Youth to Adults: Now Is the Time to Act on Climate Change

TBadmin | September 22, 2019

About 1,200 people of all ages in St. Petersburg came out to support the world’s youths in their demand that something be done now to save the Earth from the horrors of climate change.

By SHELLY STECK REALE, Correspondent, Tampa Bay Reporter

ST. PETERSBURG – They came – about 1,200 of them – in the middle of a school and work day.

Some held signs: “Fossil Felons. The Men Who Stole Our Future.” “”There is no Planet B. Save Our Earth.” “Planet Over Profit.” “Stop Killing Our Earth.”

Some wore outfits: The Lorax. A polar bear. A manatee.

Although the atmosphere looked festive from the outside, the event was deadly serious. They had come Friday (Sept. 20) in solidarity with millions of people at about 2,500 similar events around the globe answering the call of the world’s youth who demand urgent action on climate change.

“My generation sees what’s causing the problem and I beg our government to stop making it worse,” said Melissa Pielet, an environmental science major at Eckerd College . “We are talking about the future of everyone we love and everything that makes us smile.”

The first climate strike began with a global school strike on Nov. 30, 2015, when the UN Climate Summit in Paris began.

“The adult generations have promised to stop the climate crisis, but they have skipped their homework year after year,” according to the Climate Strike website. “Climate strike is a wake-up call to our own generation. And it is the start of a network that will solve the greatest challenge in human history.”

Friday’s strikes came the day before the United Nations Youth Climate Summit and the week before the organization’s Climate Action Summit. They also came at a time when the Trump Administration is rolling back environmental protections and has said the U.S. will not abide by the Paris Climate Accord. And, here in Florida, the strikes come about a month after a grand jury issued a 33-page report saying that Biscayne Bay is at a “tipping point” and dying.

“Today’s march exemplifies the overwhelming frustration that many young people, poor people, people of color, and others are feeling with our country’s lack of action in combating climate change. There is growing realization that we can’t keep kicking this can down the road,” Tim Martin, conservation chair for the Florida Sierra Club, said, “We hope today’s action will serve as a catalyst to galvanize public support for more drastic action.”

Action is especially important for the state, said Blake Williams, communications director with For Out Future Florida: “Florida as a state is uniquely impacted by climate change, yet our leaders at the state and national level have chosen climate denial and campaign donors ahead of the best interests of Floridians. Today’s marches around the globe sent those leaders the message loud and clear: people want climate action now.”

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman said his city is doing what it can to help.

“We have our first-ever sustainability roadmap. We’ve taken the clean energy pledge, invested in solar panels and programs, and we’ve made progress to that end,” Kriseman said. “We’re upgrading our infrastructure, repairing sea walls, and working with FEMA to physically elevate homes in our city. We’re ensuring everything we do and everything we build is built for the future.”

He added, “But, as you know, St. Pete can’t go it alone. We cannot put an end to the fossil fuel industry. We cannot stop climate change or hold back rising seas. But we are doing our part. We are leading by example. We can be seen and be heard, and we can be unified in demanding climate action and climate justice. And – we can vote.”

Marchers then took to the street carrying signs and chanting. They pushed strollers and wheelchairs. Parents brought their children. Grandparents, teachers, and students marched together in solidarity. The route took them down Second Avenue N to Beach Drive where they were met with clapping, and cheers along with a few curious looks from bystanders. Cars honked their horns; some in camaraderie, others in aggravation as the marchers clogged the intersections.

The march ended at Williams Park, where a middle-aged marcher attacked drivers, hitting their cars as they drove past, and blocking the intersection from traffic. He jeered and hurled obscenities at police who tried to calm him. He grabbed a bullhorn from another strike participant and continued his obscenity-laden rant. More police arrived.

Then, a group of 75-100 younger adults moved in, surrounding him and drowning him out with chanting and dancing.

“This is not what we want; not what this march is about,” one of them said. “That man is taking away our power. Our voice. But, we are taking it back. We are meeting hate with love.”