“We’re Not Going To Give Up”: Young People In Over 150 Countries Participating in Youth Climate Strikes on Friday, September 20

Are you ready for what will likely be the largest climate protest in history? Led by 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, students in over 150 countries will be walking out of their schools today to demand climate action. In the US alone, tens of thousands of people in over 800 locations are expected to march on an extensive platform that includes:

 

• A Green New Deal that will prioritize renewable energy and measures that will curb climate change for marginalized communities that are on the front line.
• Declaring a National Emergency on climate change.
• Preserving public land and wildlife, in addition to keeping our water clean.

 

“This is a historic commitment that we’re going to look back on and say, ‘That’s the day that youth made a statement that we’re not going to give up,'” said Gabriella Marchesani, 17, a Miami Strike youth leader.

 

As we’ve seen before, when young people take action, real change can happen.

Here’s how you can join many incredible young climate crisis activists -- like 19-year-old Katie Eder -- tomorrow:

 

1) Find your closest strike to demand change from elected officials.
2) Read our guide so you can know your rights at the rally.
3) Can’t strike? Tune into the climate forum with presidential candidates to learn about how they plan to fight the climate crisis.

Activist Collective Stages Funeral To Protest the Fashion Industry’s Impact In The Climate Crisis

As London Fashion Week came to a close, the activist collective known as Extinction Rebellion staged a funeral outside of the shows to make a statement on the fashion industry’s impact on climate. The group carried coffins before making a speech about the environmental consequences of fast fashion.

 

"This is a time for boldness. We have to shift the conversation and you can't do that gently. Everything else has been tried,” said collective member Jessie Brinton. “Now, we have to do something new.”

 

While some industries have been slow to adapt to the climate crisis, other companies have stepped up to take action. On Tuesday, businesses like Ben & Jerry’s and Lush announced that they would be closing their stores today so that employees can attend the Youth Climate Strikes.

University of California System Is Cutting Its Investment In Fossil Fuels

Earlier this week, the University of California system announced that it will end its investments in companies involved with fossil fuel extraction.

 

While their fund managers are saying the decision was based solely on financial risk, it’s nonetheless being hailed as a victory by climate activists.

 

The announcement will likely add to the public pressure that is already on universities like Harvard and Yale to divest. Earlier this year, Harvard students protested and demanded that the university divest its investments in companies that were causing environmental harm.

 

• Why aren’t more people talking about… how the Trump administration is rolling back a waiver to the Clean Air Act, which allows California to set higher emissions standards for cars than the federal government does?

 

• *Also* why aren’t more people talking about… how this student was suspended for handing out climate change flyers and isn’t being allowed to attend his prom?

 

• Meanwhile, in China… environmental pollution in the country is on the decline, according to a new study.

 

• My hero today is… Isra Hirsi, 16, who co-founded the US Youth Climate Strike, which is the American arm of the global youth movement.

 

• Today in viral cuteness… a woman in England wrote an adorable letter to “the doggy in the window” that she sees every day, thanking the dog for making her smile. Pretty safe to say she speaks for all of us.

 

• I’m obsessed with… The Good Place. I know I’m late to the party, but I finally took the time last weekend to watch and I. Can’t. Stop. It’s my favorite thing ever and Janet is already one of my all-time favorite characters.

Are you striking today? We want to hear from you!

 

If you're attending one of the over 800 strikes happening across the country today, we want to know! Send us a pic of you at the rally (or even just tell us what you saw or how you feel about it) by emailing us at hi@dosomething.org.

Finding this newsletter useful? Forward today's edition to a friend and encourage them to subscribe.

 

Copyright © 2019, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is: 19 West 21st Street, 8th floor, New York, NY 10010