It’s coming together! Thanks to some committed teenagers and keen adults as well, we have a team of 30 volunteers organizing for Stratford to participate in the launch of the Global Week for Future — a movement to support youth in their calls for bold, urgent climate action.
The local three-part event will be on the afternoon of Friday September 20th and people of all ages are encouraged to come out and show their love for the planet and concern about climate change.
Here’s what’s planned:
- Planet Parade – 1pm – from high schools to downtown
- Climate Rally – 2pm – Market Square
- Eco Info Fair, Music & Art – 2pm to 5pm – Market Square
The #FridaysForFuture movement began just one year ago, in August 2018, after 15-year-old Greta Thunberg sat in front of the Swedish parliament every school day for three weeks, to protest against the lack of action on the climate crisis. By May of this year more than 1 million students joined Greta to walk out in 131 countries around the world. In Stratford, students organized climate strikes on May 3rd and May 29th.
Now, the students have asked everyone to stand with them. Over 40 youth leaders wrote in The Guardian: “People have risen up before to demand action and make change; if we do so in numbers we have a chance. If we care, we must do more than say we do. We must act. … We’re counting on you.”
Above: Stratford Students at the May 29th #FridaysForFuture march
The week of September 20th through 27th was chosen as the Global Week for Future to support the youth Fridays for Future movement and demonstrate public concern for global warming as a United Nations Climate Action Summit convenes in New York on September 23rd. The summit will “showcase a leap in collective national political ambition and it will demonstrate massive movements in the real economy in support of the agenda.”
To show support for urgent climate action, local students are stepping up on September 20th and we are all encouraged to join with them and show support.
The sidewalk parade will move from the high schools along Britannia, Mornington, Waterloo and Ontario streets to Market Square where there will be speakers, music, and interactive art activities, as well as an eco-info fair showcasing community groups, citizen climate campaigns, and city projects all related to our low-carbon future. Come learn about the many ways you can take action and get involved!
Stay tuned for more details soon about the parade, climate rally speakers, musicians, Market Square art creations, and info booths. Follow this website and watch our #FridaysForFuture Sept 20th Facebook event, as well as the @ClimateStrikeStratford Instagram account and our @ClimateMomentum Facebook page and Instagram account.
Our next planning meeting is on Thursday September 5th from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m, location to be confirmed soon. Come help out! You don’t have to live in Stratford to be a part of this event. If you’re nearby and want to be a part of this, please come to the planning meeting or send us a message.
Contact either Anne Carbert or Bill James-Abra through hello@climatemomentum.ca with your questions and to let us know of your interest in lending a hand or fill out the online form here.