LVR students stage 24-hour protest Monday in support of Leap Manifesto and Climate Initiatives
By Nelson Daily Staff
Anyone visiting L.V. Rogers high school in Nelson Monday (February 29) should not get the wrong impression if they see hallways jammed with students sitting on their backsides.
Because many of the student body plan to show support for the 24-hour “sit-in” in the halls of their school to bring attention to the climate issue and their support of the Leap Manifesto.
“We, Project Beginning, are a student group in Nelson, BC dedicated to creating a youth voice on climate change,” a comment on the Project Beginning Website said.
“Our main focus is to support the mandates of The Leap Manifesto, a non-partisan initiative coordinated by the This Changes Everything team.”
“As youth whose futures are at stake in this crisis, we believe that we cannot go on with business as usual,” the comment added.
So students plan to sit on International Leap Day, to symbolize the need for positive change.
“As part of this demonstration, on the afternoon of the day, we are having a discussion group with speakers to educate ourselves, other students, and staff further on the Manifesto and on climate change,” the website added.
“As Parliament is coming to the end of the ninety day timeline dedicated to critical decision making on Canadian climate policy, we need more than ever to make our voices heard. It is our belief that the Leap Manifesto provides a structured guideline for the changes that need to be made now.
“We, members of Project Beginning and members of the LV Rogers School community at large, will sit in support of the directives stated in this intelligent and critical document.”
LVR Principal Tim Huttemann has gone on record as supporting the students leadership in pushing the government to back up their decisions.
Students from Mount Sentinel High School in South Slocan have also joined their LVR friends at the one-day sit-in.
