By Lauryn Longacre, Staff Writer
Nearly 500 people joined the climate strike to demand awareness for climate change in Lewisburg on Sept. 20.
“Climate change is not a lie, do not let our planet die,” protesters yelled as they rallied together at the strike.
The protest began outside the Bertrand Library on Bucknell University’s campus at 11:30 a.m. and was carried throughout the campus. The protesters marched to Huffnagle Park where they listened to a lineup of speakers.
“If we don’t do something, in 11 years it’ll be too late,” said Bucknell University senior Dylan Rogers about the effect of carbon emissions to the earth’s atmosphere.
“It’ll be too late, it’ll be catastrophic; we have to do something now.”
Lewisburg resident Lynne Ragusea joined the rally with her young daughter after they found inspiration in the Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg, who sparked the global climate strike and encouraged millions of people all over the world to raise awareness from their governments on the threat of climate change.
“Our community is really important to us, and we’re really inspired by Greta and … wanted to participate,” Ragusea said. “It’s about modeling responsible behavior to my child and it’s about showing that I’m doing the best I can to help our planet.”
The speakers at Huffnagle Park included students attending the River Valley Nature School, Lewisburg middle schooler Wesley Jacobs, Lewisburg Area High School students Liv Manner and Jazmin Garza, the Lewisburg chapter of the Green New Deal and Lewisburg Mayor Judy Wagner.
Malia Simon, a junior Environmetnal Studies and Public Policy double major at Susquehanna, attended this strike because she believes it’s “important to bring awareness about the world’s changing climate and current environmental state.”
Special guest speakers also included Lewisburg Elementary student Lillian Nelson and Lewisburg Council member Jordi Comas who spoke on behalf of himself and the chair of the local chapter of the Climate Reality Project Sandy Field.
“We want a future, and we shouldn’t be paying for your greed,” Manner said as she spoke out about having led the walk out at her high school and the threat climate change will have on the future if the government doesn’t take action to slow it down.
Wagner quoted Article 1, Section 27 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which states, “Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the common property of all people including generations yet to come.”
Wagner said that she, along with the borough of Lewisburg, will participate in the Climate Protection Movement by working toward adopting a climate action resolution. She said the cost of non fossil fuel generated energy has decreased to the point of costing the same as using fossil fuel generated energy and switching over to non-fossil fuel generated energy could help combat the 1 percent of global carbon emissions that Pennsylvania contributes to.
“A growing number of community public entities … around the world have committed to begin planning to reduce emissions,” Wagner said. “Almost 100 US municipalities have promised to transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050 at the latest.”
Simon mentioned how personal this issue is for her and how near she holds it to her heart.
“The future matters,” she said. “I marched for the recognition of Indigenous peoples; we are always on the front line for environmental acion and demanding of environmental injustices.”
There will be a meeting for climate reform which will be open to the public in the Elaine Langone Center at Bucknell University from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sep. 25.
To get involved with the Climate Strike, text “action” to (860)238-3826.
