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Australia’s youngest ever slam poetry champion Solli Raphael has joined forces with Greenpeace Australia Pacific to make an inspiring and confronting call to action for a new generation. In the spirit of 2019’s global school climate strikes, Solli calls out politicians and corporations who’ve put their own greed above the needs of the planet and young people.
Solli’s new poem, “Let’s Make More Minutes Count”, describes a planet in crisis: plastic-polluted oceans, a reef in danger and a government unwilling to address the climate crisis we’re in. But he also brings attention to the power we have if we all stand together with a collective voice.
“Writing “Let’s Make More Minutes Count” came from realising that it’s the minutes that really do count,” Solli said.
“From the minute a person chooses not to use a plastic cup or straw at a cafe, to the minute a person decides to join a protest to hold big companies and decision-makers to account. Each minute is an opportunity for positive change for our planet.
“Making this video with Greenpeace made me feel empowered and I really hope that anyone who watches it will feel empowered about the environment too. The more informed and empowered we are the better our future will be.”
Solli is the youngest ever person to win the Australian Poetry Slam, after claiming the coveted title in 2017, at age 12.
He has since appeared at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the TEDx Sydney conference and has released a book of poems titled ‘Limelight’.
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