Last Friday, September 20 students held a demonstration outside on the patio to educate others about the effects of global warming and how we as individuals can do to act as catalysts for change.

Some of the students took the mic in the nation-wide demonstrations and answered two questions:

“What do you think foreign countries could do to help combat climate change?” and “What would you do as an individual to help combat climate change?”

Brendan West, 11, said “As individuals, we need to cut down on our energy use overall.”

He notes how improving your everyday activities could help with slowing down climate change, like turning up the temperature in your house and not buying meat from large corporations.

Roland Keegan, 11, said, “There has to be cooperation on everyone’s end.”

Amy Swearingen, 12, said we as individuals should speak to our representatives and support local business. In regards to foreign countries, she said, “They need to find a way to unite, despite their different opinions and policies.”

The universal answer was to unite and face the problem head on. Other answers consisted of suggesting protests in front of HQ’s of corporations that emit large amounts of carbon emissions, and talking to politicians and representatives to help with the fight against climate change.

Student speakers faced some pushback from nearby counter-protestors.

Earlier this week, climate activist Greta Thunberg spoke to the United Nations on the issue.