In an urgent call for action to address what they believe is a “global climate crisis,” hundreds of young people, joined by older protesters, marched through Doylestown Borough Sunday, arriving at the former courthouse to hear impassioned speakers, chant and support similar efforts taking place around the world.
“Planet Earth is home to every single person on this planet … we cannot lose this fight,” said Lily Mandel, 16, founder of BSCAPE (Bucks Students for Climate Action and Protection of the Environment) which organized the event. “Failure is not an option,” she told the enthusiastic crowd.
“I organized the march because I wanted everyone to learn about the diversity and complexity of the issue that most people don’t know about. I wanted to get everyone in my community to come together and show the government where the real power of this country lies.
Action in government happens when there is pressure from the streets,” Mandel, who attends Central Bucks South High School, wrote in an email.
Many of the some 300 sign-carrying people in the street agreed.
Jay and Donna Ginsberg joined the rally, “We’re making a statement,” said Jay Ginsberg, a borough resident. “We’re going in the wrong direction, The truth is the truth, is the truth. There is no alternative.”
Holding her recycled and creatively decorated cardboard sign reading, “SAVE the mermaids, Ban Single Use Plastics,” Donna Ginsberg said, “We have to change our habits.”
“This is for the children,” said Denise Glick, Doylestown Township, of the critical need to address climate change. Her sign carried quotes and messages from Greta Thunberg, the Swedish teen activist who has become the face of the global movement.
Quoting Thunberg, Tom Knoble said, “The house is on fire.” The borough resident said he, his wife and many others attended the march to add their voices to “this chorus for change and action.”
Going forward, Mandel said, BSCAPE plans more outreach to younger children, including riverside clean-ups and researching industries polluting the Bucks County environment and surrounding areas.
“Thank you to all of the students who have had the courage to rise up and demand action. The climate crisis is the defining issue of our time. Your voices today — and those of your peers across our country and around the world — will play an important part in getting my generation to wake up and at long last take action. Thank you.
“The time for patience is over. The time for quarter measures has long passed. Time. It is the one thing that we no longer have. We must act boldly and we must do so now. We must demand a clear and unobstructed path to 100 percent renewables that save our planet and us while leaving no one behind. We have faced great challenges in the past and have prevailed. We can do so again. We must do so.”
“Do not stop demanding action. Call and write to the leaders of the State Legislature in Harrisburg and the U.S. Congress,’ said state Rep. Steve Santarsiero. “Demand that they move legislation like my Senate Bill 600 that will increase renewable energy while helping to create a new and robust solar industry in Pennsylvania. Don’t give up. The time has come. ”
