Youth call for climate action
BVH students participate in September 23rd climate strikes
The Southbay community lines up at their last stop—front of the Chula Vista City Hall—to take a photo of their annual climate rally. While taking photos, multiple chants like “What do we want? Climate justice! When do we want it? Now!” could be heard.
October 13, 2022
“Climate change is not a lie. Do not let our planet die!” chant students from various high schools in the South Bay.
On Sep. 23, South Bay community members were seen marching from Friendship Park to Chula Vista City Hall, demanding climate justice. After arriving at Chula Vista City Hall, youth listened to guest speakers, advocating for a cleaner future. As that day marked the Global Day of Climate Action. People from all over the world came together to protest for a greener, environmentally friendly future.
“A lot of these young folks that are here are on their way to becoming registered voters, people who can vote on policies that will really make a difference within our communities. I really want them to [understand] they’re coming to a point where they have power in their hands,” 2022-2023 Miss Kumeyaay Nation Priscilla Ortiz-LaChappa said.
Native Americans have been disproportionately impacted by climate change, as they are heavily dependent on the environment in their daily lives. Ortiz-LaChappa is one of the main advocates for her tribe and heavily speaks out against the issues they face from climate change.
“To me, [advocating for climate change is] really crucial, especially being Native American and knowing that we’ve taken care of this land for so long. It’s not just the United States that’s experiencing climate change, it’s the rest of the world,” Ortiz-LaChappa said.
Today’s youth will have to bear the brunt of the effects of climate change caused by unsustainable practices like oil fracking—reaping the consequences of consistent wildfires, heat waves, as senior and Green Team president Maya Loughney explains. The Global Day of Climate Action allows youth to advocate for the global issues of climate change. For Chula Vista Council Member Jill Galvez, showing up on Friday was a priority.
“I’ve come out every year and I’m thrilled to do it. I’m a lifetime environmentalist, but I really wanted to showcase and highlight the Chula Vista Community shuttle which is my labor of love over the past three and a half years,” Galvez said.
During the Climate Strike rally, Galvez spoke amongst the protesters and showcased the electric shuttle. Shuttles are important to Galvez as it allows any citizen to get around Chula Vista in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. They emit fewer greenhouse gasses and pollutants than gasoline-powered vehicles.
“Options like micro-mobility and micro-transit are absolutely essential to implement. We can save a lot of money and we can provide a new way of getting around that’s convenient, time effective and cost-effective,” Galvez said.
Various environmentalist groups came in support of the Climate Strike, such as San Diego 350, a climate action nonprofit. San Diego 350 member and Adult Organizer Lexi Rueff came to the event supporting the cause and wanting to showcase her voice.
“[The youth] are inheriting the worst impacts of climate change and it’s not fair, youth didn’t create fossil fuels. I’m 27 and I still feel like this was put on me,” Rueff said. “It’s important that we center the voices of youth so that we can protect [their] future, from sea level rise, from increased heat, from air pollution.”
Rueff highlights the importance of taking action locally considering the fact that it shows the huge scope of climate change. She explains that action in Chula Vista is necessary because it shows how climate change is affecting every part of the world through extreme weather, higher temperatures, rising sea levels, and much more.
It’s not just the United States that’s experiencing climate change, it’s the rest of the world
— 2022-2023 Miss Kumeyaay Nation Priscilla Ortiz-LaChappa
“Today is the global day of action for the Youth Climate strike. That’s why it was so important to have an event here in Chula Vista to let the world know that we care too and that we need action here, just like anywhere else,” Rueff said.
Behind the protest were various student and adult organizers that planned the event. Loughney was one of the main contributors in organizing the protest. As Green Team is heavily involved in promoting an environmentally friendly community, there were many steps they took for the protest to run in a smooth process.
“We organized our meetings [and] we grabbed a lot of volunteers. We also helped to reach out to different organizations to come and support and to different schools to attend,” Loughney said.
While Friday was a global acknowledgment of the environment, Green Team continues to actively advocate certain environmental issues that happen on a daily basis.
“We’ve been, as a community and as youth, helping to pass resolutions and petitions in our community. I think that it’ll show as it grows on a larger scale throughout California, maybe Governor Gavin Newsom will be able to see how big of an issue it [climate change] is,” Loughney said.
As the Earth slowly begins to take in the consequences of harmful human impacts, it is important that people, especially youth, take action right now. Protesters want citizens to know that our environment cannot return to a healthy, natural state without action and legislation.
“Our world has taken care of us for a long time, our Mother Earth. It’s up to us as her children to take care of her back and keep it healthy and steady for the next generation to grow up,” Ortiz-LaChappa said.
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