Over 10,000 people gather in Midtown, New York the other weekend, hoping to persuade current and future leaders to stop using fossil fuels. Over the past two weekends, protests have erupted in Europe, South Korea, India, the U.S. and elsewhere protesting the same thing: stop the mass production of carbon emissions. 

These have been the largest climate protests since before Covid-19. 

There have been very few reports of major disturbances or crimes associated with these specific protests, but there have been previously. Climate activists have interrupted marathons, vandalized monuments, as well as destroyed priceless works of art, all to draw attention to climate change. 

I believe in protesting to call attention to important matters such as climate change and other major issues, although I’m more likely to listen to concerns if the protesting is peaceful. We need to end violent protesting if change is to occur. 

According to the University of Pennsylvania, 46% of people reported that some of the disruptive tactics used by protesters have decreased their support of the climate movement. If protesters destroy property, block roads and are hostile, then it makes me, and I’m sure many others, less inclined to listen. 

Although, I understand where these protests are coming from. Many peaceful protestors are not heard. I didn’t hear about these protests until a week or two after the fact. News and radio stations don’t cover climate protests or issues as much as they should; protestors only make nationwide headlines with negative acts. 

Our climate gets minimal coverage or negative coverage. Neither of which contribute much to gaining support for the issue. 

The solution is to push the protests in the media more than before. Peaceful protests have to make headlines and appear all over social media to capture the attention of the world. There are organizations and businesses out there that do good things to combat climate change, but haven’t gotten the attention they deserve. Businesses such as Misfit Market, also known as Imperfect Foods, ship produce and other groceries that are oddly shaped to consumers, saving roughly 228 million pounds of food. If they could get more publicity, more food could be saved, and more change would occur. 

Posting, writing and recording can help open new avenues to creating policies and national change. Support cannot be gained by keeping quiet.