means of carbon sequestration and healthy soil. Conventional farming emits enormous amounts of greenhouse gases and desertifies our lands at an alarming rate, but regenerative agriculture reverses these trends and promises the mitigation of global warming and enough food to feed the world far into the future. Kiss the Ground works with farmers, students, and activists to make change in way we treat the soil.
Unfortunately, our elected leaders and governments have failed us; they have displayed a desire to promote the interests of the oil and gas lobby and the big businesses of capitalism, which exploit nature and lead to environmental harm, rather than the well-being of their constituents and the earth. This political corruption and the attacks on the planet must be stopped if the people of my generation want a liveable future. Working with politicians and special interest groups to push for climate-positive policies is a required step forward. This is why I am interning at The Climate Center.