World’s youth march against climate change – how to take part

From May 7 to 14 youth around the world will take to the streets in an effort to make their voices heard on the key global issue facing their generation - climate change. Marches are taking place across all inhabited continents and young people around the world are being encouraged to take part.

The iMatter March is the offspring of environmental youth organization Kids Vs. Global Warming founded by Alec Loorz, who is now 16, at the tender age of 12.

Alec Loorz is also currently suing the US government on behalf of his generation for "failing to protect the atmosphere for the youngest Generation." More information about the lawsuit can be on the iMatter March website. 

The iMatter march was, according to the website "created to reach across regional, ideological and ethnic borders, to empower youth ... and be heard on the issue of climate change."  

Marches are taking place across the world and have attracted some heavyweight environmental organizations as supporters, including Greenpeace, 350.org, the US Green Building Council and the National Wildlife Federation.

Potential participants can find a scheduled march through the iMatter website at: http://imattermarch.org/march/find-march/; young environmentalists can also register their own march through the website, or choose to receive email notifications of local events.

The campaign can also be followed through Twitter ( @iMatter_March) and Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/iMatterMarch).

More information about Kids Vs. Global Warming can be found at: http://kids-vs-global-warming.com; an iPhone application is also available to download at: http://bit.ly/ikEHqm.

Earlier in the year other high profile events such as Earth Hour on March 26 and Earth Day on April 22 have attempted to raise awareness of climate change by encouraging individuals, businesses and governments to perform positive environmental actions, or in the case of Earth Hour turn off their lights for 60 minutes.

Though these events have passed, the campaigns continue: more information about Earth Hour can be found at www.earthhour.org  and more information about Earth Day can be found at www.earthday.org.