Severn Suzuki is a Canadian environmental activist and public speaker who rose to fame after giving a powerful and poignant speech at the United Nations Earth Summit in 1992, when she was just 12 years old. In her speech, Suzuki addressed the issue of climate change and called on world leaders to take action to protect the planet for future generations.
One of the key techniques that Suzuki uses in her speech is emotional appeals. She begins by telling the story of a young girl named Lorna, who lived in a small village in Africa and was forced to walk eight hours a day to collect water because of the drought caused by climate change. This story immediately grabs the audience's attention and evokes an emotional response, as it illustrates the devastating impact that climate change can have on people's lives.
Another technique that Suzuki uses is rhetorical questions. She asks the audience, "Have you ever tried to clean up a room that is really dirty and cluttered? It's almost impossible to do. It's much easier to keep things clean and tidy in the first place." This question helps to drive home the point that it is much easier to prevent environmental damage than it is to fix it once it has already happened.
Suzuki also uses repetition in her speech to emphasize the importance of the issue at hand. She repeats the phrase "I am only a child" multiple times, highlighting the fact that she is speaking on behalf of future generations who will be affected by the decisions made by current leaders. This repetition helps to drive home the point that the actions taken by adults today will have a lasting impact on the world that children will inherit.
In addition to these techniques, Suzuki also uses strong, clear language and vivid imagery to convey her message. She describes the environmental destruction caused by climate change in vivid detail, painting a picture of a world that is being irrevocably damaged by human actions. This vivid imagery helps to drive home the urgency of the issue and the need for immediate action.
Overall, Severn Suzuki's speech at the United Nations Earth Summit was a powerful and poignant call to action on the issue of climate change. By using emotional appeals, rhetorical questions, repetition, strong language, and vivid imagery, she was able to effectively convey the importance of the issue and the need for immediate action to protect the planet for future generations.
Manifest Destiny was a belief held by many Americans in the 19th century that it was the God-given right and duty of the United States to expand its territory from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific Ocean. This belief was reflected in many ways, including in art and imagery. One such example is the painting "Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way," which was created in the mid-19th century by artist Emmanuel Leutze.
This painting depicts a scene of European settlers pushing westward on horseback, with the Rocky Mountains in the background. The message of the painting is clear: the settlers are moving westward with a sense of purpose and determination, guided by a divine force. The painting suggests that the expansion of the United States is not just a practical or political decision, but a moral one as well.
The painting also reflects the cultural biases of the time. The settlers are depicted as strong, brave, and heroic, while the Native Americans and other indigenous peoples who already lived in the West are nowhere to be seen. This reflects the dominant narrative of the time, which saw the expansion of the United States as a civilizing mission rather than as a form of colonization and displacement.
Overall, "Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way" is a powerful visual representation of the belief in Manifest Destiny that shaped American expansion in the 19th century. It reflects the sense of purpose and determination that motivated many Americans to push westward, as well as the cultural biases and assumptions of the time. Despite its historical significance, it is important to remember that Manifest Destiny had significant consequences for indigenous peoples and that this belief has been criticized for promoting a sense of entitlement and superiority over others.
