Do you know who Greta Thunberg is? Many of you may not be familiar with this name, some of you may have seen here in the news recently. No matter who you are and where your interests lie, it’s a name that you should take note of and remember for a long time to come.
Greta Thunberg is a 16-year-old climate activist from Sweden. She has already made waves across the world stage for her inspiring, raw, and passionate defense to stop government and industry practices that help fuel global climate change.
Her call to action and activism has sparked renewed hope in people across the works who want positive changes for the environment.
Last year, Thunberg initiated a protest regarding climate outside the Swedish Parliament. This protest has now turned into a regular occurrence given the name, “Fridays for Future.”
Thunberg began her quest to call attention to the climate crisis in Sweden, but her actions have rippled across the entire world. Last month, Thunberg sailed across the Atlantic Ocean (due to her low carbon lifestyle – she does not fly), from the United Kingdom to New York. Most recently, she joined fellow protestors in a demonstration near the White House last Friday.
Protests are scheduled this week leading up to the United Nations Climate Action Summit in NYC on Monday, September 23. The largest protest, which will occur across 120 countries, will take place on Friday, September 20.
Though you may not be able to make it to the White House or New York to join Thunberg, you can still make a difference from wherever you are at.
It starts local, it starts at home, and often times it starts with just one person. Find out about local protests near you, contact your local representatives, register to vote, vote, and let your voice be heard. We are frequently told that we are too young, naïve, and do not have the knowledge or capabilities to make a change in this world. But we do. In fact, we are the future. And if we want to maintain life on this planet, we must follow Thunberg’s fearless illustration and make a change.
For more information on protests taking place near you: https://globalclimatestrike.net
Find your representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Register to vote: https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote
By Caitlin Gomez