On nationwide Day of Dedication, young Wisconsinites demand action on climate

Young people from across the state gathered Nov. 18 in Madison to join in the nationwide Day of Dedication to demand action on climate change.

“Today, we’re coming together with others to remind ourselves of what’s at stake, hold it in our hearts and dedicate ourselves to standing with each other and for communities of the future,” said Laura Donovan, a leader with the youth climate movement Sunrise, which coordinated the event.

“Sunrise,” she said, “is here to stop climate change and create millions of jobs in the process. A huge part of that for me is about building community.”

Day of Dedication organizers want to send a message to leaders home and abroad that young people will not allow their futures to be wrecked by greed and insolence.

Events took place in at least 24 other locations in the United States and coincided with international climate talks in Bonn, Germany.

“This is an important point in history for Wisconsinites,” said University of Wisconsin-Stout alumnus and speaker Gunther Melander. “Our natural resources are at risk from corporations looking to take advantage of us and I’ll do anything to keep that from happening. I’ll do anything to protect our home.”

Time capsule

The activists, gathered at Burrows Park, collected items for a time capsule signifying why they are fighting for climate justice and what they have to lose to climate change.

Organizers invited Gov. Scott Walker, who did not attend and did not respond to a request that he speak in favor of the Paris Climate Agreement.

So a letter reflecting the governor’s inaction was included in the capsule.

Justin Moen, a high-school student at Menomonie High School, spoke about calling out elected officials.

“We need to hold our politicians accountable for what they are allowing to happen to the environment, and to stop climate change before it’s too late,” he said.

After the speeches, the activists marched from the park to the governor’s mansion for a ceremony dedicating the time-capsule objects.

“One at a time we walked to the table with the time capsules and said what it is we’re fighting for, then placed our object into a capsule,” stated Connor Hobart, an organizer. “After each person said what it is they’re fighting for, the crowd would say, ‘I’m fighting for that too.’ It was very powerful.”

The time capsule will be buried until 2067.

“Society has a choice to make,” said Varshini Prakash, spokesperson for Sunrise Movement and a delegate to the climate conference in Bonn. “Will we stick with the status quo, potentially leaving a bleak future for young Americans? Or will we bury our fossil fueled past with the time capsules and build a healthier, more prosperous future for us all?”