Members of Thurston Youth Climate Coalition held a protest against plans to lease an airport property in Tumwater to Swire, a Coca-Cola bottler, during The Tumwater City Council meeting on Tuesday, January 17.
Six youth leaders staged a die-in, laying down on the floor in front of the council members for 22 minutes as if to appear dead.
Elsie Sabel, leader of the coalition, said that approving the lease for a Coca-Cola bottler would not be in line with the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan (TCMP), which the city adopted in 2021.
“Signing away our natural resources to a company that has been voted the worst plastic polluter in the world for five years running is not only idiotic, it makes it nearly impossible for you to reach the targets laid out in the TCMP,” Sable said during public comments.
Sable took issue with the length of the lease agreement, which could last for 75 years. Swire intends to use the 95-acre property to construct a manufacturing site.
Sabel highlighted the importance of implementing the TCMP, which outlined a framework for how the county would reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The coalition made three demands:
Sabel told The JOLT that their coalition is a group of climate action clubs across different schools in Thurston County. The group plans to return at a future city council meeting, which according to Sable, would remind the city council that they are monitoring the council’s progress.
7 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
SheriB
Listen to this group. Why is this being allowed?
Saturday, January 21, 2023 Report this
pbaron1902
Good for Sable and her coalition!!
Saturday, January 21, 2023 Report this
FirstOtter
Youth leaders, you ROCK. GOOD FOR YOU. So well spoken and thank you for taking up the fight.
Saturday, January 21, 2023 Report this
kellykelly
I wrote to all of the council members about my objection due to more plastic being produced. One of them responded saying that she, too, was concerned with plastic pollution/waste. And yet, she voted for this lease. I am so proud of these young climate activists. It is sad that it is our children, and not the adults, who must do the work to protect our planet. Yes, many adults are also working to end plastic pollution, but, unfortunately, none that are on the council.
Saturday, January 21, 2023 Report this
JW
I thoroughly dislike the Coca-Cola bottling plan, but this is an embarrassment.
Saturday, January 21, 2023 Report this
JanWitt
Kudos to these young people for taking action!
Sunday, January 22, 2023 Report this
username73737737
embarrassing
Monday, January 23, 2023 Report this