Photo By Wick Beavers: The Gila River was named the most endangered river in the United States by American Rivers. The Gila River Festival in Silver City, New Mexico will be held Sept. 20 – 21.
By Allyson Siwik, Gila Conservation Coalition/Gila River Festival
SILVER CITY, NEW MEXICO – The Gila River Festival will join with young people around the planet for the Global Climate Strike. Inspired by 16-year old Swedish student Greta Thunberg, strikers are demanding that governments step up to take urgent action to prevent catastrophic climate breakdown by phasing out fossil fuels, and accelerating the urgent transition to a sustainable, renewable energy powered future with climate justice and equity at its core.
The 15th annual festival scheduled for Sept. 19 – 22 in Silver City, calls attention to the climate emergency, explores the future of the Gila River in relation to the changing climate, and addresses our moral obligation to act as responsible stewards of the Earth.
The Gila River Festival provides a variety of opportunities to participate in the Global Climate Strike:
Friday, September 20
· 9 a.m. – Silver City-based youth climate activists Thinking On A Mountain performance, WNMU Global Resource Center Auditorium
· 10:45 a.m. – The Future is Now, panel discussion with youth San Carlos Apache water protector Naelyn Pike and youth climate activist Akila Sanders-Reed, WNMU Global Resource Center Auditorium
· 5 p.m. – Demand an end to the age of fossil fuels at Silver City’s Climate Strike. Bring your own sign or borrow one provided. Gough Park.
· 7 p.m. – Gila River Festival keynote presentation with climate activist and founder of the Climate Disobedience Center, Tim DeChristopher. Admission is $15 donation at the door and students are admitted free. WNMU Fine Arts Center Theater.
Saturday, September 21
Gila River Extravaganza – 4 – 10 p.m. in Gough Park – The Gila River Extravaganza kicks off with a special Monsoon Puppet Theater Parade from 2:30 – 4 p.m. The parade will lead participants from the Murray Ryan Visitors Center to Gough Park where the party continues with more kid- and family-centered fun featuring music by Caliente and Auld Lang Syne, Fort Sill Apache Fire Dancers, San Carlos Apache Singers, information on the climate crisis, photo booths, food vendors, chill zone, merchandise, games, art and more!
The 15th annual Gila River Festival provides an opportunity to learn more about the climate crisis through four days of presentations, field trips, workshops, community art projects, and more!
There are still spaces available for field trips and workshops. More information and registration at www.gilariverfestival.org.
