Ben Kuebrich, a Syracuse University graduate student in English, has been to many protests in the past – Occupy Wall Street, the protest against the Keystone Pipeline in Washington D.C. and the march in New York City after Hurricane Sandy.
However, he said he thinks the People’s Climate March [3] in New York City on Sunday will be the biggest of them all.
The march, projected to be the largest climate change demonstration ever, will precede UN Climate Summit 2014 [4], which takes place on Tuesday, Sept. 23. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has invited government, business and NGO leaders to the talk. At least 120 heads of state will attend.
More than 50 SU students will attend Sunday's march. Students from the State University of New York Environmental Science and Forestry, along with community groups, such as Syracuse’s Sierra Club [5], will also participate.
Kuebrich helps lead the Divest SU and ESF [6], which works to persuade SU and SUNY-ESF to stop investing in fossil fuel companies.
He describes the demonstrations that he’s attended as seas of people and signs. “You get to not just see but feel the power at these marches,” Kuebrich said. “It’s this endless movement of people that’s amazing.”
Emma Edwards, a senior in environmental geography, has worked to secure student buses. She said it could be an excellent way for students who care about the environment to really feel like they can make a difference.
“The People’s Climate March is something that will energize students and give them strategies to deal with issues that will affect them in the future.” Edwards said. “It will be empowering.”
