Climate Strike Arizonaย is hosting a rally at El Presido Park next to Tucson City Hall from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20.ย The rally plans to host elected officials such as State Representative Andres Cano, State Senator Victoria Steele, and Mayoral Candidate Regina Romero to speak about environmental action.
“Arizona youth Climate Strike is demanding that Tucson, like cities across the globe, declares a climate emergency and not only creates, but enacts, a climate change policy plan,” says Kyle Kline, Tucson co-lead of Climate Strike Arizona. “This movement is youth led as we are the generation that will be greatest hit with the threat of climate change.”
The Climate Strike coincides with a series of climate events happening throughout Arizona and the rest of the world from Sept. 20 to 27, demanding governments enact a climate change policy plan. These also coincide with theย United Nations Climate Action Summit on Sept. 23.
“History shows us that mass movements start with a minority demanding change. The youth of today are that movement,” Kline says. “After the strike, with support for local legislators and organizations, we will push for green legislation, respect of indigenous land, environmental justice, protection of biodiversity, and sustainable agriculture. Cities across the world need metrics to analyze and increase their overall sustainability. Our goal is for Tucson to take that step, and in doing so, become a model for cities across the world.”
According to Daniel Casanova,ย Tucson co-lead of Climate Strike Arizona, Tucson has multiple reasons to invest in sustainability.
“We live in one of the sunniest environments in the world, so is there no excuse why we can’t plan to go 100 percent renewable in the near future,” Casanova says. “We know the Colorado River cannot keep supplying water for our city as we grow and our water habits don’t change. Tucson has every reason to care about sustainability. After all, we owe it to the future generations of the world.”
For more event information, visit facebook.com/events/372898890277616/
This article appears in Sep 12-18, 2019.
This is a very serious issue. Too bad the people running the event are left-wing radicals. WTF is environmental justice? And what does “respect for indigenous lands” have to do with climate change?
I wonder what Casanova plans to do when the sun goes down if Tucson is 100% solar?
With a few million more immigrants the Colorado River will be dry regardless of what we do. Might as well enjoy your lawn while you can.
My most thorough evaluation of last statement would be that we need start publishing list of every city that moved because natural resources used up. It’s only way anybody going listen. I think in most cases that you would find the city that moved, residents that moved with it be happier and more well adjusted than those oppose it.
bslap: your comments seem to show how little you know. Indigenous peoples are caretakers of the environment. They have been aware of the changes, both good and bad, when food is plentiful and when it is not and how not to destroy balances that keep the earth healthy. Environmental justice is adjudicating disputes between those who wish to make money from the land which causes damage to the water, air and soil that all of life depends upon. (Uranium mining on the Navajo Reservation and copper mining in the Santa Ritas).
Solar energy is working on storage batteries so that we have power 24/7. Some humans are using their brains to find solutions to problems that are new and that we have created over many years. They use their minds more than they use their mouths. That is why the rest of us would do better to educate ourselves, stop using ground water for grass, save the limited rainwater we get and not pollute by dumping our chemical wastes and instead take it to City or County Recycling sites.
Have you BEEN to a middle or high school campus lately? The kids throw wrappers, soda bottles (liters…brought from home), partially eaten food, taki bags, etc. in the hallways and outside. I used to take my special needs kids outside to clean up the campus as it was an embarrassment to me that the kids did’t care a hoot. Let’s have them take care of their own spaces first before filing their heads with false facts and that “going to a strike” (they haven’t a clue what about). before they can “change the world”.
Caroline…have you BEEN to a reservation lately? Caretakers of the environment? I worked on a reservation for a few years and have driven through many and never have I seen more plastic bags, dumps, “dead” cars (leaking who knows what into the water tables) than on a reservation. This goes for all of them. What a myth! I am sure when they build the next Casino it will be environmentally friendly!!! hahahah!