LAWSUIT: And a rally

It was a summer evening 20 years ago. Suddenly a scream: My 16-year-old son’s car had flipped 20 feet in the air and crashed on the country road outside the house I was visiting. Along with my younger son, I rushed to rescue my son and his passenger from the car. Miraculously, neither was seriously injured. My actions were those of any parent to rescue their child from immediate harm.

But what about a parent’s duty to protect their children’s long-term welfare? Would we stop doing something harmful to our kid’s future, even if it meant a big shift in our own lives? I’d like to think most parents would. Out of our deep love, we’d find less harmful ways to meet our needs, wouldn’t we? And we’d want our government to do the same.

But that hasn’t happened with global warming in the U.S. So, in an unprecedented action, 21 young people have filed a lawsuit to protect their right to a healthy, livable climate: Juliana v. U.S. (www.ourchildrenstrust.org). Regarding this case, U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken said: “ … I have no doubt that the right to a climate system capable of sustaining human life is fundamental to a free and ordered society.”

The trial starts Oct. 29. This groundbreaking lawsuit deserves our support.

Join our peaceful rally at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28 at the Federal Courthouse in Coeur d’Alene, 6450 N. Mineral Drive. There will be speakers, music and street theater.

BILL IRVING

Coeur d’Alene