On Monday, February 10, I was able to join eco-activists from Wooster's Upper School on a field trip to CT's State Capital organized by the Sunrise Movement.

This was a great opportunity for me to learn more about how climate change is affecting the environment and people locally in CT. It was heartwarming to see so many people who care so much about the environment. Teens and their adult supporters gave very moving speeches about the bills they want to pass by the legislators. I was especially inspired by 16-year-old Sena Wazer, who organized it. The three priorities that Sunrise CT is focused on are how all students in public schools should have a mandatory class about climate change; to stop expanding fossil fuels; and to expand renewable energy. I believe that it is so important for students in all parts of Connecticut to have a mandatory class about climate change because students in low-income communities have less access to clean energy solutions and are suffering the most from air pollution and rising waters. If these students are educated enough about climate change they can fight it because you have to know what you are fighting against to make a difference. We need to stop expanding fossil fuels now because Connecticut has a goal to reduce 45% of the greenhouse emissions by 2030 and to have 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. It is important to expand renewables in order to meet these goals.

So you might be wondering why people did not get started on this sooner? One big reason is that in order to stop expanding fossil fuels means people could lose jobs and that will affect their daily lives. But I learned that clean energy workforces have employed 34,000 people and that is just in Connecticut. The teens who organized this event are making a huge difference and they are inspiring me to do more. After this event, our own Wooster students Isha Patel and, Morgan Nolan, and Charlotte Kaczmarek decided to step up and become the leaders of the Danbury chapter of Sunrise CT. Charlotte Kaczmarek may also join them.

If you are interested in becoming an eco-activist you should join the Sunrise movement in an Earth Day rally on April 24 at the CT state capitol because, like Greta Thunberg said: "NO ONE IS TOO SMALL TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE"!