On the morning of October 20, five young people began a hunger strike outside the White House to demand that President Biden deliver on his commitment, made in the US NDC, to reduce emissions 50-52% by 2021. Despite health challenges, the hunger strike continues on to its 13th day for four of the youth. The strike follows a week during which thousands of Indigenous leaders, faith and racial justice leaders, and climate advocates peacefully marched the streets of Washington, D.C., to protest Biden’s loyalty to fossil fuels over people.
ECO brings a message from the peaceful protesters and hunger strikers for President Biden as the leaders’ summit begins – We have to do as much as possible, as quickly as possible, now!
Meet the Hunger Strikers
Kidas is 26 years old from Dallas, Texas and is fighting for everyone who died during the Texas freeze earlier this year. Julia, 24, is also from Texas, and says, “We have abused mother-nature for too long, our communities are hurting. I do not want this earth to die the way I already see my neighbourhoods suffer every day.” Abby, 20, is from Pennsylvania, and last week bravely confronted US Senator Joe Manchin from West Virginia, who receives income from the coal industry and whose state is a top coal and dirty gas producer. Sen. Manchin is stalling the Build Back Better legislation in the US with key climate provisions. He had the audacity to claim that the US has done more than any other country on climate. Abby told him he was wrong and the US needed to meet its commitment, which will be difficult to do without congressional action. Ema from California is 18 years old and says she is striking because “paid-off politicians are refusing to take my generation seriously, despite wildfires spreading and our homes burning.”