On this episode of the 21st Century Classroom: Veronica: My name is Veronica, I'm 13, and I'm in eighth grade. Emily: And why are you here, Veronica? Veronica: I'm here because every morning I wake up afraid. And so knowing that so many other people feel the same thing? It makes me hopeful, for the first time in a long time. And so seeing this and seeing the change it brings after? Is the best thing I could wish for. This past fall, educator and parent Emily Hoyler, took part in the Youth Climate Strike, along with her three children. They visited various protests in Vermont, and Emily interviewed some of the students she met at the protests. She asked them why they were there, what they hoped to achieve, and how this day of action related to their in-school lives. Here's Emily. Lately, I’ve been freaking out about climate change. After years of denial about the severity of the situation, this past spring I confronted the evidence. And I found it terrifying. Why? Because I learned some stuff. I learned it takes carbon dioxide up to 10 years to *begin* warming the atmosphere. And once its warming effect starts, it lasts for about 40 years. I learned that 20% of the total emissions since the Industrial Revolution have happened within the past 10 years. I learned that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are issuing dire warnings about the need for immediate action. The need to drastically reduce emissions, immediately, if we’re going to avoid catastrophic disruption. But you know who’s not learning these things? Our students. At least... that’s what they told me when I met up with them at the Youth Climate Strike. The Global Youth Climate Strike had been on my calendar for at least 6 months. Spurred by youth climate activist Greta Thunberg’s Friday School Strike for Climate, this event promised to bring momentum to the movement. As an engaged citizen and reluctant activist I knew I wanted to be part of this global protest, demanding world leaders take action. And I wanted to do it with my own children. I pulled them from school, and we headed out on the road. We began our day in the nearby college town of Middlebury, where about 500 people gathered on a town green to demonstrate our demands for action. As we marched we waved our signs at the passing traffic. The honks and waves we received energized us. Folks of all ages were there in droves -- toddlers to elders. I was thrilled to see so many students-- many of whom I’d taught in the classroom! I drifted away as a college professor began to speak of the power of civil action to find some kids to talk to. Why were they here? What are their hopes for the future? Is the climate crisis finding its way into their curriculum? What do they want adults to know? Milo Emily: So, tell me your first name. Milo: My first name is Milo. Emily: How old are you Milo? Milo: I’m 12 and I’m an 8th grader. Emily: Awesome. Why are you here today? Milo: I’m here today because climate change sucks. It’s pretty terrible and definitely needs to be changed and as soon as possible. Yes, as she’s talking about right now, it can’t… you guys can’t wait for the younger generation, it has to start now. Emily: Does climate change are the reason we’re here today connect anything you’ve learned about or do in your school work everyday? Milo: I wish it did more. I know we have a lot of teachers that are in support of us, but we don’t actually learn anything about climate change in like social studies or anything like that and I think that should be probably changed especially because it’s one of the biggest issues by far in our world right now. B. B: My name is B. Emily: All right, B. And how old are you? B: I’m 13. Emily: Where do you go to school? B: I go to Middlebury Union Middle School. Emily: Why are you here today?
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