Global youth climate activists have teamed up with 5-time Grammy award–winning Blues musician, Keb’ Mo’, and Plastic Pollution Coalition in a new music video to get “Louder” about their demands for urgent climate action.The video was launched just ahead of the Fridays for Future global climate strike on March 25.
The video features dozens of youth activists from around the world, including Xiye Bastida, Jerome Foster II, Lilly Platt, Lauren Ritchie, Hannah Testa, Greta Thunberg, Alexandria Villaseñor, Melati Wijsen, and more. Numerous organizations and partners endorsed the video, including Break Free From Plastic (BFFP), Fridays For Future, Re-Earth Initiative, Sunrise Movement, and more (see complete list below).
Coming Together for #LOUDERClimateAction
The youth leaders worked with Keb’ Mo’ and Plastic Pollution Coalition on the concept for the video. They created posters and signs, sang along to the lyrics, and shared images of their actions, including footage of demonstrations and public speaking events from local city councils to the U.S. Congress to the United Nations.
Youth from around the world are demanding that the well-being of people be prioritized over the profit of the fossil fuel industry, which is harming the planet. They are calling for divestment from fossil fuels and an end to all wars. Their calls to action include keeping oil in the ground, refusing single-use plastics, and more.
I hear a lot of people say “youth are the future” or “we will change the world.” But that isn’t true because we are not the future, we are the present and we are changing the world right now.
Hannah Testa, Founder of Hannah4Change
As the climate crisis continues to accelerate and disproportionately impact the future of young people, it is especially important and empowering to have youth leading the climate movement. We not only have the moral courage to stand up for what is right, but also the courage to continue believing in, and fighting for, a safer and more just future.
Sena Wazer, Director of Sunrise Movement Connecticut
A Song for a New Generation
“I believe that music has the power to heal,” Keb’ Mo’ explained in an interview, “and I wanted this album to make people feel good.”
About the song “Louder,” Keb’ Mo’ said in an interview, “You know, at one time, I was part of a new generation. In my 20s and in my teens, I was part of the Vietnam War and against nuclear weapons and nuclear power plants and polluted oceans, and they were talking about it back then. And we were mad at the previous generation because they let that happen. And then we became the old generation, and we didn’t do anything, you know? So I’m just kind of calling us out – calling everybody out (laughter) so to speak, kind of apologizing to the new generation.”
This song was born out of a need to talk about things that matter and affect all of us. A song of truth and accountability. I’m honored to help today’s youth amplify their message: We need climate action, and we need it now
Keb’ Mo’, Musician
I’m so moved by the ‘Louder’ video, because I feel for young people navigating the world today. We must support them in every way possible as they advocate for a better future, and we must invest our resources and power to co-create that better future with them.
Dianna Cohen, Co-Founder and CEO, Plastic Pollution Coalition
Acknowledgments
The activists and organizations involved in the video include (in alphabetical order):
Bahamas Plastic Movement
Xiye Bastida, Re-Earth Initiative
Break Free From Plastic (BFFP)
BFFP YOUTH for Plastic Free Campuses
Jack, The Kid Conservationist
Kareena Desai, Perform for Change
Levi Draheim, Our Children’s Trust
Jerome Foster II, One Million Of Us
Daphne Frias, Box the Ballot
Eva Geierstanger, Plastic Free Gen Z
Cole Hall, Sea Change
Catarina Lorenzo, Eco Club Sustentare
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, musician
Kevin Mtai, Earth Uprising, Kenya
Maria Serra Olivella, Re-Earth Initiative
Dominique “Dicky” Palmer, Fridays For Future
Kevin Patel, One Up Action
Plastic Pollution Coalition
Lilly Platt, Lilly’s Plastic Pickup
Lauren Ritchie, The Eco Justice Project
Karina Samuel, Bye Bye Plastic Bags
Justin Sather, For the Love of Frogs
Theresa Rose Sebastian, Re-Earth Initiative
Vasser Seydel, The Oxygen Project
Hannah Testa, Hannah4Change
Greta Thunberg, Fridays for Future
John Sollos Trudell, Iyuha Acu Youth Services
Alexandria Villaseñor, Earth Uprising
Sena Wazer, Sunrise Movement
Melati Wijsen, Bye Bye Plastic Bags
Youth PLAN (Post Landfill Action Network)
“Louder” Lyrics
Young people are talking
They want action, and they want it now
They want to change the direction that we’re walking
And the lack of common sense that our laws allow
Some people are saying
That the young folks just don’t understand
But a raging silent revolution
Is rising up all across the land
It’s gonna get louder
It’s gonna get crazy
It’s pickin’ up power
Pickin’ up steam
Got a new generation
Stronger than steel
They’re gonna get louder
It’s about to get real
Young people are thinking
With a mind that’s all their own
Thеy are ready, willing and they arе able
Why don’t we just let them take control
They’re gonna fight the fight ’til they find the answers
They’re gonna do what we have failed to do
They’re gonna throw all the cards on the table
It’s their life they’re giving voices to
And they’re gonna get louder
They’re gonna get crazy
They’re pickin’ up power
Pickin’ up steam
We got a new generation
And they’re stronger than steel
They’re gonna get louder
It’s about to get real
And I’m dreaming of a transformation
Like the world has never seen
Around the world and across every nation
There’s a whisper turning into a scream
And It’s gonna get louder
It’s gonna get crazy
It’s pickin’ up power
Pickin’ up steam
We got a new generation
Stronger than steel
They’re gonna get louder
It’s about to get real
And It’s gonna get louder
It’s gonna get crazy
It’s pickin’ up power
Pickin’ up steam
We got a new generation
Stronger than steel
They’re gonna get louder
It’s about to get real
They’re gonna get louder
It’s about to get real
They’re gonna get louder
It’s about to get real
