FOCUS: The whole world is watching response to climate change

Photos are copyrighted by Rob Byko, 2019.

Staff reports  |  Scores of impassioned activists, young and older, crowded the Stern Center Gardens at the College of Charleston Friday afternoon to discuss real solutions to climate change and ask leaders to do more and better.  All across the world, millions did the same.

In Charleston at the Climate Crisis Moment event, the energy of participants, particularly girls and women college students, was inspiring, writes contributing photographer Rob Byko.

“They, by far, were the stars of the day,” he said after snapping pictures showcased below.  “Speaker after speaker, young and old, echoed the calls of the Climate Crisis Movement’s young political powerhouse, Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old environmental activist from Sweden who provided much of the incentive for these young leaders-to-be to step up and accept the responsibility to lead the day’s messaging. 

“They crafted the words, scheduled the speakers, led the charge and called out for all of Charleston to come out and match their enthusiasm.  The drum beat repeated over and over…’Register to Vote’ and ‘Get Out the Vote’ If you can’t vote or are too young to vote, influence those who can.

“Politicians who ignore these young voices do so at their own peril. By Election Day, these political activists will be lining up at the voting booths or dragging their parents by the hand to answer their call to action.”

Climate strike events coincide with the United Nations’ climate summit in New York City that starts today. Here is a short list of events that are on tap:

The 2019 John Winthrop Civic Forum: 6 p.m. Sept. 23 at Rita Hollings Science Center at the College of Charleston in Charleston.

How to Get Active in Climate Crisis: 6 p.m. Sept. 24 at Baker & Brewer in Charleston. 

Lecture: The Unequal Consequences of Climate Change: 7 p.m. Sept. 25 at Robert Scott Small Building at the College of Charleston in Charleston.

The Dutch Dialogues Report: 7 p.m. Sept. 26 at Charleston Gaillard Center in Charleston. 

• Check out Charleston City Paper for more information.

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