An Interview with the 15-Year-Old Who is Suing Obama for Not Stopping Climate Change

Rural America In These Times

In These Times is at a crossroads and we urgently need your support. Will you help us raise $50,000 by the end of the week?

Xiuhtezcatl Tonatiuh is 15-years old. He’s also an indigenous change agent” and eco hip-hop artist” who serves as the youth director of Earth Guardians, which describes itself as a tribe of young activists, artists and musicians from across the globe” who are co-creating the future.” Tonatiuh says he was politicized at age 6, when a viewing of Leonardo DiCaprio’s climate documentary, 11th Hour, left him devastated.”

Currently in Paris for the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, where 15,000 official delegates from more than 190 countries have gathered in the hope of addressing climate change, Tonatiuh made headlines yesterday when he announced that he and 21 other young people are suing the Obama administration for failing to adequately protect the climate for our generation and those that follow.” Last year, In These Times spoke with Tonatiuh, who was then going by the name Xiuhtexcatl Martinez. Read that interview here.

In These Times is only able to publish the fierce, deeply-reported articles we do because of readers like you who contribute a few dollars each month to keep us independent.

If you donate just $5/month or more right now, you'll get a free annual subscription and your support will be felt throughout the newsroom.

Will you support us now? Our goal is to raise $50,000 by the end of the week.

This blog’s mission is to provide the public service of helping make the issues that rural America is grappling with part of national discourse.
Get 10 issues for $19.95

Subscribe to the print magazine.