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Young Missoula activists protest lack of action towards climate change

Posted at 6:55 PM, Sep 20, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-21 23:54:52-04

MISSOULA — From Sweden to right here in Missoula, young activists all around the world went on strike on Friday to protest climate change and the lack of initiative taken by older generations.

Missoula high school and college students met at Caras Park on Friday morning to initiate their protest on climate change. Student organizers feel like this strike is important because from their prospective, they will be the ones who suffer the most from climate change.

“The student voice is so important because this is our future. This will affect our entire life,” student organizer and activist Sarah Sriraman said. “I think a lot of adults don’t care because they will get to die of old age, but we might get to die of climate change, so I think that this is the only important issue right now.”

Hellgate High School senior Calvin Beighle believes that implement change against climate change is the most important thing that needs to happen right now.

“We need to first of all get this conversation going, but second of all, what is even more important is that we take action and implement change in every single decision that we make,” Beighle said.

Another common theme at the rally was the lack of climate change curriculum in the education system.

"e are sitting there learning things that won’t matter,” Sriraman said. “It’s not preparing us for the future we will have, so why should we sit there and be complicit with a system that is reproducing the status quo?”

The climate change strike started at Caras park, but it moved throughout the day to other locations, including the Missoula County Courthouse. More events are happening over the next coming days.

You can learn more information on their Facebook page.