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By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
PLYMOUTH – Ella Pitts of North Woodstock and Bonnie Anderson of Harrisville, both 17, put their books away and left classes at the New Hampton School Friday to support more action on climate change.
“We can’t procrastinate on this,” said Anderson, “We have not a lot of time to fix it. It’s important.”
Pitts said she wants a clean environment left for her kids when it comes time to have them.
The two were among hundreds who attended the Pemi Climate Strike in Plymouth.
Thousands more gathered across the state at about 10 events, and they were among millions who attended similar walk-outs of schools and businesses in 150 countries Friday.
They say they are working to bring attention to the climate and the science that indicates there are only about 12 years left for meaningful action to reduce the impacts of human-caused global warming.
It is the beginning of a week of activities planned worldwide leading up to a climate event at the United Nations in New York City.
Scientists believe the way forward is to reduce carbon emissions and transfer to renewable energy sources.
Outdoor strikes were also held in Manchester, Keene, Hopkinton, Durham, Nashua, Bethlehem, Conway, Portsmouth and on the State House lawn in Concord.
Most were organized locally by students and citizens and coordinated by 350.org.
The event in Plymouth included a number of political leaders and representatives of candidates for president of the United States.
Steve Rand, co-chair of the Pemi Climate Emergency Coalition. and a former state representative from Plymouth, said he was pleased with the great attendance at the event and said he hoped that this “popular uprising” would lead to meaningful change.
Paula Tracy can be reached at paulatracy6@gmail.com