Students and others are protesting Friday across the globe about climate change and there's a rally in Minocqua Friday to join in.
Northwoods environmental groups are rallying to support the effort. Local advocate David Barnhill says The student climate strike movement began in 2018 when 15-year-old Swedish student Greta Thunberg decided she had to take action. She stopped going to school and sat outside the Swedish Parliament with a sign saying “school strike for climate.” Soon others joined her, word spread, and students in Europe began to strike on Fridays.
Barnhill talks about what they are doing locally...
"...Here in Minocqua we will have a rally at Torpy Park from 11 in the morning until 1 in the afternoon as a way of joining in and supporting what the students are doing in over 150 countries...."
Speakers at the Minocqua event include Tom Jerow, retired DNR scientist, Erin Kirby, Pastor of St. Matthias Episcopal Church in Minocqua, and Pam McVety, a scientist who worked in natural resources in Florida.
Barnhill says they believe they must act...
"...Congress was told back in 1988 that climate change was happening and they can't seem to get anything done. As one student leader, a high school student said, 'it's not fair to my entire generation that we are inheriting this monstrosity of a problem..."
Barnhill says they will meet at 10 a.m. to make signs for a march before the event. More information is on the Northwoods Climate Action Facebook page.
