Green Schools is very excited to announce our Keynote Speaker for both the 2016 Green Schools Summit on Thursday May, 26th and the 2016 Green Difference Awards on Friday, May 27th.

EarthGuardians2016

Xiuhtezcatl pronounced (Shu-tez-caht) Martinez 15 years old and his brother Itzcuauhtli pronounced (Eat-squat-lee) Martinez are Indigenous Environmental Activist’s, Eco Hip-hop artist’s and public speakers from Boulder, Colorado. They have been speaking to crowds at conferences, schools and demonstrations from the Rio+20 United Nations Summit in Rio de Janeiro to addressing the General Assembly at the United Nations New York.

They are Youth Directors of Earth Guardians an organization of young activists, artists and musicians from across the globe stepping up as leaders and working together to create positive concrete action in their communities to address climate change.  They use original eco hiphop music to educate and inspire their generation into action. Xiuhtezcatl is the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the Obama administration for their failure to protect the atmosphere and their future. They have worked locally to get pesticides out of parks, coal ash contained and moratoriums on fracking in his state.

They have traveled across the nation and to many parts of the world educating their generation about the state of the planet they are inheriting and inspir​ed ​​thousands ​of ​​youth​ into action to protect the Earth. Their movement has grown to over 700 teen Earth Guardian crews globally working on the frontline to combat climate change. Their work has been featured on PBS, Showtime, National Geographic, Rolling Stones, Upworthy, Vogue, CNN, MSNBC, HBO and more.

In 2013, Xiuhtezcatl received the 2013 United States Community Service Award from President Obama, and was the youngest of 24 national change-makers chosen to serve on the President’s youth council.

He is also the 2015 recipient of the Peace First Prize and the recipient 2015 Nickelodeon Halo Award. Bill Mckibben of 350.org calls Xiuhtezcatl “an impressive spokesman for a viewpoint the world needs to hear.”  

Video Links:

  1. Xiuhtezcatl’s UN Speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27gtZ1oV4kw  (almost a million views 😉
  2. Kid Warrior: https://vimeo.com/125505125
  3. Kid Warrior Paris: “A Call to Action” https://vimeo.com/151193299
  4. RYSE – Rising Youth for a Sustainable Earth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suP-vX4R8GI