Kelowna was just one of the hundreds of locations across the world to participate in the Global Climate Strike on Friday (Sept. 24).

Nearly 50 people rallied outside of city hall before marching down Bernard Avenue and delivering a letter demanding climate action to Kelowna-Lake Country MP-elect Tracy Gray害羞草研究所檚 office.

害羞草研究所淲e thought it was important to get out here because although climate activism isn害羞草研究所檛 thriving in Kelowna, we害羞草研究所檙e still here and we still gotta make some noise,害羞草研究所� said Ben Cuthbert, a member of Fridays for Future Kelowna.

The event was a collaborative effort between Fridays for Future Kelowna, Okanagan Climate Hub, Extinction Rebellion Kelowna and 350 Canada.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 so glad the youth are here, because we害羞草研究所檙e here for you,害羞草研究所� said Tracey Davis of Okanagan Climate Hub.

Devon Murray, a 13-year-old student at Dr. Knox Middle School, said that she was overwhelmed by the number of people in attendance.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 so upsetting to see that we still have to talk about this, that I have to skip school, make posters and do all this work just so we can be heard, addressed and it害羞草研究所檚 not fair,害羞草研究所� said Murray, who credited her teacher, Ms. Dominelli, for inspiring her to take action against climate change.

害羞草研究所淲e have it easy 害羞草研究所� there are so many people that have it so hard. It害羞草研究所檚 just so unfair. I害羞草研究所檓 just so happy to have everybody here,害羞草研究所� said Murray.

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At around 11:30 a.m., the crowd gathered outside of city hall, where they made posters with messages that included 害羞草研究所淭here is no Planet B,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淪mokanagan = Climate Emergency害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淐limate Action Now.害羞草研究所�

Short speeches were made and the crowd made their way towards Bernard Avenue at around 12 p.m. Equipped with their signs and a giant banner that read 害羞草研究所淐limate Emergency, Act Like It,害羞草研究所� demonstrators repeated chants as they walked, such as 害羞草研究所淯proot the system害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淐limate action is what we need, not billionaires and corporate greed.害羞草研究所�

The group marched down Bernard Avenue, drawing the attention of on-lookers and halting traffic along the way. At the intersection of Bertram Street and Bernard Avenue, the crowd looped back down Bernard before turning onto St. Paul Street, where Gray害羞草研究所檚 office is located.

害羞草研究所淚 just want to know that Tracy understands just how seriously this emergency needs to be taken,害羞草研究所� said Cuthbert.

害羞草研究所淎lso, I really want to hear her acknowledge that all these crises 害羞草研究所� Indigenous law rights, racism, sexism, unequal COVID vaccine distribution 害羞草研究所� all these crises and issues are all tied together. You can害羞草研究所檛 talk about one without talking about them all. I just want to hear her acknowledge that.害羞草研究所�

While Gray wasn害羞草研究所檛 present at her office, Cuthbert taped a letter demanding climate action on the building害羞草研究所檚 entrance. The letter, signed by Fridays for Future Kelowna, reads as follows:

害羞草研究所淒ear Tracy Gray, MP, This summer, the Okanagan was on fire. We can害羞草研究所檛 go on like this. As our voice in Ottawa, will you:

• Recognize that we need to cut emissions immediately and work to end the extraction and burning of fossil fuels?
• Work for a just, global COVID-19 recovery by fighting to end IP restrictions on vaccines?
• Condemn state violence against land defenders and environmental activists, and respect and listen to Indigenous peoples?

害羞草研究所淓verything is connected. We are counting on you to fight for our future.害羞草研究所�

Kyle Rogers, a first-year political science student at UBCO, said that he hopes that Gray recognizes that climate change is a real issue.

害羞草研究所淐orporations aren害羞草研究所檛 going to do anything unless they害羞草研究所檙e forced to. They害羞草研究所檙e incentivized to make the most money,害羞草研究所� said Rogers. 害羞草研究所淎t the moment, climate action isn害羞草研究所檛 in business害羞草研究所� best interest. I害羞草研究所檇 encourage her to make it so that is in their best interest.害羞草研究所�

When reached for comment, Gray said she doesn害羞草研究所檛 comment on correspondence received from constituents or protests but added she has 害羞草研究所渂een clear that in Ottawa I will fight to end the Liberal害羞草研究所檚 hypocrisy on the environment.害羞草研究所�

Editor害羞草研究所檚 note: This story was updated at 6:30 p.m. with comment from MP-elect Tracy Gray.

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aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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