Lebanon Valley College students held a “climate strike” in the Annville Square last month.
Gathering on Sept. 24 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., the students demonstrated in the square with signs. One expressed the students’ fierce opposition to fracking and pipelines. Another protested against pipelines and fracking, arguing that they are poisonous and deadly. Other signs stated, “your actions = our future” and “there is no planet B.”
The strike was organized by the LVC Environmental Club and the LVC College Democrats.
According to LVC’s website, the LVC Environmental Club “looks to establish environmental sustainability initiatives among LVC students,” and the LVC College Democrats was established “to encourage and support the ideals of the Democratic Party.”
Ariana Genna, a Lebanon Valley College student, said in an email statement, “The strike was arranged because we students are scared for our future and for the future of our children [and] grandchildren.” She continued on to express that attempts to find a solution for climate change need to be made because of its devastating consequences, such as the creation of millions of refugees and the threat it poses to public health, the economy, and national security.
The climate strike was part of Fridays For Future (FFF)‘s international day of action.
FFF’s website states that it is a “youth-led and -organized global climate strike movement.” The movement was born following the school climate strike by Greta Thunberg.
Michael Schroeder, a professor of history at Lebanon Valley College, said in an email statement, “It was very heartening to see LVC students take the lead in organizing this climate strike action in Annville, to see up close their energy, dedication, commitment, and passion in working to raise public awareness about the reality of this existential threat to human civilization and to the web of life on which we all depend.”
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