As climate strikes around the world took motion for the second week in a row on Sept. 27, Terrace rallied on as well.
This time, approximately 150 people showed up in front of city hall at 5 p.m. to make a stand and continue to raise awareness about climate change.
“It was so positive, it was so friendly… the kids were amazing, they brought in a lot of high energy,” Leticia Kistamas, founder of Plastic Free Terrace and rally organizer says. “It brings so much joy to my heart that I’m not alone, I used to think this is just me trying to do something crazy.”
Kistamas says they decided to hold the rally later on in the day to encourage more people to join, as some were at school or at work during last week’s strike.
READ MORE: Terrace holds climate strike as part of global movement
With their rally count three times more than before, the crowd was louder and had a lot more to say. Many took their turn to speak to remind everyone why they were there.
Sure Laxa, matriarch in Lax Kw’alaams, says her people have been fighting climate change for years and are opposed to LNG coming into the area. She adds that she’s disappointed with the schools not talking more about it, especially as this is an issue that affects the region.
“They’re letting LNG into the high schools to do presentations to promote LNG, but when environmental protectors want to go and educate the kids and let them have a balanced perspective, they won’t let us in,” she says. “This is their future, you don’t do that to young people. You give them both sides of the story.”
READ MORE: MEC and LUSH stores to close on Friday for global climate strikes
For Kistamas, she says her goal is to continue educating local businesses and residents through Plastic Free Terrace on how to reduce their plastic use, and that if enough people are interested — do rallies like this more often.
“I’d love to do this [rally] every Friday, I will put a poll online to see if people are interested in coming together at least once a month to keep the momentum going,” she says. “We demand climate action, go home and then four days later we forget everything.”
natalia@terracestandard.com
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