CARL Young wants to send a clear message to Sunraysia residents deliberating whether to take part in the climate strike — looking after the environment must come first.
Hundreds of people, including school students, are expected to take part in the global strike in Mildura on September 20.
Mr Young, a member of the 350 Mallee Climate Action Group, was a leader in bringing the strike to Mildura to bring more awareness of the “climate crisis”.
He confirmed he had been talking with local schools and churches that had shown support amid concerns about students missing class time for the march and rally, which starts at 1.30pm.
“There’s not much school left in the day, so students who want to partake wouldn’t be missing out on much,” Mr Young said.
“Looking after the environment has to come before anything else. It’s students, when they get older, who will experience the effects of climate change.”
Mr Young said there had already been a large amount of interest and hoped more of the community would come forward and speak out.
“It’s hard to put a number on it, but we feel we will have a couple hundred people there on the day,” he said.
“People might be cautious in speaking out about climate change publicly, but what we’re finding is the more people that come on board, the more people feel OK to express their concern and that’s what we’re trying to encourage.”
More than 70 strikes are organised in Australian capital cities and regional and rural locations to coincide with the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York.
Mr Young said it was important to back the global movement.
“We don’t want it to be perceived as a green type of action getting together. Some of us are commercial farmers and have spoken to a number of businesses who are eager,” he said.
“It’s not just people on the fringes of the community, it’s a really broad spectrum.
“Climate change will effect everyone.”
The march will start in Henderson Park, followed by a rally in Langtree Mall.
More information is available at globalclimatestrike.net.
