Friday Nudge: Today's the Day
The Global Climate Strike begins today. Kids and youth are leading the way.
Welcome! I’m Jessica, and this newsletter is about faith and climate action. You can subscribe by clicking here:
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Hi friends. Today’s the beginning of this year’s Global Climate Strike, which is occurring on both September 15 and 17 around the world. Sparked in August 2018 by Greta Thunberg and organized under the umbrella of Fridays for Future, the Strike is a global youth-led movement for ending fossil fuel use and limiting global heating to under 2 degrees Celsius.
Fridays for Future Ottawa, the local chapter of the global organization, has organized a protest on Parliament Hill this afternoon. I will be joining thousands of people of all ages as we make clear - once again - the message that we must take immediate action to stop burning fossil fuels and other greenhouse gases.
I will be bringing two of my kids with me, too. I am pulling them from school so that they can learn - and lead - about taking climate action.
Youth and Kids are Leading
Youth and children are truly taking the lead at this event. After the land acknowledgment by Algonquin elder Albert Dumont, university student organizers from FFF will offer opening remarks. Then, children aged 7-12 will be posing questions to the country’s leaders.
These children are part of two organizations I have just learned about: World Changing Kids and For Our Kids Ottawa-Gatineau.
World Changing Kids is described as:
”a social enterprise dedicated to character education, leadership development, community building and social justice. We empower children to believe that they can make the world a better place, help them figure out how they want to do this, and give them the tools necessary to make this happen.”
For Our Kids is:
“…a network of over 5000 parents, grandparents, and others, living on unceded Indigenous territories across the country known as Canada.
Our diverse and inclusive community welcomes parents, grandparents, and anyone who cares about the future of our planet. For Our Kids is a community of real people, all motivated by love for their kids.
We’re working to curb emissions and to make our communities less dependent on fossil fuels.”
Call to Action: What is Happening in your Community?
For this morning’s call to action, I invite you to look into what child- or. youth-focused groups are in your community. What are they doing? How can you support them? Do they need volunteers? Can you provide a platform or venue for raising awareness about their work? Do they need funds?
We are called, as people of faith, to give of our time, talents and treasure (i.e., to volunteer, use our gifts and strengths, and donate money) as a response to the gifts that God gives us. Let us find the child- and youth-focused and led climate organizations that now need our time, talents and treasures. Doing so can be discipleship in action.
What child- and youth-focused and led climate organizations exist in your community? Let us know in the comments!
See you at the climate strike!
