Buddhists from New York City, led by members of the Buddhist Action Coalition, are organizing a Buddhist-led event ahead of the 20 September worldwide Youth Climate Strike. The gathering will start at 10:30am at the Jacob Wrey Mould Fountain in City Hall Park, New York City, with a planned schedule that includes chanting, singing, and sitting meditation, as well as the reading of a climate statement. Members will then engage in walking meditation to join the Youth Climate Strike, which will begin two blocks northeast in Foley Square.

The Buddhists participating aim to spend the afternoon supporting the striking youth. Participants are encouraged to bring a small bell if possible and to wear a robe, rakusu, or other visual sign of Buddhist affiliation or practice during the event.

The Youth Climate Strike will take place three days before a United Nations emergency climate summit, also in New York City. Other major climate change organizations, including 350.org and Earth Strike, as well as groups nationwide in New Zealand, plan to hold separate events a week later on 27 September, which marks the anniversary of the publication of Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring (Houghton Mifflin 1962). During the UN summit, 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg will speak at a parallel youth summit alongside other young activists to present their “demands for a just world and a livable future.” (Vice)