Young adults in Kelowna will be some of the thousands of youth skipping school and participating in an international climate strike on Friday to protest political inaction concerning climate change.
Kelowna is one of the over 1,200 cities and towns set to participate in the worldwide climate strike started by Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old Swedish climate activist.
Fridays for future. The school strike continues! #climatestrike #klimatstrejk #FridaysForFuture pic.twitter.com/5jej011Qtp
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) September 16, 2018
According to the climate strike’s webpage, Thunberg began what was originally called the #FridaysForFuture movement in August 2018, though the movement has also adopted different titles since its inception.
She reportedly sat in front of the Swedish parliament building every school day for three weeks to protest the country’s inaction concerning the climate crisis and abide by guidelines set out by the Paris agreement.
This morning: 89 countries and 1057 places!
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) March 11, 2019
Can we make it a hundred countries by Friday? https://t.co/EFTn7eCfm6
High School and University students from Kelowna will be joining Thunberg and a reported 92 other countries across the world in the Global Climate Strike for Future demonstration when they walk “out of classes and [protest] inaction and apathy around climate change,” read a statement from the Kelowna Youth Climate Strike Team.
“Here in the Okanagan, we stand with them,” the group said, hoping to spark a response from local leaders and raise awareness about climate issues at home.
Join us on March 15 to #ClimateStrike 4 our future: https://t.co/zJlOe9pW3d pic.twitter.com/Kmp5uW6bHW
— School Strike 4 Climate (@StrikeClimate) January 30, 2019
Although the movement began with students, Kelowna's event says it is hoping to bring out all residents to the event.
"If you want to make a difference, this strike is for you. If you want a future that is safe from the threats of climate change, this strike is for you. If you are a citizen of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, North America, or the Earth as a whole, this strike is for you," reads the Facebook event, titled Student Strike 4 Climate 2019.
"EVERYONE is welcome. Not just students and youth but teachers and educators, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends of young people, the young at heart, and those who know this fight is for all of us."
People participating in the strike will march from Kerry Park to Stuart Park in Kelowna on Friday Mar. 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. with local speakers set to speak at the event's destination
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