CLIMATE PROTESTS HEAT UP WITH FRIDAY BELL RINGING

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA — Fridays are heating up as protest du jour to save the planet.

And you’ll hear about it loud and clear as many Muskoka churches sound the alarm by ringing their bells.

It’s part of a “Week for Future” events.

Protesters say the ringing of bells is an ancient tradition for calling people together and also to sound the alarm in times of danger – like now!

Following last Friday’s Global Climate Strike Canadians are rising up again at the end of this work week with another day of demonstrations.

They have been inspired by Greta Thunberg, the Swedish teenage climate change activist who has galvanized the world around climate change, including an impassioned plea to the UN at their New York City headquarters.

Last Friday Huntsville High School students rallied a demonstration at the Huntsville Town Hall that drew dozens of people of all ages (#FridaysForFuture).

This Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Huntsville Town Hall the new Muskoka Power of Many has organized a similar event.

They are the group that has been standing on Hwy. 11 overpasses this summer waving big sheets with protest message about climate change.

They will be demanding action on the part of world leaders immediately to transition the world off fossil fuels, says a news release going around.

Also, Sept. 27, at noon both the Gravenhurst St James Anglican Church and Trinity All Saints Church in Huntsville will ring their bells.

During the same 90 minutes a protest will take place at the Orillia City Hall, 50 Andrew St.

And some downtown businesses are also protesting, by closing their doors, like the Bird House Nature Company in Orillia.

What you can do for the September strikes:

Church groups are urging those with to ring them for two minutes or more at noon every day this week leading up to Friday for two minutes.

They say the ringing of bells is an ancient tradition for calling people together and also to sound the alarm in times of danger – like now!

Or put a message on your signboard and in your newsletters to let people know that you’re ringing the bells to raise awareness about the climate emergency, and ringing for the future.

They encourage all community members, youth, and social justice committees to take part in the Week for Future events.

Greta Thunberg was angered and nearly in tears as she implored the UN to act on climate change: “The world is on fire,” she raged.

Email Mark Clairmont at mark@muskokatoday.com

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