Hendrikus van Hensbergen - How You Can Save the Planet

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First published 2021

Text copyright Hendrikus van Hensbergen, 2021
Foreword text copyright Robert Macfarlane, 2021
Illustrations copyright Anita Mangan, 2021

The moral right of the authors and illustrator has been asserted

Text design by Anita Mangan

ISBN: 978-0-241-45305-6

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For Ludo

The best arguments in the world wont change a persons mind, says a character in The Overstory, Richard Powerss great recent novel about environmental activism. The only thing that can do that is a good story. Well, Im not sure I quite agree about arguments, but I do know that stories are some of the most world-shaping forces on Earth. And the book you hold in your hands is full of astonishing stories about remarkable people.

Take Lesein Mutunkei, for instance, who you will meet in a few pages time. Lesein was himself inspired by the story of Wangari Maathai, who founded the Green Belt Movement, which has now planted more than 50 million trees in Kenya. Lesein began his own tree-planting campaign, Trees for Goals and now here he is, inspiring others including perhaps you in turn to plant trees in their countries and landscapes. This is how change happens: from one tree, a global wildwood grows; from one person, a movement.

We all know that sometimes the environmental situation can feel overwhelming. Biodiversity is crashing. Temperatures and sea levels are rising. Sea ice is thinning, plastic pollution is growing. What can I do to change things? Whats the point in even trying? The answer is that its crucial to keep hope in the dark alive, to borrow a phrase from the American writer Rebecca Solnit. Thats what this book does brilliantly. It refuses to despair. Patiently, carefully, practically, beginning locally and scaling up to a planetary level, it shows how anyone can make a difference.

Hendrikus van Hensbergen knows more about transforming the world than most people. But hes far too modest to tell his own story. So let me do so briefly. When he was in his early twenties, Hendrikus decided that he wanted to do something to improve the health of the Earth. So he set out to found a charity called Action for Conservation, out of nothing other than the seed of an idea, his own determination, and his belief that young people needed to be given a voice when it came to saving the planet. That idea became a reality, and Action for Conservation is now one of the fastest-growing, most inclusive and most forward-looking environmental organizations in Britain. Its values are Wonder, Hope, Diversity, Action and Change and youll encounter some of the young people whove joined it in these pages, as well as all of those values.

So read on, and as you do so think of Leseins message: Remember, you are never too small or too young to make an impact in the world. Know that everything you do counts. It is best to start now, because we dont have much time.

ROBERT MACFARLANE, WRITER AND CAMPAIGNER

This book is inspired by the amazing young people I have worked with at Action for Conservation in the UK and the many more that are leading change around the world. Here you will find step-by-step guides to things you can do to help save the planet and stories about young people, just like you, who are taking action. These change-makers and the actions they have taken are inventive, creative, fun and ambitious. Some are quiet and some are loud. But above all, they are hopeful.

Some actions in this book will work for you, some wont, and some could be changed to suit who you are and where in the world you live. Dont be afraid to experiment. Dont be afraid to fail and try again. You might want to follow each step carefully, or you might want to use them as an inspiration and a rough guide. Many of the organizations listed in the book are UK based, so if you live elsewhere, do look for organizations local to you if you need resources or advice. There are many more actions that arent in this book, so dont stop here start writing your own stories of hope and action.

This planet is our home, and it is dying. With over 60% of animal species in decline and one million animal and plant species at risk of extinction, we are running out of time to save the natural world. The United Nations is clear that we also have little time to limit global heating to 1.5C and avoid the worst impacts of climate breakdown. It seems as though every day there are worse stories in the news. It can feel hopeless, especially when we know we need big changes at a global scale and those in power fail to take action. When faced with such a situation it is often easier for us to turn away. But more and more people are choosing not to. They are realizing that if we humans are the cause of these problems, then together we can also be the solution. People just like you and the young people you will meet in this book are finding ways to take action to turn things around and discovering a sense of hope in the process. It doesnt matter whether you start small or big the important thing is that you take action. Together, we can save the planet.

Share your actions with us: #WeCanSaveThePlanet.

Many things that are suggested in this book require adult supervision. Please be mindful of this and always check with an adult if you are not sure. For instance, if you are contacting people by phone, email or through social media, sending letters or posting content online, you should make a responsible adult aware, ask permission or get them to post on your behalf, and copy them in to any correspondence. If you are meeting with decision-makers or organizing events or projects out of school, then you will need to ensure an adult is with you or has given permission to you and any other young people involved. This is extremely important and is for your own safety. Before speaking to an adult about supervision, it is helpful to prepare detailed information about everything you plan to do so that they have a clear picture and can make an informed decision. See for other important tips and tricks to be aware of.