Acadia Junior High School students inspired by Greta Thunberg

He quickly puts the finishing green and blue touches on his homemade placard. Nathaniel Casiano is eager to hit the street with a group of passionate young climate activists.

“This is all about awareness,” shared the grade 9 student, as he makes his way outside the school. “We want people to be aware of the problem and how bad it is. A lot of people think we have more time for global climate change, we can just pass it off and that the next generation will solve it.” 

The mini rally took place on the same day students across the world participated in a Global General Strike for Climate Action. The movement, inspired by 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, has gained traction across the globe. 

In Winnipeg, roughly 10,000 people gathered on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislative Building. Instead of walking out of class, Nathaniel, his sister Celina and students from Acadia Junior High used their lunch hour to raise awareness.

“This is only the beginning. This is only the start of an awakening for the world to see that we really need to change what we are doing to protect the world for us and future generations.”