Climate change protests, like the one March 15 in Davis Bay, could become a regular occurrence on the Sunshine Coast with the launch of a local movement led by teenagers.
“I’m concerned for my generation, I’m concerned for future generations and something needs to change,” said Grade 11 Elphinstone Secondary School student Siera Marits while standing outside of the District of Sechelt Municipal Hall last Friday. She was there with four others. The Friday before that, they were in Gibsons.
Some of their placards called for discrete actions such as riding a bike or planting a tree, while others were more existential, such as “our climate, our future.” Honking horns sounded approval as cars passed by.
These happenings were the work of Marits and fellow Elphinstone student Eilis MacKenzie. Together, they recently launched the Instagram account Youth for Climate Action in an effort to keep the momentum going from a student-led climate rally at Davis Bay.
“It’s the fastest way to get information to them,” said MacKenzie about the platform for their burgeoning group. So far they have amassed close to 150 followers.
The group’s two rallies have been small – a dozen people attended the Gibsons event – but they have led to action, such as a meeting with Gibsons councillor David Croal and Town staff.
The local students said they were inspired by a larger movement called Fridays for Future, launched after weekly government sit-ins by 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg began gaining global traction.
They’re also getting involved with a larger movement led by adults.
The Sunshine Coast chapter of climate action group Extinction Rebellion noticed the teens’ efforts and approached MacKenzie and Marits to become student liaisons. Danika Dinsmore told Coast Reporter having the students on board is a “win-win.”
“We'd like to have student liaisons, so that we're not guessing how to support them - they can tell us directly. We also have information, resources, experience, and connections they might not have, and they have strong social media.”
Asked how long the group would keep up their Friday rallies, MacKenzie said, “Until real change starts to happen,” adding that the demonstrations might not happen every week, but “in the foreseeable future, I don’t see us stopping or giving up.”
The group also wants local action. For starters, said Marits, local governments could ban plastic and introduce more buses and more bus stops.
