This Friday, three days before the UN Climate Summit in New York City, youth and adults across the country and around the world will be walking out of schools and workplaces to demand action on the climate crisis.
In Kentucky, events are planned for Louisville, Frankfort, Berea, and Bowling Green, and just across the border in Evansville, Cincinnati, and Huntington. (Details below.)
The strikes are being organized by Future Coalition, an umbrella organization of groups working on the climate crisis and other issues. Included is a Youth Climate Strike Coalition, made up of seven organizations that have banded together to provide young people a voice demanding action on climate change. All told, over thirty different organizations (youth and adult) are part of the overall coalition, and over 200 organizations are listed as partners, from environmental groups to labor unions to religious groups.
And, it’s global. There are actions taking place around the world, from both youth and adults. Here is a video showing the international reach.
Here’s what the strikers want
This effort is about more than just “calling attention” to the climate crisis. The Youth Climate Strike Coalition has a list of specific demands they are making of the delegates to the UN Climate Summit and of elected officials around the world.
A Green New Deal
- Transform our economy to 100% clean, renewable energy by 2030 and phase out all fossil fuel extraction through a just and equitable transition, creating millions of good jobs
- A halt to all leasing and permitting for fossil fuel extraction, processing and infrastructure projects immediately
Respect of Indigenous Land and Sovereignty
- Honor the treaties protecting Indigenous lands, waters, and sovereignty by the immediate halt of all construction, leasing, and permitting for resource extraction, processing and infrastructure projects affecting or on Indigenous lands
- Recognize the Rights of Nature into law to protect our sacred ecosystems and align human law with natural law to ban resource extraction in defense of our environment and people
Environmental Justice
- A transition that invests in prosperity for communities on the frontlines of poverty and pollution
- Welcoming those displaced by the cumulative effects of the climate crisis, economic inequality, violence, and lack of opportunity
Protection and Restoration of Biodiversity
- Protection and restoration of 50% of the world’s lands and oceans including a halt to all deforestation by 2030
Implementation of Sustainable Agriculture
- Investment in farmers and regenerative agriculture and an end to subsidies for industrial agriculture
For more information on the entire effort, visit the main site at StrikeWithUs.org.
Here are the #StrikeWithUs events in Kentucky
Click the link for more information, and to sign up. And, if you attend one of these events, please send us pictures at Press@ForwardKY.com! We would like to do a photo gallery of all the events.
Frankfort – Frankfort KY Climate Change Strike
Friday, September 20, 2019 • 12:15 PM
The front of the state capitol – 700 Capital Avenue, Frankfort, KY 40601
Berea – Berea Climate Strike
Friday, September 20, 2019 • 2:00 PM
Berea College, 101 Chestnut Street, Berea , KY 40403
Bowling Green – WKU Climate Strike
Thursday, September 26, 2019 • 11:30 AM
Outside DSU at Western KY University, 1906 College Heights Blvd, Bowling Green, KY 42101
Louisville – Kentucky Youth Climate Strike
Friday, September 20, 2019 • 10:00 AM
Jefferson Square Park, 301 South Sixth Street, Louisville, KY 40202
Evansville, IN – Evansville US Strike
Friday, September 20, 2019 • 10:00 AM
Civic Center Complex/EPD, 1 NW Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Evansville, IN 47708
Cincinnati, OH – Climate Strike Cincinnati
Friday, September 20, 2019 • 12:00 PM
City Hall Steps, 801 Plum St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Huntington, WV – Amazon Burning! The Climate Emergency (9/19/19: Third Thursday Protest)
Thursday, September 19, 2019 • 4:30 PM (NOTE the date)
Cabell County Court House, 750 5th Ave, Huntington , WV 25701
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