My name is Maddie Hikida, I’m 19 years old, and I’m angry. I’m angry because I’ve heard people talk about climate change for years but I haven’t seen any productive change. I’m angry because all scientific evidence shows the realities of climate change, but those who stand to profit refuse to acknowledge it. But most of all, I’m angry that it’s impacting low income communities and families the most.
We saw this in Katrina, in Sandy, in Maria. We saw this with the wildfires in California and with the cold in the Midwest. Climate change hurts everyone, but, like everything else, it’s the most devastating for the millions of innocent people who can’t do anything about it. And that’s what climate justice is about.
I fight for climate justice because I’m tired of sitting by and watching this happen. I’m tired of the excuses that I’ve been hearing for my entire life. I’m tired of crossing my fingers and hoping for the best, and you should be too.
The Sunrise Movement is creating an army of young people to fight for climate justice. We are working with leaders like Representative Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Markey to make real change. The Green New Deal is a mass transition towards renewable energy. The Green New Deal prioritizes and focuses on the communities that are the hardest hit by climate change. It will revitalize the economy and create a federal jobs guarantee. It seems ambitious, but all real change does until it happens.
Please join us.

Maddie Hikida, 

Bowdoin College