Xiuhtexcatl Martinez, 12, Colorado Plaintiff

iMatter Youth Councilmember​

 

8-23-12

I am a 11 year old boy from the Aztec tradition and I live in Boulder,CO.  I have been aware of climate change since a young age, noticing the warmer winters and the devastating effects that it has had on our forests.  I have always been very connected with nature and have spent a lot of time playing in the Colorado forests. Now I see so many of the trees dying in the forests that I love to play in because of pine beetle infestations.

The pine beetles are not dying anymore in the winter because it is so much warmer and they are able to move to higher altitudes which has never been recorded in history.  I just learned that pine beetles are able to have two life cycles a year because of climate change which will increase the death of our forests by sixty times.  We have already lost almost two million acres about 70 percent of all of our states Lodgepole pine.  The entire population will be wiped out in the next few years.

Not having a healthy forest means an unhealthy eco system which affects the wild life that the forest sustains. The dead timber is also causing more furious fires.  Three of my best friends lost their homes, their animals and everything they loved because of these fires. It is especially hard this year because some of my favorite places to camp are closed this year, because of the danger of the dead trees falling on people.

The water levels in the rivers where I play have decreased over the past several years as well.   What will happen to the fish and the animals that live in them. It makes me so sad to visit these places because I am aware that they are dying. I am really concerned about my generation and the state of the planet that we are being left with.

The future effects are only part of the story behind climate change, we are already seeing the affects right before our eyes, how much more proof do we need before our government stands up and fights for our generation to inherit a healthy habitable planet.

I have been an activist like my mother and father for all of my life. I organize grassroots actions like protesting to close down the coal power plant and advocating for renewable energy at my City Council.  I also do multi-media EARTH presentations in schools to educate my generation about what is happening and what they can do about it.  I write and perform original rap songs in schools and speak at events all over Colorado. I know my voice makes a difference.