Going Silent December 10 For The Earth
By James Donahue
He is just 11, but Itzcuauhtli Roske-Martinez and his older sister, Xiuhtezcatl, 14, are gaining world-wide
attention via Facebook because Itzcuauhtli has gone silent in protest to the failure of world leaders to take action against
climate change.
They also have created a simple website at
where supporters can sign up for a single day of silence on December 10.
The two are promoting the day of silence as part of their "eco-hip-op" performances for Earth Guardians,
an international organization of youth collectively seeking to ignite a world-wide change in attitude about the burning of
carbon fuels for energy.
The organization also is releasing a music video Dec. 15, titled "Be the Change."
In a story that appeared on the Truthout website, Xiuhtezcatl said her brother decided to go silent
on October 24 after attendng an environmental conference at Newark Liberty International Airport, in New York. He says he
will not speak again until he is convinced that world leaders agree to implement a global climate recovery plan, reforest
the planet and support green energy replacements for fossil fuels.
The boy's silence has created problems for him in school. Consequently, his mother has agreed to home-school
him.
The children are asking people to sign up on their website, or by visiting them on Facebook. They
say thousands of children and adults from all over the world have already committed themselves to recognize December 10 as
a day of silence in support of Itzcuauhtli's stand. Some say they have already joined him and have privately gone silent.
They perceive the silence as an ironically twisted way of "being heard."
