Youth from a North Vancouver secondary school were a part of hundreds and thousands striking against climate change on March 15.
The global movement of skipping school to strike against climate change was initiated by teenage activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Greta Thunberg, of Sweden.
“I think we need to group together as a people because if we don’t do anything it will be like killing the planet with our own hands,” said Ethan Spence, a Sutherland Secondary student who joined the school walkout.
Sutherland Grade 10 student Hannah Cook was inspired by the actions of Thunberg and encouraged a large group of her peers to join the worldwide youth protest.
Cook said they were protesting climate change as well as the abuse of power by “politicians and rich people” who have the authority to make real change but don’t because of greed.
“We need to realize that this is an important issue and it does exist. Everyone needs to be on board with this. It is not a fake issue and it is real and it’s just gonna get worse,” she said.
After walking out of class midday on Friday, the teens took public transit to the Vancouver Art Gallery, where they gathered with high school and university students from around Metro Vancouver for a climate change rally.
