Climate Strike, Toronto - A Snapshot of What It’s Really Like

Let’s start with a bit of a memory exercise… Four years ago, when you step out of your home, what do you see? Sky-high buildings, skyscrapers, malls, office buildings, or maybe your own front yard with planted flowers and trees? I’m sure all of you have different responses. In comparison, I ask of you… What do you see now, when you step out of your home? I’ll let you dwell on that for a bit, as I continue.

The climate strike in Toronto took place on September 27, which was the last day of the Global Week for Future. On that hot, sunny Friday, student activists gathered at Queen’s Park to form one of the biggest climate rallies Toronto has ever seen, with the number of attendees totalling up to approximately twenty thousand. Why did so many people join in on the march for climate?I participated in Climate Strike Toronto myself. Realizing that e the condition of Mother Earth is getting worse everyday, I decided to  join the march to help raise awareness about climate change. I took the subway to Queen’s Park and saw hundreds of people spilling out of the subway exit, many holding brightly colored signs with phrases like “HOW DARE YOU TAKE AWAY OUR FUTURE?” and “STOP THIS RIGHT NOW”. I was stunned. I’d never been to a protest before, let alone one with so many of my peers. Once I got a good look at the crowd, I was amazed to see thousands of students, adults, and even little kids participating. What had caught my attention, though, was a crowd of people that formed a circle and chanted what clearly was indigenous music: people of indigenous descent came to protest, too.

The actual march started around 12pm.. As we were walking, people in the march chanted and encouraged bystanders to join in. The streets and sidewalks were filled with so many people that that I could  see at least three to five drones flying above our heads to make sure everything stayed under control

But was attending the strike really worth it? I surveyed approximately 70 students ranging from Grades 7 to 12 at HC, asking the question: “Was the Climate Strike worth a school day’s afternoon?” The results show that approximately 75% of the students did not participate in Climate Strike Toronto, which means the majority did not participate, implying that most students either don’t want to miss half a day of school, or did not have  their parents’ permission to go. I also surveyed Havergal about whether its students think climate change is going to affect our generation. Approximately 85% of Havergal students believe that climate change will have an impact on their future. I personally agree with this. Climate change is an important issue we should aim to solve before it’s too late

Though there are many conflicting perspectives on the Climate Strike, it is safe to say that more than half of the Upper School, roughly 64 percent specifically, agrees that the Climate Strike was significant and brought attention to the issue of climate change. 

Thousands of student activists participated in Climate Strike, Toronto. However, even after writing this article, some questions are still swirling around my mind. Do we really know what we’re fighting for? Are we making a significant change by participating? Regardless of these doubts, climate change is an important issue that should be addressed. Use more reusable cups. Purchase fewer drinks or food with styrofoam or plastic containers. There are many ways we can help the environment, bit by bit. As President Obama once said,“No challenge pose a greater threat to future generations than climate change.”