In response to 'Opinion: Students who walked out over climate crisis are 'being duped,' Lawrence resident says', such a declaration is patently false and based on a campaign of misinformation and conspiracy theories that are threatening our very existence on earth.

I commend the youth that are working each and every day to save the planet on which we all exist. Greta Thunberg is leading the charge, and if you haven't heard of Mari Copeny who, at age 11, has been fighting for years for clean water in Flint, Michigan, please take some time to Google her. These are young people from different backgrounds and parts of the globe who recognize that the adults of the world are failing them and they are doing something about it. They have no choice - and we are all responsible for that.

I have three children and I am absolutely terrified of the future they have ahead of them because so many of us refuse to accept what is right in front of our faces. It's easier to believe that it's not real.

Global climate crisis is happening and it's changing life as we know it right now. While the Earth does go through cycles of temperature change, we are responsible for the unnatural, increased acceleration of the Earth's temperature. Scientists across the globe agree on this, they have collected and presented the data to prove it, yet we continue to project our own biases on such information, further accelerating our own demise. It's incredibly self-destructive and bizarre.

We need to collectively work together to save our planet. To do such a thing, we have to globally put into place the standards and measures necessary to accomplish that goal.

Regardless of your political belief or interpretation of scientific data, consider for a moment the cost of doing nothing. Whether it's a "slow" progression where we just continue to see more severe storms, more flooding, the extinction of just one more species, or it happens that one day we all just can't exist here anymore - we're all in the same boat. If you're subscribing to the theory that environmentalists just want to control your life and make you poor and nothing is really wrong - why not consider that wealthy fossil fuel corporations and billion-dollar manufacturers world-wide are already controlling you for their own short-term gain? Think about how they have successfully convinced you to turn a blind eye to impending global demise either because it's easier to ignore it or to adopt the "well it's going to happen anyway" or "I won't be here anyway so it doesn't matter" attitude. They already have your number.

Whatever name you'd like to ascribe to me - Leftist, Socialist, Communist, Progressive, Democrat, Globalist - I care about you and your future and that of your children and grandchildren. I'm glad that we have a generation that's willing to fight for that future - even if it's too late. If you wish to sit back and watch the world burn because it gives you the sense of control you need, that's fine, but it would sure be great if you reconsidered.

Kendra Martin

Canton