FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 3, 2019
Contact: Andrew Weaver, Co-Press Director for Florida Youth Climate Strike; (786) 472-0529; theweave305@gmail.com
Julieta Rodrigo, Associate Program Manager at The CLEO Institute; (305) 573-5251; julieta@cleoinstitute.org
Youth in Miami Lead School Strikes to Protest Inaction over Climate Change
Miami, Florida, December 6, 2019: In the United States, greenhouse gas emissions are on the rise and many of our social and economic institutions are already feeling the detrimental effects of climate change. Extreme weather is impacting communities and nations worldwide. Science clearly shows that climate change is driving these more frequent and intense extreme weather patterns, underscoring the need for swift and meaningful climate action.
We, the youth of the world, are putting pressure on our government officials to take the necessary steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero, thus ensuring a habitable planet and sustainable future for generations to come. We demand that U.S. legislators bold legislative actions that decrease the climate crisis. When 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg decided to strike school and sit in front of the Swedish parliament to raise awareness for the climate crisis, she started the first-ever school strike for climate. With this action, she sparked the movement, “Fridays for the Future.” Every Friday, students from all around the world strike school and take to the streets to protest. On December 6, we will have a global day of climate action as part of these weekly strikes.
Who: We are the U.S. Youth Climate Strike, a collective movement of youth in the United States who are fighting for the conservation of our planet. We in Miami are joining the movement “Fridays for the Future,” sparked by 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and her weekly Friday “School Strikes for Climate.” This protest is led and organized by high school and college students from Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. The following climate advocacy groups are helping facilitate the protest with USYCS or have expressed their support for our organization’s efforts: The CLEO Institute, Extinction Rebellion, Climate Futures, Fridays for the Future, Climate Crusader, ThisIsZeroHour, Climate Reality, 350 South Florida, Green New Deal Miami, Sunrise Movement, The Sink or Swim Project, Unlitter, Engage Miami, YES! for Environmental Sustainability, Sierra Club, and Climate Save Movement.
What: We are participating in a global day of climate action on December 6. On this day, Miami youth will come together to strike school and protest against government inaction on climate change and raise public awareness of the severity of the climate crisis to demand immediate action. Students will gather in front of the Stephen P. Clark Government Center to rally. Later, students will march several blocks east of the government center to Bayfront Park on Biscayne Boulevard to give speeches on green policies that should be adopted to mitigate the damage of climate change. Reporters will be given time for exclusive interviews with student speakers at 2 pm.
Where: Stephen P Clark Center: 111 NW 1st St, Miami, FL 33128 and Bayfront Park: 301 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
When: 11 am – 2 pm
The demands of US Youth Climate Strike are:
1. We demand our local county and state government to declare a climate emergency.
2. We demand our world leaders take action to ensure a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in line with the October 2018 IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius.
3. We demand a transition to 100% clean renewable energy and net-zero carbon pollution.
To learn more about our platform or to get involved, visit: https://www.youthclimatestrikeus.org.
To find locations for all the strikes around the United States, visit: https://strikewithus.org/
Follow #ClimateStrike, #STRIKEWITHUS , #ClimateStrikeMiami #SchoolStrike4Climate, on social media on December 6th. Guaranteed, it will trend.