By Genie Stevens
Rio Grande Chapter Climate Education Director
Preparing for their Big Day at the NM Legislature is always a huge deal for Global Warming Express students. In 2012, the day was called Renewable Energy Day, and since then the Chapter’s environmental day at the Roundhouse, which features the Global Warming Express kids headlining the noontime rally and press conference, has gone by various names. None, however, have proved to be as uncannily ironic as this year’s “Climate Crisis Day.”
Preparation at Global W.E. schools in Raton, White Rock, Tijeras, Taos and Santa Fe included civic engagement study, speech preparation, nature observation, and the sketching and painting of large art signs depicting what each child saw as “beautiful in the natural world.”
We planned a gathering of all of the Global W.E. kids from around the state for the morning of March 6 at Acequia Madre Elementary in Santa Fe with a 25-minute Art March to the Roundhouse to follow. This was to coincide with the arrival of the 36-student Acequia Madre Choir, joined by Santa Fe djembe drummer, Fred Simpson. He planned to perform the Swahili song “Sisi Ni Moja” (We are One) at the outset of the rally, followed by six Global W.E. students giving memorized speeches, based on their experience of analyzing and creating arguments for the passage of State Sen. Mimi Stewart’s Clear Horizons Act.
On the evening of March 5, news of impending high winds in Santa Fe and other areas for the following day began to circulate. By 10 p.m., the bus company that we booked to transport students from all Global W.E. locations except Santa Fe decided it would not be able to drive in such high winds and canceled the trips.
Santa Fe Public Schools, reacting to the news that PNM might cut all power in in the city the next day as a precaution against wildfire, canceled in-person school for March 6 and called for a day of remote learning. These cancellations eliminated the possibility for the choir, the drummer and the six student speakers to attend the Legislature.
Early on the morning of March 6, one bus trip, from Chamisa Elementary in White Rock, was able to make the trip, and the aptly named Climate Crisis Day began. Global W.E. students who arrived at the Roundhouse were able to meet and speak to their representatives, sit in the galleries during House and Senate sessions, tour the Roundhouse, and take part with their art signs in the noon press conference.
Fortunately, thanks to Chapter Director Camilla Feibelman and Climate Organizer Melissa Bernardin, the other Global W.E. groups had a chance to visit the Legislature and to follow in the footsteps of the group from White Rock. Climate Crisis Day became Climate Adjustment Day! The fact that Climate Crisis Day was disrupted by extreme weather only further demonstrated the urgent need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
Photo: Global Warming Express Kids in the House Gallery. Photo by Susan Hettinga
You must be logged in to post a comment.