Universal Verses

“Mother’s Cry” makes an emotional, poetic appeal for climate action.

September 23, 2015

In the race to convince humanity to stave off the worst effects of global warming, we need as many irons in the global fire as we can get. Figures and charts make the logical case for climate action, but artists have also been joining in the fight with more emotional appeals. A new video produced by creative startup I Sell the Shadow shows just how powerful that approach can be.

Mother’s Cry, written and performed by youth spoken word poet Savon Bartley and filmed by Emmy-winning filmmaker Lisa Russell, is a poignant reminder of what we’re doing to the only planet we have. The release of the two-minute video is aptly timed—this week, the pope is addressing the issue with Congress, while world leaders convene at the United Nations in New York City, where they are expected to adopt ambitious new sustainability goals and build momentum before the big climate conference in Paris later this year.  


onEarth provides reporting and analysis about environmental science, policy, and culture. All opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of NRDC. Learn more or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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