A meeting Monday in Minocqua will examine a growing youth movement centered on the need to thwart climate change.
The groups Our Wisconsin Revolution (Northwoods Chapter) and Northwoods Climate Action Network will hold a public presentation on the recent surge of activism.
David Barnhill is the retired Director of Environmental Studies at U.W. Oshkosh. He now lives in Hazelhurst and is chair of the local groups. He says not since the Vietnam War have young people become this active...
"..There are some groups, like 350.org that have been around for more than a decade. In the past year, three groups in particular have come up. The Sunrise Movement here in the U.S. Student Strike For Climate which is very international and the Extinction Rebellion which began in the U.K. Each one is a little different, but in all cases it's remarkable they are being led by young people..."
Barnhill says the Sunrise Movement got national headlines when they occupied House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office. Barnhill says the global youth movement wants to bring home the point that they could be stuck with the environment older generations are leaving them...
"It's really that the adults have failed them and they know what is coming and they're the ones who are going to have to live with this depleated and dangerous planet..."
The public is invited to the meeting the Minocqua Public Library, 415 Menominee St., Minocqua, Monday from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. The audience will be encouraged to discuss the movement, says Barnhill.
