KAILUA-KONA — Young people afraid for their futures protested around the globe Friday to implore leaders to tackle climate change, turning out by the hundreds of thousands to insist that the warming world can’t wait any longer.
Marches, rallies and demonstrations were held from Canberra to Kabul and Cape Town to New York. More than 100,000 turned out in Berlin according to an Associated Press Story published Friday.
In Kona, about two dozen sign wavers lined Queen Kaahumanu Highway at 3 p.m. to join the world-wide demonstrations.
Rianne Capron came to the Climate Strike because she wanted to wake people up.
“I’m here because I’m very concerned how our voting is going,” she said. “People need to get involved and get out to vote.”
Bailey Ferguson said she heard about the global movement and went to the official website looking for a gathering in West Hawaii. There wasn’t one listed so together with Chef Ellard she decided to organize Friday’s demonstration, using social media and the Climate Strike Hawaii Island Facebook page to get the word out.
“Everybody wants to do something. It’s all about action,” said Ferguson.
On the Big Island, sign wavings were held by the Konawaena Environmental Activists Club at the high school and another gathering took place on Church Row in Waimea. Events also happened in Hilo and Naalehu.
In Kona, 10-year-old Corbin Young held a sign that read, “The World Can’t Wait” while waving to passing cars.
“I don’t want any of these plastics and unrenewables,” he said. “It makes no sense. Use solar panels. Put a solar panel on your car, that’s all you need. Then there’s no gas pollution.”