A group of Guelph high school students is getting creative to advocate for climate action during the pandemic, while also giving back to the community.
On Friday, senior students from Guelph CVI and John F. Ross will host a ‘Shoe Strike’ where donated used and new shoes will be lined up in front of City Hall to imitate the usual climate strike in person outside city hall.
The initiative is in solidarity with Guelph Fridays for Future, Kitchener-Waterloo Climate Save, Youth Action on Climate Change, and Extinction Rebellion,
“The purpose is to show that even during COVID, we still don't agree with the inefficient actions our government has taken against the climate,” said Eli Shifflett, a Grade 12 student in GCVI who is one of the organizers.
“We want to show that we're still protesting. The symbolic purpose is to show that we’re not okay with it and want to fight back against it.”
A drop-off bin is located at the front entrance of St. George’s Anglican Church which will collect donated shoes until Thursday. Shoes can also be dropped off between 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday at city hall.
The group said all shoes used in the climate strike will be donated to local charities including Lakeside HOPE House. They also said that winter footwear and children’s shoes are most needed.
Shifflett said the awareness of climate change has been overshadowed by the pandemic and it's important to remind people that it is still an important and relevant issue.
"While everyone is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change continues to impact the world, especially vulnerable demographics. These are both overwhelming current issues but we must not let one eclipse the other,” said Lila Baisley, another student organizing the Shoe Strike.
“Protesting cannot continue in the traditional sense during the pandemic, so this means that it is time to put our foot down in the fight against climate change in a different way, with a safe yet effective Shoe Strike."
