Kelowna was just one of the hundreds of locations across the world to participate in the Global Climate Strike on Friday (Sept. 24).

Nearly 50 people rallied outside of city hall before marching down Bernard Avenue and delivering a letter demanding climate action to Kelowna-Lake Country MP-elect Tracy Gray香蕉视频直播檚 office.

香蕉视频直播淲e thought it was important to get out here because although climate activism isn香蕉视频直播檛 thriving in Kelowna, we香蕉视频直播檙e still here and we still gotta make some noise,香蕉视频直播� said Ben Cuthbert, a member of Fridays for Future Kelowna.

The event was a collaborative effort between Fridays for Future Kelowna, Okanagan Climate Hub, Extinction Rebellion Kelowna and 350 Canada.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 so glad the youth are here, because we香蕉视频直播檙e here for you,香蕉视频直播� said Tracey Davis of Okanagan Climate Hub.

Devon Murray, a 13-year-old student at Dr. Knox Middle School, said that she was overwhelmed by the number of people in attendance.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 so upsetting to see that we still have to talk about this, that I have to skip school, make posters and do all this work just so we can be heard, addressed and it香蕉视频直播檚 not fair,香蕉视频直播� said Murray, who credited her teacher, Ms. Dominelli, for inspiring her to take action against climate change.

香蕉视频直播淲e have it easy 香蕉视频直播� there are so many people that have it so hard. It香蕉视频直播檚 just so unfair. I香蕉视频直播檓 just so happy to have everybody here,香蕉视频直播� said Murray.

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At around 11:30 a.m., the crowd gathered outside of city hall, where they made posters with messages that included 香蕉视频直播淭here is no Planet B,香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播淪mokanagan = Climate Emergency香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播淐limate Action Now.香蕉视频直播�

Short speeches were made and the crowd made their way towards Bernard Avenue at around 12 p.m. Equipped with their signs and a giant banner that read 香蕉视频直播淐limate Emergency, Act Like It,香蕉视频直播� demonstrators repeated chants as they walked, such as 香蕉视频直播淯proot the system香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播淐limate action is what we need, not billionaires and corporate greed.香蕉视频直播�

The group marched down Bernard Avenue, drawing the attention of on-lookers and halting traffic along the way. At the intersection of Bertram Street and Bernard Avenue, the crowd looped back down Bernard before turning onto St. Paul Street, where Gray香蕉视频直播檚 office is located.

香蕉视频直播淚 just want to know that Tracy understands just how seriously this emergency needs to be taken,香蕉视频直播� said Cuthbert.

香蕉视频直播淎lso, I really want to hear her acknowledge that all these crises 香蕉视频直播� Indigenous law rights, racism, sexism, unequal COVID vaccine distribution 香蕉视频直播� all these crises and issues are all tied together. You can香蕉视频直播檛 talk about one without talking about them all. I just want to hear her acknowledge that.香蕉视频直播�

While Gray wasn香蕉视频直播檛 present at her office, Cuthbert taped a letter demanding climate action on the building香蕉视频直播檚 entrance. The letter, signed by Fridays for Future Kelowna, reads as follows:

香蕉视频直播淒ear Tracy Gray, MP, This summer, the Okanagan was on fire. We can香蕉视频直播檛 go on like this. As our voice in Ottawa, will you:

• Recognize that we need to cut emissions immediately and work to end the extraction and burning of fossil fuels?
• Work for a just, global COVID-19 recovery by fighting to end IP restrictions on vaccines?
• Condemn state violence against land defenders and environmental activists, and respect and listen to Indigenous peoples?

香蕉视频直播淓verything is connected. We are counting on you to fight for our future.香蕉视频直播�

Kyle Rogers, a first-year political science student at UBCO, said that he hopes that Gray recognizes that climate change is a real issue.

香蕉视频直播淐orporations aren香蕉视频直播檛 going to do anything unless they香蕉视频直播檙e forced to. They香蕉视频直播檙e incentivized to make the most money,香蕉视频直播� said Rogers. 香蕉视频直播淎t the moment, climate action isn香蕉视频直播檛 in business香蕉视频直播� best interest. I香蕉视频直播檇 encourage her to make it so that is in their best interest.香蕉视频直播�

When reached for comment, Gray said she doesn香蕉视频直播檛 comment on correspondence received from constituents or protests but added she has 香蕉视频直播渂een clear that in Ottawa I will fight to end the Liberal香蕉视频直播檚 hypocrisy on the environment.香蕉视频直播�

Editor香蕉视频直播檚 note: This story was updated at 6:30 p.m. with comment from MP-elect Tracy Gray.

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aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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