A Vision of the Future

BGS student author and activist Jasper Chin Moody believes young people’s stories can change the world.

At a UNESCO online roundtable held on World Literacy Day in September 2022, Jasper spoke about his latest book, The Sustainable Worlds: Stanley and EPIC, and reiterated his support for the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“My book talks about the little things that can make the SDGs real,” Jasper said. “Rather than choosing one SDG, I chose all of them, and had my characters Stanley and EPIC visit worlds where the SDGs had become a reality.”

The speaking engagement is the latest milestone for Jasper, who over the past three years has written two books for the United Nations’ Voices of Future Generations Children’s Book Series.

The Sustainable Worlds: Stanley and EPIC is a sequel to Jasper’s first book which introduced readers to Dr Jane the “crazy genius” engineer, nine-year-old Stanley, and his best friend, a shapeshifting, cybernetically intelligent computer named EPIC.

Together, Stanley and EPIC stand up to school and corporate bullies and pursue direct action in service of the environment.

Both books are beautifully illustrated by Celia Tan and use the power of storytelling to help young readers imagine a better and more sustainable future.

“I wanted to share the message that, in my view, meeting the SDGs really only takes two things: a vision of the future, and a willingness to accept the necessity of change – even if it is uncomfortable,” Jasper said.

I believe that many young people already have a positive attitude for change. By telling our stories, we can help show that change is possible and, indeed, inevitable.

As a committed but quietly spoken environmental campaigner, Jasper’s writing has taken that message to a global audience.

In a preface to Jasper’s first book, Federal Senator Sarah Hanson-Young commended him for delivering “a powerful message of hope for a cleaner and kinder world with a story about friendship and collective responsibility.”

The positive feedback and celebrity endorsements have been “amazing”, Jasper said.

“It was pretty awesome that someone like this would care enough to write a preface for the book. I hope that people take the message of sustainability and also standing up for what you believe in. Because no matter how big or small you are, you can always make a difference.”

Jasper and his younger brother, Oliver, commenced at BGS at the beginning of 2022, continuing a family tradition that stretches back four generations.

The influence of Jasper’s parents is clear in his environmental advocacy. His father, Old Boy James Chin Moody ’93, is the co-founder and CEO of carbon-neutral courier service Sendle and co-author of a book on innovation in a resourcelimited world; his mother Geraldine is an ethical business leader and impact investor.

Jasper’s writing borrows from several themes in his personal life, including learning about sustainable homes and environmental initiatives such as Reef Aid, and the impact of change on people and communities.

Having lived in three different cities in Australia and the US since 2019, Geraldine said both boys have quickly adjusted to life in Queensland.

“During the Sydney lockdown in 2021, we were on holidays in Brisbane and decided to stay so the boys could attend BGS –even though my work is based in Sydney and James’s company is headquartered in Seattle,” she said.

“Jasper and Oliver are both settled at BGS. School activities such as Robotics, Music, and Public Purpose have given them a real sense of belonging in Brisbane.”

Read Jasper's book at vofg.org/sustainableworlds