Yass Valley residents are preparing to march the main street of Yass to demand action on climate change from the community and council.
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The Yass March Against Climate Change will take place on Friday, September 20, the same day as the School Strike 4 Climate Australia.
This will be the second time thousands of students take the day off school nationally to demand climate justice.
In March, many local students travelled to Canberra to join the nearest strike.
This time, organisers hope students will join the Yass March, starting by the playground in Riverbank Park at 3.30pm.
The local march is registered as a Global Climate Strike event.
Following the march, at 4pm, there will be a series of speakers at Trader & Co.
They will discuss the types of climate change action that can be taken in the Yass Valley.
The speakers include:
- Charlie Prell - a farmer for climate action
- Kate MacMaster - why climate change action matters
- Sophie Peer - what businesses can do
- Maggie MacMaster - recycling at Yass Public School
- Michelle Fahey - environmental initiatives at Yass Public School
- Zara Vale - why young people should be involved
- Maddie Diamond - clean up and conservation
"We are using this day to bring attention to and awareness of what the council is doing, what we'd like them to do better and what we can all do," Yass March organiser Al Phemister said.
"Whether you believe in climate change or not, let's look at the local environmental issues and do something about them."
Organisers will hand out leaflets with information about what people can do at home, in their places of work or at school and what the council could be doing.
Examples include composting, switching off lights in rooms not being used and recycling soft plastic at the Woolworths collection point, Mr Phemister said.
"We want to raise awareness of simple and practical actions. You don't have to be for or against climate change, it's just good for the planet," another organiser and speaker Kate MacMaster.
"We want the council to commit to a range of climate change actions.
"This is the first stage of a broader program," she said.
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