Three Days Until We Strike

Today seems like a good day to say: this is what I'll be doing on Friday, September 20:


Though the strike is organized and inspired by youth, everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.

In the Twin Cities, we will be gathering at the Western Sculpture Park on Marion Street, just south of University Ave., at 11:30 a.m. before we start marching to the State Capitol. The whole thing is supposed wrap up by 2:00 p.m.

By 11:30 that morning, I should be somewhere in the northwest corner of the sculpture park trying to connect with the local Climate Reality folks. I haven't decided yet what my sign will say, but I'll probably be wearing it on my back so my hands are free to bang on one of my many noise-makers. Daughter Number Three-Point-One may be with me.

It looks as though we have a 50% chance of storms. So be prepared for that.

If you're not in the Twin Cities and want to see if there's something planned in your area, check this out. If there isn't anything near you.... strike anyway! Make yourself a sign (I suggest "There is no Planet B" as a good default) and go stand at a busy intersection. You can register your event on that linked site as well — it's a way to find some new friends to join you.

As an after-event in the Twin Cities, everyone is invited to a Sacred Circle for Our Climate at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 900 Summit Ave. in Saint Paul, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Its organizers describe it as an opportunity for personal-communal reflection/prayer after the Youth Climate Strike, which will provide space for gratitude, grief, and hope through meditation, words, and song. They have a full description here.

Then on Monday, September 23, 7:00 p.m., there will be a poetry reading with five invited readers and an open mic. Its organizer describes the focus as "circling around support for the Earth, for climate justice and for the youth who are bringing its peril to our attention. So poetry will speak out, resist, stand up, mourn, find courage—and of course appreciate our Earth, Nature, life, this moment." At CoCreatz, 2388 University Ave. W, Saint Paul.

There are likely to be other events between the 20th and 27th. All of this is geared around the UN's Climate Action Summit 2019, which is on Monday, September 23 in New York City, with a Youth Climate Summit on Saturday, September 21.