Hundreds of concerned Central New Yorkers crowded into Forman Park Friday to join in the global Climate Strike. Similar events were held in other U.S cities like Chicago and New York City, as well as across the world in France, Germany, Pakistan, and Thailand. The strikes were primarily led by high school and college students. Syracuse University student Jett Jonelis highlighted the destruction and loss of human life caused by climate change.
"The real escalation of these natural disasters has been really serious, like Hurricane Maria and its effect on Puerto Rico. What happened in Houston. And it's just going to keep getting worse. If that's happening in the United States, it's so much worse in people in undeveloped countries."
Elissa Johnson considers herself something of a social scientist, and the SU internship coordinator thinks about the issues of justice that are inherent in issues like climate change.
"The people who are already marginalized, the communities who are already experiencing oppression that has been structural for generations stand to continue to be further marginalized and further oppressed, and experience the most extreme climate violence as a result of our inaction."
Kevin Voelger wants to be part of the bigger movement. The SUNY ESF chemistry major built his own electric bike that he even takes to the store, trailer in tow.
"We have to improve our infrastructure in cities, especially being able to have bike lanes that allow people to get around easily to reduce traffic congestion and emissions from fossil fuel burning cars."
Voelger says he's also careful about buying products with recyclable packaging, limits plastic, and always recycles.
