Shattering my world (Liberate THIS, Part 3) 

 The missiles that trailed across the Arabian night sky that January of 1991 fractured the calm over Iraq, like the war itself shattered my world and my memories to pieces.

There was no question that the regime of Saddam Hussein was politically repressive. But now, Iraqis suffered under brutality from within and aerial bombardment from without.

Iraqi families were under attack.  My fellow students were celebrating.

Review of Matthew Alexander's How to break a terrorist: The U.S. interrogators who used brains, not brutality, to take down the deadliest man in Iraq 

By Judith Preitt-Prentice 

"Torture is counterproductive to keeping America safe and it doesn't matter if we do it or if we pass it off to another government. The result is the same. And morally, I believe, there is an even stronger argument. Torture is simply incompatible with American principles." (Alexander, 2008)

In 1992, at the age of 12, Severn Suzuki silenced the United Nations with this beautiful speech about the condition of our planet.  

Severn was part of a children's community that raised the money to travel to the U.N. summit. She told some of the world's most influential people what they need to do to insure the future for her and other children.

She spoke with passion about the destruction of the environment, the gap between rich and poor, and the hypocrisy in the moral messages adults teach to children. 

Listening to Severn inspires me to do more and become more morally engaged. I believe that if she can do it, so can all young people!

Today Severn continues her work as an environmental activist, speaking her mind proudly in places where many others would remain silent.  

Watch and listen, and ask what you can do.