Fayetteville In the Global Strike
"Sorry if this is inconvenient for you. But this is not a single-generation job. It's humanity's job."
-- Young climate activists writing in The Guardian, May 2019
The maddening excuse of "I'm just one person" (who isn't?) can send activists to the brink of frustration, but through diplomatic, gritted teeth they generally respond, "Everyone can do something." The trick, of course, is finding the magic twist that inspires or motivates fellow earthlings to pick up their backsides and take them into some form of action.
Strangely at this stage in the climate change saga we humans are mired in, a tiny girl with long braids, who lives in a country far from most of the rest of the globe's nations, thought of something she could do. She sat down. On strike. Each Friday.
That simple action has spawned Fridays for Future, a global movement of students, who are striking from attending school on Fridays until they see real action from their governments. As Greta Thunberg so plainly put it to world leaders, "Why should I spend all day in school preparing myself for the future when you aren't preparing the country or the world for the future?"
That little Swedish teen is now in the U.S. to encourage students and adults, both young and old, to also leave school or work, or from whatever else they are doing, to participate in the Global Climate Strike, Sept. 20-27. (globalclimatestrike.net and earth-strike.com).
Fayetteville is joining in, especially on Friday, Sept. 27, from noon until 4 p.m. on the downtown square. Yes, this is also the week when Bikes, Blues & BBQ hits town, but the climate strikers will have the square during this time for the climate parade, and people are encouraged to leave motors out of the area as much as possible and "bike to the strike." That's bikes as in bicycles, not motorcycles. Parking for cars is free in the garage under the Town Center between 11 a.m. and noon.
Organizers Kelly and Donna Mulhollan have lined up several musical groups and speakers for a fun and informative event with activities for children, so bring the family.
"Giant endangered species animal puppets" made by Art Experience will lead the bicycle/peoples parade, and possibly costumed marchers will follow a brass band and the parade master, Jumpsuit Jamie, playing his accordion.
Among the speakers will be Steve Boss, an interdisciplinary earth scientist speaking on the science of climate; Rev. Sonna B. Key, a leader in the Fort Smith Citizens' Climate Lobby chapter speaking on carbon taxes and environmental justice; Blue Brasher, a Fayetteville High School climate activist speaking on the impact of single-use plastic; and Harrison Hammer, a U of A student speaking about the impact of animal agriculture. Kelly Mulhollan says his personal goal for this event is to simply show our leaders that climate action is a priority for the people of Northwest Arkansas. Facebook information can be found by searching for "NWA Climate Strike."
There will also be a strike starting around 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, in Fayetteville at the Washington County Courthouse and/or the Town Center Plaza. Of course, anyone can choose whenever and wherever he or she wishes to strike for the climate. Bringing signs is encouraged.
Bill McKibben, longtime climate activist and founder of 350.org, says, "There are limits to what young people can do on their own. If you can't vote, and if you don't own stocks, then your ability to pull the main levers of power is limited."
This is why humanity must collectively demand climate action.
Outsized and frequent onslaughts of droughts, floods, storms, locusts, etc., are all warnings that humans are not paying attention to the basic planet mechanics for the survival of our species. The planet strikes back. Maybe it's about time we humans realize that since we can't beat nature, it's time to learn how to join it.
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A reminder: The fight to save the Buffalo River's watershed is ongoing. The comment period for the rule establishing a permanent moratorium on medium and large hog farm factories in the river's watershed is open until Monday, Sept. 23, at 4 p.m. Please submit comments seeking establishment of this moratorium before that date to: [email protected]. The river will not be safe until these huge pollution generators are no longer able to spread waste in the mountainous watershed of the Buffalo National River. By the way, fellow proud Arkies, please remember this was the nation's first declared "national river." For more details go to buffaloriveralliance.org.
Commentary on 09/17/2019