Students from Begbie View Elementary were at city hall today with handmade signs to protest climate change.
It was part of a global coordinated school walk-out on Friday, March 15 in protest at world governments’ climate change policies. Protests were planned in more than 100 countries, including China, India, New Zealand, U.K. and Finland.
The walk-out was expected to be one of the largest international actions ever undertaken.
The strike is inspired by 16 year-old Greta Thunberg, who began holding solitary demonstrations outside Swedish parliament last year. Thunberg called on youths to “get angry and transform anger into action”.
She was recently nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The CBC reported that tens of thousands of young protesters are arched through Montreal Friday.
READ MORE: School students to strike with walkout starting at the legislature
“The kids asked to come,” said Sarah Newton, teacher at Begbie View Elementary. “Critical thinking for kids is important,” said Newton.
The school thought it best if an adult accompanied the students. The kids were in Grades four and seven. Roughly 20 students participated in the walk-out in Revelstoke.
Some students addressed the crowd, with one saying “People treat the earth bad and that’s wrong.”
“We need to change that,” replied another.
Four others made a short speech.
“The hard part is taking action,” they said. “We need to stand together to save the earth. Because we only have one earth.”
At the bottom of the city hall steps one small student held a sign half as tall as he was with a quote from Thunberg on it: “You are never too small to make a difference.”
Future protests are planned each Friday at 10 a.m.