Local Students to Rally in International Climate Strike

University of Hawai’i at Hilo members of the Student Union, Global HOPE, and other student based organizations will join together Monday at noon on the Mookini Library lanai to participate in the International Climate Strike.

The strike takes place on the first day of the United Nations COP21 climate talks in Paris.

“Climate change is the biggest problem the world is facing today, and for future generations,” said Maya Goodoni, the UH-Hilo principal event organizer. “November 30th marks the first day of the COP21 conferences in Paris, where all the world leaders will get together and make informative decisions about climate change.

“The government won’t do anything unless we tell them what to do. Global exploitation of fossil fuels is the biggest contributor to climate change, so we are sending a clear message to our world leaders telling them what we want. Millions of people from all over the world are stepping up to combat climate change, let your voice be heard.”

UH-Hilo students banning together for their cause are walking for three key reasons: to step up efforts to keep fossil fuels in the ground, for an immediate and rapid shift to 100 percent renewable energy, and to highlight frontline communities who are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Dr. Jonathan Price and Dr. Ryan Perroy, both UH-Hilo professors, will discuss global warming around 12 p.m.