by Allissa Lozano, Johan Satorre and Edited by Annabelle Williamson
All across the globe high school students plan to protest against climate change in some way. A Swedish high school student named Greta Thunberg started the strike against climate change, by skipping school every Friday to go sit outside the Swedish Parliament no matter the weather
It is also estimated that 1,000+ Amazon employees will walk out on Friday. And that is also what happened at Redwood High School this Friday. Many students gathered in the quad to protest for more action against climate change.
“When we are 50, we are going to be the ones who have to live with the devastating realities of climate change.”
Michael DeCampos ’21
Michael DeCampos ’21 is one of the organizers of the Climate Change Walkout. Climate change awareness is something she is very passionate about, she says, “when we are 50, we are going to be the ones who have to live with the devastating realities of climate change.”
DeCampos talked to the Gigantea about the Amazon strike and what it has to do with climate change. “Amazon is a large part of the problem, their CEO donates to a lot of companies who contribute to fossil fuel emissions and he also supports politicians who do not support climate change.”
The purpose of this whole protest is to “not only spread awareness but make Redwood students feel like they are a part of the change and be a part of something bigger than themselves.” DeCampos says.
DeCampos wants to spread the word about, “climate change, and how to cut back on electricity, fossil fuel carbon emissions, and recycling in general” all ways to become more earth friendly. In her own way she “recycles, never uses Ziploc bags and always uses a reusable cup when she goes to Starbucks”.
A walk out is very empowering and DeCampos hope she empowers more people to share their voice and opinions on global problems.
DeCampos has a large following on Instagram and with that comes the good and the bad, when she sees criticism she feels that, “people have the right to say what they want to say. People just do it to put others down and what they say doesn’t affect me and it doesn’t affect the way I feel about certain situations”
Nizhoni Kears ’22, the Co-Organizer of the protest, says she started this protest because, “the more media attention climate change gets, equals the more pressure on the government, it also spreads the word about reducing the carbon foot print.” Kears believes that no change is too small.
Karla Gutierrez ’20 is a strong supporter of the walkout. She hopes the protest, “reaches out to a bigger audience and spreads knowledge about Climate Change.”
“By just making a change in your daily life, you can slowly start to make a change in society.”
Karla Gutierrez ’20
Gutierrez wants to spread the message that simple changes make a big impact. “By just making a change in your daily life, you can slowly start to make a change in society.” She feels this protest may not affect climate change directly but it gives Redwood a chance to inform students about climate change and how to help the cause.
Gutierrez believes that Visalia doesn’t have the time or resources to become concerned about the climate problem. “If we could at least affect one student to start thinking more conservatively and to make better choices with their resources, then that makes a little bit of a big difference”. Gutierrez is very water conscious and loves to recycle. A small effect adds up to the overall resolution of the problem.
Xiomara Ramirez ’20 is the Green Club Activity Director. She wants this protest to “open the eyes of the students who don’t really know a lot about climate change at all and I really want this to have a positive outcome.”
She also believes that protests raise awareness to issues, “every picture, every video on social media that is shared the more and more our voice is heard and what we are saying is heard.” Ramirez said, “for staff and adults who are against the whole protest I hope the protest changes their minds.”
Ramirez hopes that this protest helps people understand what Social Impact and Green Club are about. Ramirez gets involved helping out environmental causes by, “doing clean ups around the natural hiking areas, and the Kaweah Oaks Preserve.”