Quite a few people turned out Friday, Sept. 20 to show their appreciation for efforts aimed at cleaning up the planet and reducing man’s global carbon footprint. The climate rally tied in with the International Day of Peace, which was held the next day. This year’s theme is Climate Action for Peace. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said“nature does not negotiate”and emphasized four key measures that governments should prioritize in order to reach carbon neutrality by 2050: tax pollution, not people; stop subsidizing fossil fuels; stop building new coal plants by 2020; focus on a green economy, not a gray economy.” Staff photo/Brian Larsen
Maybe it was the nice weather, maybe it was the message, maybe it was a combination of both, but any way you looked at it, a turnout of 50-plus people with scant notice is a big turnout for a climate change rally, or for any rally on a busy 4 p.m. Friday in Grand Marais.
Arrowhead Indivisible promoted a pop-up demonstration in support of the September 20 Climate Strike Day on the corner of Highway 61 and Wisconsin Street near Java Moose.
Climate Strike Day was held to promote acceptance of the Green New Deal, respect of Indigenous Land, environmental justice, protection of biodiversity and sustainable agriculture.
Earlier in the day 12-year-old Olya Wright spoke at the Thunder Bay Climate Strike Rally. Olya got back just in time to attend the gathering in Grand Marais.
The half-hour-long rally had people lined up along Highway 61 holding signs with messages about the importance of keeping the planet safe from human-made pollution. A minute of silence was held for those people who have been affected by climate change disruption and one fellow spoke. He recently moved to Grand Marais from California where he said his house was destroyed by fire. The fire was fueled by conditions caused by climate change.
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