#Honesty May Help us Turn The Tide on Climate Change
by Samantha Peltrau, Senior, iPrep Academy
by Samantha Peltrau, Senior, iPrep Academy
On April 4th, Dr. Peter Kalmus, a NASA climate scientist, delivered an emotional speech while chained to a Chase bank in Downtown L.A, California. Alongside other scientists, Kalmus protested JPMorgan Chase’s extensive funding of fossil fuel companies. Kalmus pleaded, “We're going to lose everything, and we're not joking. We're not lying. We're not exaggerating." In Kalmus’ viral speech, he warns that the Earth is speedily reaching a point of no return: if humans do not confront and reverse climate change in the next three years, the effects will be irreversible, which are the findings of a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Freedman).
North American banks like JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, Citi, and Bank of America, for example, extensively fund the fossil fuel industry, and they are responsible for releasing copious amounts of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere (Mighty). A group called the Scientist Rebellion organized this protest, and many others around the world, calling on scientists to protest in front of Banks or Government centers. From Germany and Spain to Uganda and Ecuador, climate change scientists engaged in civil disobedience throughout the second week of April to bring attention to the growing crisis of our overheating planet (McFall).
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The Scientist Rebellion, one sector of the Extinction Rebellion, is dedicated to bringing together scientists and academics to hold governments and corporations responsible for perpetuating the climate crisis. They aim to empower and mobilize activists in order to grow the movement fighting against climate change (Scientist Rebellion).
The Extinction Rebellion, in my view, is trying their hardest to hold the correct people accountable and deliver us citizens the truth about climate change. Though this honesty may be hard to swallow, it is instrumental that EVERY citizen of the world is aware of how the climate crisis has the potential to destroy the world. The point of sharing this knowledge is not to send anyone into a panic but to move people to action! #Honesty is crucial because without it many people will neglect their responsibility to the planet; unfortunately our government and corporations with an immense amount of power have NOT been honest with us about the environment and their damage to it.
The Extinction Rebellion, in my view, is trying their hardest to hold the correct people accountable and deliver us citizens the truth about climate change. Though this honesty may be hard to swallow, it is instrumental that EVERY citizen of the world is aware of how the climate crisis has the potential to destroy the world. The point of sharing this knowledge is not to send anyone into a panic but to move people to action! #Honesty is crucial because without it many people will neglect their responsibility to the planet; unfortunately our government and corporations with an immense amount of power have NOT been honest with us about the environment and their damage to it.
Kalmus ended his speech in L.A by telling the media why he, and other scientists, feel driven to this cause. "This is for all the kids in the world, all of the young people, all of the future people, this is so much bigger than any of us."
Scientists and academics, for decades, have risked their careers and public image to warn each and every one of us about climate change in order to reverse the effects of it for the younger generations who would suffer the consequences. Many who came before us did their due diligence to be honest with the public, but what will you do with your knowledge of the crisis, and the power you have to make a difference?
Scientists and academics, for decades, have risked their careers and public image to warn each and every one of us about climate change in order to reverse the effects of it for the younger generations who would suffer the consequences. Many who came before us did their due diligence to be honest with the public, but what will you do with your knowledge of the crisis, and the power you have to make a difference?
WORKS CITED
Freedman, Ethan. “'We've been trying warn you': NASA climate scientist breaks down
in emotional speech.” The Independent, 14 April 2022, www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/nasa-scientist-protest-extinction-rebellion
-b2057563.html.
McFall, Morgan. “NASA Scientist Arrested at Chase Bank Amid Global Climate Protests.” Business Insider, 6 April 2022, www.businessinsider.com/scientists-risk-arrest
-in-global-climate-protests-2022-4.
Mighty. “Sustainable banks in the US: what they are and a list of eco-friendly options.” Mighty Deposits, 2022, www.mightydeposits.com/posts/environmentally-friendly-banks.
Scientist Rebellion. “About Us – Scientist Rebellion.” Scientist Rebellion, www.scientistrebellion.com/about-us/.
Freedman, Ethan. “'We've been trying warn you': NASA climate scientist breaks down
in emotional speech.” The Independent, 14 April 2022, www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/nasa-scientist-protest-extinction-rebellion
-b2057563.html.
McFall, Morgan. “NASA Scientist Arrested at Chase Bank Amid Global Climate Protests.” Business Insider, 6 April 2022, www.businessinsider.com/scientists-risk-arrest
-in-global-climate-protests-2022-4.
Mighty. “Sustainable banks in the US: what they are and a list of eco-friendly options.” Mighty Deposits, 2022, www.mightydeposits.com/posts/environmentally-friendly-banks.
Scientist Rebellion. “About Us – Scientist Rebellion.” Scientist Rebellion, www.scientistrebellion.com/about-us/.