On Sunday, September 21, 2014, Nerinx Hall’s Peace and Justice and Planet Patrol Clubs joined over 200 other protesters for a rally about Climate Change Action, hosted in downtown St. Louis.  Missouri Beyond Coal, an organization that supports renewable energy sources and products with limited impact on the environment, hosted the rally and march in Kiener Plaza.  Rallies similar to St. Louis’ were held in 2,808 locations in 166 countries on that day.  These protests were meant to spread awareness of and encourage participation in the United Nations Summit on Climate Change, which began on September 23, 2014. The Summit brought an assortment of world leaders together to discuss climate change and what countries can specifically do to stop it.

The rally began with multiple speakers discussing their own ideas on climate change and strategies for solving it. A member of the Sierra Club spoke first about his understanding of climate responsibility. He discussed how in the past, he was not concerned with being environmentally friendly because he was too busy. He went on to explain how life is always going to be hectic and filled with other time commitments, but if people don’t pay attention to the climate and environment now, irreversible damage will be done in future years.

Another speaker had just run for a position in the House of Representatives and spoke of the need for the government to take a firmer stance on global warming. A university professor called out organizations such as Peabody Energy, which has a large office building just blocks from the site of the protest, for their disregard for the environment and enormous production of coal energy.  He also criticized institutions like Washington University for supporting companies that have little concern for the environment and for allowing members of these corporations to sit on their boards.  The owner of a solar installation company promoted the use of solar panels in order to stop using resources such as coal and natural gas. Other speakers included young people from local universities, religious leaders, and community activists.

The rally culminated in a short march around Kiener Plaza. The group chanted and held signs while busy downtown traffic went past and television stations recorded. Several Nerinx activists held signs that said “Invest in Clean Energy = Invest in American Jobs.” Others wore shirts from the Missouri Beyond Coal organization. Protesters sang several songs, including “This Land is Your Land” by Woodie Guthrie. Peace and Justice Club members even introduced their own chant that they had learned at the School of the Americas Protest.

Senior Hannah Bowman, a Peace and Justice club member, attended the march. She commented that “It was really inspiring to see all different groups of people come together to bring attention to climate change. This is our world and our future, and we need to recognize this problem before it’s too late.” With renewed dedication and creative thinking, organizations like Missouri Beyond Coal believe citizens can prevent further environmental damage and improve life for citizens around the world.