ALAMOSA — The Global Climate Strike, from Sept 20-27, is organized by young people to raise awareness of the huge threat of global warming.

Students who have studied the science realize that 97 percent of actively publishing climate researchers believe that the climate is warming as a result of human activity. The youth realize that it is they who will be paying the price for their older generations’ lack of action on this serious problem.

Global warming is not only threatening the future, it is happening right now. From devastating wildfires to hurricanes, from record rainfall events to ocean acidification, from Midwest flooding to epic drought in Latin America, a factor in immigrant migration to the US, global warming is happening now. It currently costs the U.S. billions of dollars a year from climate catastrophes such as wildfires and hurricanes.

Future estimates will be much greater and will include a marked decrease in food production from decreased arable land with concomitant rise in food and land prices.

The Friday’s for Future campaign consists of youth from 150 countries leaving their classrooms every Friday to demand action against the climate threat. Now, from Sept 20-27, they are hoping that everyone else will join them: teachers, businessmen, farmers, bankers, etc.

They want to disrupt business as usual to emphasize that it is business as usual that created global warming. We must change our usual activities if we have any hope to stop its ongoing destruction.

Currently over 2,500 strikes are planned in 117 countries. Over 600 strikes are planned in the US, including in every state. Over 1,000 websites and major companies plan on going on a “digital climate strike” on Sept. 20.

Pope Francis has called on Catholics to protect creation. Catholics will be participating in over 150 climate strikes worldwide this Friday Sept 20. And last Thursday Sept 12,

New York’s public-school officials announced that they will excuse students who plan on attending various “climate strikes” throughout the city. The International Trade Unions Congress, with 200 million members worldwide endorsed the Global Climate Strike this past week. Over 900 Amazon workers at the headquarters in Seattle are also going to walk out—their first strike in 25 years.

In Alamosa, there is a proposed rally on ASU campus at noon on Friday Sept 20. There will also be two other events, both showings of the documentary “From Paris to Pittsburgh” followed by a discussion of what could be done in Alamosa to combat climate change.

The first will be Friday Sept. 20 at 6 p.m., room 227 of the Art Building on ASU campus and the second will be on Sunday Sept. 22 at 1 p.m. in the lower level of the Alamosa Presbyterian Church. For questions please call 480-2541.