Charley speaks out about climate change at her graduation

Charley Boonstra.

A note to the graduation class of 2016:

2015 was declared the hottest year on record. This year, in which we graduate, may very well take the place of 2015 by being even hotter. Regions all over the world are experiencing drought.

Extreme weather patterns are a new normal throughout the globe. Biodiversity is shrinking. As much as 50 percent of the planet’s species are headed towards extinction. Waterways are polluted with waste and chemicals. Deforestation is prominent. People are suffering.

On June 3, an oil train derailed and exploded in our own community. This explosion set a precedent for big corporations to do whatever they want to small communities.

It may seem depressing to raise these issues during the happy and feel-good time of graduation. Messages to the senior class should be uplifting and inspiring. But in order to be inspired, we must first understand reality

Read in the Hood River News what Charley Boonstra said at her graduation - “Climate Change: One graduate’s message.”

(Charley Boonstra is a senior at Hood River Valley High School (HRVHS) and graduated this year on June 10. She founded the HRVHS Climate Change Action Club and is an active participant in the Columbia Gorge Climate Action Network (CG-CAN).