Hundreds of Ossining Students Pledge to Help the Environment

“We Only Have One Earth,” “There Is No Planet B,” “Earth Needs Our Help” and “We Need to Act Now.”

Those are some of the urgent messages that students wrote on posters for Anne M. Dorner Middle School’s Sept. 27 Climate Strike.

Eighth-graders Shae Shandroff, Katelyn Kranitz and Shania Flores worked with Principal Kate Mathews to take part in the Global Climate Strike, which took place from Sept. 20-27. They drafted a Climate Change Pledge that hundreds of students filled out, promising actions like using reusable water bottles, eating locally grown and organic foods, unplugging cords when not in use, and carpooling to school, sports and activities.

As they marched in front of the school, dozens of sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders shouted, “Save Our Earth” and “What do we want? Action! When do we want it? Now!” They all held posters that they made out of recycled cardboard boxes during their lunch periods.

Shae and Katelyn said it is important for people of all ages to speak up and take action to protect the environment. “If we don’t try and save the world now, the younger generations are just going to have to suffer more,” Katelyn said. “And it’s not just the adults’ fault because climate change was found out decades ago. But they helped contribute to it.”

“We’re also contributing to it right now,” Shae added, “but it’s going to be really hard to save. We have a deadline and we have to meet it or there’s no going back.”

Katelyn and Shae said they greatly admire Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old climate activist from Sweden. She started the strike in August 2018 outside the Swedish parliament. Her work led to millions of people around the world taking part in the Global Climate Strike.

“What she’s doing is really important and it shows that our generation cares about what’s happening to our Earth because it’s going to be our future,” Shae said.

Ms. Mathews said Shae, Katelyn and Shania met with her a few weeks before the march and said they would like AMD to participate in the Climate Strike in a respectful way. They worked together on the school’s Climate Change Pledge, which students voluntarily filled out and submitted online. On Sept. 20, all watched a 5-minute video on climate change that was narrated by Bill Nye, who starred on “Bill Nye the Science Guy” on public television.

Ms. Mathews said she is very proud of the students who organized the Climate Strike, and she is encouraged by the fact that so far, 382 students pledged to change their lives in small ways to help the environment.

“When students are given the opportunity to have their voices heard, they can make a positive impact on our world.”