Leading Change through Action Not Excuses
Published on 21 March 2021, this interview with Yorleny (Yorle) Bermúdez, a teacher, eco-tourism guide, firefighter, and youth activist from Guanacaste, Costa Rica, highlights her role as a Youth Champion for Green Jobs in the Action Not Excuses campaign the first global campaign of Raleigh International Trust. Through this conversation, readers get to know more about her path, her activism and her vision for sustainable livelihoods.
From the countryside to the call for green jobs
I am from the countryside. I grew up around nature. I love looking for bugs. But I have seen in just in my short lifetime that sea levels are rising, and animals are disappearing. We are killing nature and we have to be responsible for the consequences. As young people we have a responsibility to shape other people’s actions on the environment. This year unemployment in Costa Rica reached its highest ever level, with one in four adults out of employment. Young people want careers in green industries, in sectors that are sustainable and will still exist when we are old. But now’s the time to stop waiting for the jobs to turn up and to get on with making them.
Activism without borders
We are at a critical point. If we continue living the way that we have been, with excessive consumerism, and pumping plastic into our oceans, we will kill our planet. The planet is telling us it is sick. We need to take action now. If we do not do it tomorrow, it is too late. If we are being honest, we should have done this years ago. So now we just must be conscious about using the time we have got left. Volunteering with Raleigh Costa Rica alongside young people from around the world showed me that activism does not know the boundaries of nationality. Despite coming from different sides of the world with different ecological challenges we can feel just as much of a desire to do something about it.
Firefighting, leadership and green careers
It was only after I began studying teaching that I realized I wanted to work on environmental issues. Moreover, I was one of the original graduates of Costa Rica’s first ever eco-tourism degree, which felt very pioneering. I am now completing my formal training to become a nature guide in our national park here in Guanacaste.
It is great to be finding work in the green sector. However, my real passion right now is volunteering. Additionally, I have been training as a firefighter to help tackle wildfires that often burn large areas of our beautiful tropical forest. I cannot wait to get involved in practical firefighting. At the same time, I am learning skills in incident management and teaching communities how to take care of our natural resources.
I am also really enjoying working with Greentalist and the Action Not Excuses campaign. Moreover, we have been training as young leaders to develop our skills in influencing people’s behaviors toward saving the planet. It is intense but exciting work. Furthermore, we are currently preparing to launch a major campaign next year.
Show People About the Issues You Care About
Changing attitudes is hard, but necessary. For example, my mother never recycled, and neither did my aunt or sister. Then I turned up, asking tough questions like, “Why are you throwing this away?” and “Why are you not recycling that?” Now, they are all supportive.
Therefore, it really comes down to setting examples and working to change people’s behavior in practical ways. My advice is to talk to people. People have the capacity to listen to reason, but if they do not understand why things are important, they will not change. As a first step, share your knowledge. Let them know why the things you care about matter and why they should care too.
It Is Time to Level Out the Inequalities Between Urban and Rural Areas
Obviously, we still need to see these actions replicated from the top. Moreover, the biggest companies — those causing the most pollution in our country — need to be forced by governments to act on their environmental obligations. Additionally, progress is needed in access to technology. For instance, if I went out today to buy a solar panel, it would cost a million colones (£1,200 GBP). When families earn only a quarter of that each month, it is simply unaffordable.
Lowering taxes on products that reduce dependency on polluting fuels would be a positive step. In the capital city of San José, there are trains and better public transport networks. However, here in rural areas, we rely on the road. Therefore, national and world leaders must work to reduce the differences between urban and rural areas. As a result, everyone would have access to non-polluting ways to travel and the technology needed to live sustainably.
A Latina voice for climate action
Being chosen as a Youth Champion for Green Jobs for Action Not Excuses makes me feel really proud. I have been involved with Raleigh Costa Rica since 2012. Moreover, as a Latina Costa Rican woman, representing my country makes me feel like, wow, we can do it!
I also feel honoured to give a voice to young people who are looking for or trying to create green jobs. Through Action Not Excuses, we want to show that there are real actions to take. This is not just about talking; instead, it is about doing.
People should start asking how critical the situation is. Additionally, it is important to show them the reality of what is happening and the things they can do to stop it — real, practical actions that everyone can manage. Most importantly, these actions should be shared with others.
It will be too late to act in 2030. We can survive this pandemic; however, if we do not act on climate change, we may not make it to 2060. Therefore, I want to see people getting as passionate about planting trees as they are about washing their hands.
Finally, tomorrow is too late. We need Action Not Excuses. Join us today and stand with other young people.
