By Daniel Vega
The wildfire that is climate change is quickly spreading around the world and is affecting a multitude of communities, including Rialto. As a result of this, the Eisenhower Green Growing Society or EGGS for short is organizing an event to educate the community about the dangers of the present day climate crisis as well as what we can do as a community to combat it. This event is the Youth Climate Action Summit and it will take place on April 22, 2022, at Eisenhower High School. The event will be open exclusively to students from 1:30-3:30 and teachers will be able to sign up and bring their classes to learn about climate change and participate in a multitude of activities. After school ends, the summit will be open to the community from 3:30-5:30 where people are encouraged to bring with them ideas and an open mind.
In Rialto, there are four main ways in which climate change affects people. The first is fire, the second is water, the third is air quality, and the fourth is heat. Fire means the high presence of wildfires taking place in and around Rialto as well as throughout the West Coast. Water refers to the insecurity of water in the area. According to Mrs. Anderson, most water in Rialto comes from snowmelt (snow that melts from the mountains) and is then captured into wells. If there is not enough snow there is not enough water, similarly if there is too much water at one time it cannot all be collected and utilized. Air Quality refers to the pollution and harmful particles present in the air we breathe. In a report by the American Lung Association San Bernardino County was ranked #1 in terms of worse air quality in the country. The last main effect is heat which refers to the increasing temperatures in and around Rialto that are strong enough to kill people who do not take the proper precautions. EGGS would like to address these effects and more at the Youth Climate Action Summit and encourage students and the community to take a stand and fight climate change.
According to EGGS the purpose of this summit is to “promote awareness and celebrate what students can and are doing to slow down climate change”. There will be a number of guests attending the event such as elected officials, officials from Burrtec, and representatives from other environmental organizations. Elementary School students from throughout the district will also be in attendance. These officials would like to discuss possible legislation that would mitigate the effects of climate change and possible ideas to limit its future effects which grow more dire every day that passes. In an alarming report by the IPCC scientists from around the world warned that if we do not achieve the necessary greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2025, the results will be catastrophic. EGGS would like to do what is in their power to hopefully prevent these catastrophic effects through community education and outreach.
The Youth Climate Action Summit will also host a number of activities for students. There will be contests such as a Spoken Word/Poetry Competition, a Visual Art Contest, a possible fashion/thrift show, and more. Prizes will be awarded to the winners of these contests which include gift cards, and laptops.
The Youth Climate Action Summit taking place this Friday, April 22, 2022 on Earth Day will be a fun event full of enjoyment, education, and fueled by change. EGGS hopes to see you there. In order for teachers to sign up there was a google form sent out by Assistant Principal Mrs. Pulido. For more information you may contact Mrs. Anderson, Mr. Salgado, or Mrs. Velez as well as visit the EGGS Instagram @eggs.at.ike.