A climate strike took place in Galway on September 23th, as part of the international climate strike day of action. Organised by the Environmental and Sustainable Officer of the Student Union, Malena Thren, in partnership with Friday For Future, the protest walked down Galway city. In hopes to be heard by Galway city council, they call for more actions to make the city environmentally friendly.
“Who’s future, our future! Who’s planet, our planet!”, “The Oceans are rising!” were slogans that have been heard in the streets of Galway city. The strike involved around sixty people of all ages who walked from Eye Square to the Spanish Arch and back.
Malena Thren, 21, is the Student Union’s Environment Officer since July 2022. She wants to show that the new generation care about the future of the world. “I’m not here to pick fights, but I have to” said Malena in protest of the inaction of the council to make the city more climate friendly. Organisers denounced a city made for cars where using the bike is too dangerous. They explained that “many bicycle lanes stop abruptly in the middle the roads”.
After trying to make contact with the city council, Malena did not receive any response. She seen a lack of answers and commitment from the city with political decisions being too slow. She calls for more green spaces in the city, sustainable accommodations, a pedestrian city and stronger laws against lobbyism.
“We need to listen more to what people have to say, especially younger generations, because we are the ones who will live on this planet” said Malena. Extinction rebellion Galway was also present to show its support to the cause. They explained new plans for bus roads and bicycle lanes are in process but they state that this action is too slow to improve Galway City’s carbon footprint.
