Scores of Westporters — young, old and in between — gathered on the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge today. They were part of an international Climate Strike effort, raising awareness of the need for urgent action.
Greens Farms Elementary School students Camryn Brink, Charlotte Pendergast, Ella Vitulich and Capri DiVincenzo deliver an important message. (Photo/Alli DiVincenzo)
Over the years, the Post Road bridge has been the scene of numerous political protests. Today’s message was simple: Act now, so that when the youngest protesters are the age of the oldest, they’ll still have a planet to live on.
David Mark Brown adds his voice too. (Photo/Alli DiVincenzo)
I’m on strike too, Dan. I’m NEVER going to work again!
I like David M Brown’s sign.
ADW Staples 1956
No problem with taking action on climate change, the RSC bridge is a great place to socialize on a day off but shouldn’t that day start with a look in the mirror? Put the Range Rovers and Panameras on blocks for the duration, take shorter showers, turn off the pool heater and most of all: stop the finger pointing. The government can’t (and shouldn’t) do for us what we won’t do for ourselves.
I know your post is not meant to be encyclopedic and inclusive:
Add:
reduce meat consumption to one meal per day.
Avoid using pesticides and insecticides
Find a green energy provider…
Take a car instead of an airplane, take a railroad trip instead of a car.
We all know what what we can do and what we’re willing to do… let’s start there and hope our under-attack Mother Gaia (Mother Earth) doesn’t force us to do more
Do we really want to bequeath a desolations to our progeny? Surely no appreciation of anyone’s portfolio justifies that.
I liked your comment, Werner!
Let’s add to that thought stream of yours … take a bike instead of a car!
If we all did that for short errands or reasonable distanced commutes, no one would need a gym membership anymore!
Then, anyone who is handicapped or immobile in any way/shape/form, can use the trains, electric cars, etc.. to be on their way, safely b/c less traffic, less hinderances. It could be a win-win situation … maybe 🤔.
Damn, it’s hard to create a Utopia when the solutions are seemingly all too easy, but mankind is so darn complicated🤪
😁
Your list is very comprehensive and anybody that doesn’t take all or a large part of it to heart in their own conduct are as much a part of the problem as politicians who posture for votes thereby alienating many individuals whose actions are necessary to move the ball.
Way to go, Westport! Over 4 million people joined in the Climate Strike today. While very powerful, I also feel a deep sense of sadness when I look at the amazingly aware, caring and often frightened and outraged youth that are leading them. Their voices are indeed powerful, but they need US to join them and take action NOW. We cannot cling on to our lifestyles and habits nor inactive politicians, regulators or industry that allow future generations to pay the price— a price that just might be the planet itself.
As Greta Thunberg asked today in NYC “We demand a safe future. Is that really to much to ask?”
Chicken Little 😂
Strikes again‼️
The reason why we are (mostly) driving oil based vehicles (expensive or budget brands, doesn’t matter in my point here), is because of the mis-information campaign via big oil (apparently Exxon being the largest culprit).
We have been “advertised” to death on how to live/consume/purchase/throw away.
Now we are all “in a world of shit” (I think that was a famous movie quote; maybe Slingblade?)
And the recycling “thing” has been exposed as just another “business” between the U.S. and … China, among other countries too, perhaps?
I’m just cherry picking a few small points that I’ve dug into over recent years of research and/or mindful exploration.
But the problem is large, and a clear and present danger.
The new westporters will drive home in their SUV with walls and fenced yards into their 10,000 square foot homes. Lol. Hypocrites
I would like to ask any of the adult participants, or anyone with knowledge on the subject some questions:
1. Of the .8C rise in Global Average Temperature over the past 150 years, what percent of that number is known to be a direct result of man?
2. What weight does Carbon Fertilization carry in the Global Climate Models that are used to predict climate sensitivity?
3. How will development of the poor undeveloped nations reduce overall CO2 in the future and by how much?
4. Is there a scientific consensus regarding the predicted future catastrophic climate scenarios?
5. What is the number one greenhouse gas on the planet?
6. How much is the sea level rising along the coast of Florida per year. How about long island sound? How many inches per year?
And how about we enact some serious local and/or state solutions to prevent the future catastrophic predictions?
Here are a few ideas:
– Ban all power boats from Long Island Sound
– Ban the use of Christmas lighting
– Ban all night games
– Ban all heated swimming pools
– Force people to limit their vacations and traveling
– Put wasteful water parks, amusement parks and race tracks (i.e., Quassy, Lake Compounce, Lime Rock) out of business.
I’m have no doubt that given the circumstances, the protesters would agree with these solutions (and many more), but how do we get the “deniers” on board?
Pretty funny responses, climate change is due to the poles shifting, and the change in the earths axis of rotation. That’s why the sun now rises in the NE, and sets in the NW. Nothing anyone can do about it.
I commuted by bicycle today, looking at the one-per-car drivers stuck in traffic of 95, I cannot help but think, to help Mother Earth we shall not reproduce ourselves too aggressively, and that should be the most important rule, it scales exponentially with respect to time….
What is the value of the exponent?
Oh please, the first participant I googled was some kid with a megaphone who lives in a 5500 square foot house….Lecture me when you live in a yurt, until then get back to class.
I don’t think an elementary school student should be responsible for the size house she lives in.
Dan, David’s point (I think) was that anyone with a megaphone should know whereof they speak prior to picking it up. Beto’s Law.
Lighten up buddy, I picked one last name and Google’d it. Just did two more and their houses were even bigger.
I reported directly to Mike Bloomberg for 6 years. Mike owns a dozen planes/helicopters, almost 20 homes, and a yacht registered in a tax haven that’s big enough to have its own zip code.
And yet he lectures us on climate change, and says he makes a difference by buying carbon credits.
If you want to make a meaningful gesture actually make a personal sacrifice, don’t pontificate from your fancy neighborhood and then head off to your McMansion.
The US won’t ever move the needle on climate change. The world changed / most people think for the better / but there are unintended consequences. When I was a 2nd grader at KHS, much of India/China was undeveloped and people in poor countries died from solvable diseases. Well guess what – now the entire planet is developed and except for the anti-vaxxers we’ve eradicated a bunch of bad stuff.
So stop worrying Westport and celebrate that the world’s population in places like Africa is exploding and much of China is now producing cheap stuff for you to buy, and hope that Compo still has a beach for as long as you’re on this planet.
First, I think it is scary that someone would google a kid and see what size house they live in and then say they should, in effect , shut up. I for one am encouraged that our youth are informed and taking an interest. I had no say in where or what my parents lived and what kind of a car they drove. Now let me confess I was a Staples 1958 Grad so I am not young. However it was a Wesporter who drove my interest in the environment way back then my Scout Leader, Betty Roberts, wife of First Selectman Elliott Roberts. Trust me, very few people were interested or talking about it at the time. I grew up, aged, became more informed and set my own sail (Could have said course but hey, I’m talking to Westport!) and followed the lead I was given. Celebrate these young ones. Cheer them on. They are our future. I was privileged to grow up in Westport and have so many people who selflessly gave their time and talent and often their treasure to ensure that we all got a good education both in the classroom and in real life. Celebrate Westport’s history of educating and allowing youth to grow.
Mary,
Just because someone is protesting, it doesn’t mean they are informed…
In fact, I would suspect few could answer some very simple questions regarding climate change and have little overall knowledge of the subject…other than to tell us we are all doomed of course.
The point is, they are the future. This gets them interested. They will remember their involvement. They may follow up and they may not but……
Isn’t the possibility that they will take an interest in the future the good part.
Yes, as many commenters have pointed out, we all rely on and depend on (to various degrees) the use of fossil fuels. That doesn’t mean we can’t create awareness of our collective impact on the planet and promote policies and actions that encourage alternative and renewable sources of energy, and more efficient ways of extracting and using energy.
Example: Where I live in Montana i use electricity produced and delivered by NorthWestern Energy. They’ve reached a point now where 61-percent of their electricity is produced by renewable, carbon-free sources of energy such as hydro, wind and solar.
However, they are also planning to build 13 new facilities to produce electricity from coal, methane and natural gas. They have also made company-policy changes and are pushing for state regulatory changes that will increase costs for people who choose to install solar panels, and harm a lot of solar energy companies.
Why? Because in Montana those who produce and profit from coal, methane and natural gas have a lot of power, influence and control over policies and politics.
And so I get involved in politics to encourage and promote more renewable and alternative sources of energy, and more efficient ways of extracting and using energy, that allow me and others to continue using energy in a manner that causes less harm and less impact to things I care about — such as clean air, clean water, wildlife and our planet.
(And yes, I am well aware that hydro, wind and solar have impacts. But some sources of energy have more consequences than others.)
Sure, I can walk and ride my bike more and live in a small apartment (all of which I do), but that doesn’t change local, regional and national policies that, for various reasons, currently favor the fossil-fuel industry and serves to refute, undermine and deny science, and block the advancement of innovative technology and policies that promote cleaner, healthier, renewable and alternative sources of energy and more efficient ways to extract and use energy.
We can use energy and still push for changes in how that energy is produced and used. There’s nothing hypocritical about that.
I’m confused. This past month alone a truck driver, a mill worker, a chef, a car mechanic, a banker and several keyboard warriors all told me that climate change is a hoax. I don’t know who I should trust or believe — them, or the overwhelming majority of scientists and scientific organizations throughout the world who, through rigorous scientific research using the scientific method, have all concluded (though they disagree on specifics) that climate change is occurring, that greenhouse gases emitted by human activities are the primary driver, and it is a growing threat to society.
Despite the fact that, here where I live in Montana, we’re experiencing warmer temperatures, less snow pack, earlier snow melt, less water in our rivers, more drought, more forest fires and other impacts long ago predicted by the scientific community, I think I’m going with the mechanic.
“What do scientists know?” he says. “They’re full of crap.”
Then again, he and a dozen other mechanics checked out my car and claim I need a new transmission. I think they’re full of crap.
Funny comments, we have a lot of protests and events on that bridge. It would be great if there was local follow up on any of them. Pik one initiative and make it actually happen.
Love it!