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This is an excerpt from Raffi Cavoukian's forthcoming book, Lightweb Darkweb: Three Reasons to Reform Social Media Before it Reforms Us. To purchase Lightweb Darkweb or for more information, click here.

One morning in late 1996, the phrase "Child Honouring" woke me up from a sound sleep. In that pivotal moment, I realized that all my years of singing and talking with young children, learning all I could about child development -- and then of watching, with growing alarm, the disintegration of communities and the deterioration of our planet -- had been a preparation of sorts, a way of showing me the link between the state of the world and the health of its children.

I knew I had to speak out in a new way on behalf of the world's young. This sparked a dialogue with people in a wide range of disciplines.

Reflections on an unusual friendship with a beluga mama

My Dear Kavna,

I feel like I've lost a very dear old friend. Yet it's much more than that. Since hearing the news of your death, I have felt the loss of an extended family member -- one who had a profound impact on me. Kavna, meeting you moved me so deeply it changed my life.

On a fine spring day with trees in soft green bloom, I left Manhattan for Pete Seeger's place, near Beacon NY, courtesy of his longtime friend and noted videographer Jim Brown. During the drive Jim and I talked non-stop: about my singer-songwriter beginnings, about the early folk music scene, Jim's work with Pete and other folk greats, the Occupy movement, the state of the world. From a local Japanese restaurant we picked up sushi enough for us and Pete, wife Toshi, and daughter Tinya.