Ms. Gabrielle Hamm

We need to educate ourselves & others on how to slow down on our planets path to extinction

Climate change is the great consequence of all that is wrong in affluent societies today -- particularly the me-first, buy now pay later, isolationist lifestyles so many of us lead. The great silver lining of climate change may be that in confronting it, we also return to lifestyles that are better for humanity and all the planet's species in many senses -- prompting happier, healthier, and fairer ways of living.

We run a climate neutral camping and art gallery. But we are still not satisfied. Perhaps next year we can produce more energy and use less.

As an American youth, non-bias education is key. Learning and understanding is my priority which will inevitably lead to change.

Whether we can make a difference to climate change or not, planting trees and trying to live more harmoniously with the Earth makes sense to me. "Think globally, act locally."

AVIF is an innovative online charity, devoted to sustainable development, online & onsite volunteering, bridging the technological divide and endeavouring to achieve at least some of the Millennium Development Goals within rural Kenya. Our main project at the moment is promoting solar cooking. Solar cooking one meal a day, three times a week has been proven to reduce fuelwood consumption and related smoke by one third, saving more than four times its value in fuelwood each year. A solar cooker can pasteurize household drinking water, is free to operate its smokeless,process reducing respiratory diseases and eye irritation. Solar cooked foods retain vitamins, nutrients and their natural flavours. Money saved on fuel can be used instead for extra food, school supplies, and medical care. Without having to gather wood or dung, breathe smoke, and tend a fire solar cooking is easy and safe for all, including the ill, elderly, disabled and young. Young girls can attend school instead of searching for fuelwood, ultimately reducing deforestation and enhancing the ecosystem / rainfall etc. Please see our section on Projects on the website