Meet The Teen Behind Rhode Island's Youth Climate Strike

NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — Joelye Land is no stranger to activism. In 2018, she took part in the March For Our Lives demonstration to protest gun violence in schools and took part in the nationwide walkout. This past Friday, she was a major player in Rhode Island's Youth Climate Strike at the state house. But this isn't her full-time job: she's also 17 and a junior at North Kingstown High School.

Land reached out to the national Youth Climate Strike organization when she found out there wasn't a demonstration planned in Rhode Island. After being put in charge of the state demonstration, she reached out to the local chapter of Sunrise, an organization dedicated to stopping climate change. Rhode Island's chapter primarily consists of student from Brown University, who were able to help Land get in touch with other high school students across the state. Together with Amick Sollenberger form the Lincoln School and Lauren Maunus, a Brown student and member of Sunrise, Land helped bring together hundreds of students on the steps of the state house on March 15.

Bearing signs with slogans like "It's Our Future," "Don't Be A Fossil Fool" and quotes from the Lorax, the students joined others from around the world in saying enough is enough on climate change.

The Youth Climate Strike movement was co-founded by Isra Hirsi, 16, from Minneapolis and Haven Coleman, 12, from Denver.

"We, the youth of America, are striking because the science says we have just a few years to transform our energy system, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and prevent the worst effects of climate change," their mission statement declares. "With our futures at stake, we call for radical legislative action to combat climate change and its countless detrimental effects on the American people."

Underneath the organizations's mission statement is a list of demands and proposed solutions for climate issues ranging from support of the Green New Deal to preserving public lands and protecting wildlife, ending with the caveat that their solutions are not the only ones with validity, and that they will only be effective if implemented at the national policy level.

This is no ragtag group of "woke" students. This is a carefully orchestrated, multinational movement aimed at getting the attention of state, national and international policymakers. The organization drew inspiration from the Swedish "Fridays For Future" movement that started when 15-year-old Greta Thunberg began sitting on the steps of parliament every Friday for three weeks in August to make a statement about a lack of progress for climate change policy. In September, Thunberg announced she will be continuing her protest every week until lawmakers agree to make policies that align with Paris agreement guidelines.

Another national climate strike is in the works before the end of the school year on May 3. As for Land, she's taking her new role as an activist leader seriously and making changes to a more sustainable lifestyle.

"I really only started becoming involved with climate justice activism with this strike, but I hope to continue this work in the future!" she said. "I also became vegan this year, as it is a simple lifestyle change that really helps the planet."