More than 2,000 people gathered at Eugene’s Free Speech Plaza today as part of a worldwide observance called the Global Climate Strike. KLCC’s Brian Bull reports.
Climate activists welcomed students from local schools, including South Eugene High School senior Oliver Alijan, who spoke to the crowd.
“The planet is warming, our leaders are doing nothing about it, and the Amazon Rain Forest is literally on fire!” he said, as many booed.
Another SEHS senior, Patrick Walker, says there should be no more campaign finances tied to the fossil fuel industry, and that Oregon should stop development on the Jordan Cove Pipeline.
“We’re here basically to tell our representatives, and tell our people, that we aren’t going to rest until those demands are met," Walker told KLCC.
"And we need to become leaders for Oregon, the United States, and for the world in this fight against climate change.”
Organizers showed solidarity with Greta Thunberg. The Swedish teen started the global climate strike movement, and will attend next week’s UN Climate Action Summit.
Other events were held in Corvallis, Roseburg, Cottage Grover, and Portland. Coordinators say there were 3,500 observances altogether across the world.
WEB EXTRA: See members of Rise! Dance! Resist! perform at the Global Climate Strike event in Eugene.
Copyright 2019, KLCC.
