In the latest episode of the Serenbe Stories podcast, host Monica Olsen and Steve Nygren speak with environmental activist Laura Turner Seydel about climate change and the importance of teaching children to care for their environment.
“My passion really lies with our responsibility to our children and future generations to be a great steward to pass along to them what the indigenous people passed along through so many generations for us to have a functional life support system,” Seydel says.
Seydel is involved in a number of environmental initiatives, including the Chattahoochee River Keeper organization working to protect and restore the Chattahoochee River Basin. She is also chair of the Captain Planet Foundation, related to the cartoon her father, Ted Turner, helped create.
While Turner is largely known as the founder of CNN, Seydel said he instilled his love for the environment in his children early on. The Captain Planet series explored the adventures of five planeteers from different ethnic backgrounds, each possessing a ring that controls an element of nature or the “Heart” element. When a problem proved to be too big for them to handle, they could summon Captain Planet to assist them by combining the power of their rings.
“These youth were able to combat every social issue. Landmines, AIDS, nuclear war, but also environmental issues,” Seydel says. “They would fight the eco villains and beat the eco villains.”
As for current environment efforts, she doesn’t believe enough has been done in regards to preparing a good future for children. While there has been some progress, she notes that the country seems to be moving backward at an “unprecedented rate.” She applauds the efforts of young activists like Greta Thunberg imploring adults to take action on climate change and truly consider the world they’re leaving for the next generation.
“I’m quite fearful but hopeful that we can turn the Titanic around,” Seydel says. “Our children expect us to.”
Listen to the Serenbe Stories episode featuring Laura Turner Seydel here.
