WKU students organize global climate strike
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Since last week, the discussion over climate change and global warming has begun to heat up.
Climate strikes have been going on around the world.
On Thursday, a strike was organized for here in Bowling Green.
“I think it’s really important and it’s really cool to see how we as this next generation can really stand up for ourselves and say that we won’t stand for this anymore,” said Candy Cook, a student at Western Kentucky University. “We want a change for ourselves and for our future.”
Two students at WKU, Elaine Losekamp and Jessica Williams, organized their own global climate strike, joining the movement that so many other people have already participated in these past few days.
“We wanted to create an event for Bowling Green so that people here would be able to participate in the event, show that the climate crisis matters here and just provide an outlet for people to express their desire for climate crisis action,” said Losekamp.
Students, university faculty members and even some local families attended the event at Centennial Mall.
Holding up signs and joining in chants, the strike was a call to action to world leaders to limit the use of fossil fuels and enact policy changes that will make a difference before it’s too late for this planet.
“This matters so much to us because within the next couple of decades, our planet is just going to be drastically different,” added Losekamp. “A lot of people aren’t going to be able to live in the places they’re currently living.”
In the past week, climate strikes have taken place in over 150 countries in cities like Berlin, London and New York, all part of the global climate strike initiative started by 16-year-old Greta Thunberg.
“Things like this, it rallies people together,” said Cook. “It let’s them know the cause. It let’s people who might not have really thought about it otherwise think more deeply, more critical about problems like this.”
The entire movement is being led by the next generation of youth, too, something all involved feel is a vital aspect in promoting change.
“I think it’s extremely important that our generation speaks up for itself and is able to create change and make sure the governments of the world actually listen to us and take our futures into account,” Losekamp said.
Bowling Green is one of two cities in Kentucky to hold a climate strike this week.
Lexington is scheduled to host one as well on Friday.
