Jessie in her own words:
“It would be a lie to say that I have always been aware of the climate crisis, because I haven’t. Frankly, that is the problem.
Whilst always enjoying spending time in nature whether that be up at our allotment or walking on the wilds of Dartmoor right on my doorstep, it was only a few years ago that I became aware of the dire straights our climate is in.
It was at this moment that like many youth activists, I began to realise that I really had no choice but to fight for it. This didn’t mean that it necessarily was something I wanted to do, because most young people just want a care free experience as they grow and develop, and activism is certainly not these things. However, I felt a duty to do this, because the vast majority of adults around me and in society were choosing not to.
It was then that I decided to create People Pedal Power and cycle to COP26 both as a personal challenge and as a way to bring the many individuals concerned about the Climate Crisis together. As a way to highlight the power and joy that is created when people come together to create change.
I am a youth activist who cares deeply about the power of people to create change and this is exactly what I want People Pedal Power to do. The idea to start the movement came from my fears that more inaction would come from this upcoming COP. I knew that we didn’t have time for this to occur, as this summit has to be the one where real change is created, if not by our leaders but by the power of individuals creating collective action. As can be seen from the youth climate movement across the world, individuals really do have the power to create change, and so I decided to harness this!
I also believe in the immense power that words and storytelling have in helping us as individual to learn, understand and ultimately engage in the climate crisis. I have been trying to do this for the past 2 years with my monthly newspaper columns and other writing projects which discuss the climate crisis from the youth perspective.”
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Show notes
- Who is Jessie
- Being interested in the environment
- Being aware of the climate emergency
- Wanting to make a difference
- Being on a learning journey
- Delaying with climate anxiety and climate grief
- Is the climate a concern for young people
- Why it’s a split issue
- Wanting to find your tribe
- Growing up and being supported by her family
- Studying for A’Levels at 6th fort
- What does being a Youth Climate Activist mean
- How Jessie is driving change
- Being passionate about writing
- Hearing from the youth
- Growing up in the 2000s
- What is - People Pedal Power
- What is COP (Conference of the Parties)
- COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland
- Adults putting profits before people.
- Wanting to get the youth voice into the political sphere.
- Partnering with the Adventure Syndicate
- How the partnership is going to work
- Creating a cargo bike relay
- Why it’s not just shouting about what’s wrong
- Why the moment is going to be joyful and highlighting the issues and the way forward
- How the movement has evolved
- Getting into cycling and loving the journey
- The route and the logistics of cycling from Devon to Glasgow
- Making sure to factor in mental rest
- Riding 570 miles and hoping the training has paid off
- Concerns about the journey and thinking about the impact of the weather
- Dealing with all of the unknowns about the challenge
- How it’s going to work once she’s arrived in Glasgow
- Working with Eco-Schools
- Wanting to bring more of a youth perspective to the summit
- Tough Girl Podcast Extra episode coming on the 13th November to follow up with Jessie and her journey.
- What does Jessie want to happen over the next few weeks.
- Good luck to Jessie!
Social Media
People Pedal Power - Demanding Climate action and greener more accessible transport.
The Adventure Syndicate is a collective of extraordinary cyclists who happen to be women and who aim to challenge what others think they are capable of.