In September 2023, South students (joined by high schoolers across Oregon) marched downtown to protest climate change. South’s green club, Environmental Guardians 350 (EG350) often takes part in local community-wide climate efforts like these. Whether it is taking to the streets to march for the climate or volunteering on weekends with Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah Native Plant Nursery, students at South Eugene High School are committed to taking direct actions to promote sustainability in the local community.

In the past, great leaders in our community have taken up the responsibility of leading this club. This group has included the likes of Kelsey Juliana, who started EG 350 back when she was at South. She—along with 20 other youth—acted as plaintiffs in suing the federal government, calling attention to its actions harming the climate and inaction in helping the environment. Our rotary club is also making efforts to help the environment by doing trash clean-ups and partnering with contacts from numerous different organizations to help improve the environment. A couple of South students who represent the school for the school district board meetings, are also advocating for a more climate friendly school district. In addition to this, South works with Love Food Not Waste—an organization in Eugene that helps reduce the amount of food waste being sent to landfills.

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• Community action and civic engagement (e.g. marches/rallies, public speaking, letter writing campaigns).
• Being involved with legislative actions.
• Enhance your waste reduction practices (e.g. composting, paper use, recycling, beverage containers, reusable utensils in the cafeteria).
• Training opportunities for other students at your school (e.g. climate science, how to get involved in environmental/social justice issues).
• Art projects that will raise the awareness of climate change, or the importance or sustainability/social justice.
• Supporting the Our Children’s Trust trial ( www.ourchildrenstrust.org/juliana-v-us / www.youthvgov.org ).

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