Catherine Greenough fixes up her snowman as part of a snowman protest held outside of Winfield Unite

(CARLI BERRY - WEEKEND EDITOR / iNFOnews.ca)

Drive by the Winfield United Church and you’ll see cute snow animals and people, but look closer and you'll see that the figures are posed beside critical messages.

“Less than 50 of us are left,” says one sign next to a snowy version of the critically endangered amur leopard. Less than 100 of the creatures are left on the planet, making them the world’s rarest cat, according to the World Wildlife Federation. Illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss, and climate change are greatly affecting the species, the federation said on its website.

The builder, Hanna Vouladakis, 11, said when the leopard melts, it will symbolize the impact that climate change has had on the species, as the leopard vanishes and becomes extinct.

“If we continue on and ignore climate change, it might affect the future and it might get to a point where even humans are in danger and with all the animals dying and going extinct, there won’t be a proper balance… it will be hard to keep a sustainable life here,” she said.

Hanna Vouladakis built a critically endangered leopard as part of a climate change snowman protest.

(CARLI BERRY - WEEKEND EDITOR / iNFOnews.ca)

Catherine Greenough, 15, built a melting snowman with a sign reading “Help! I’m melting.”

“Yes you could ignore it now, but when are you going to stop ignoring it and do something? Is that when you stop ignoring it, at the point where it’s become irreversible?” she asked.

Roughly 10 kids got creative to construct their sculptures with Eat Play Love, a group that's part of Winfield United Church, and Citizens Climate Lobby Canada - Okanagan Chapter.

Organizer Spiro Vouladakis said he was happy with the turnout. The point of the protest is to be creative, use humour, make a statement and gain a new perspective on the world.

According to a UN emissions report, the world is currently on track for a temperature rise of more than 3 C, which would be detrimental to the planet and everything living on it.

READ MORE: Research shows climate change silencing spots once buzzing with bees

The protest took place Sunday, Feb. 9 near the Okanagan Rail Trail on Woodsdale Road.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Carli Berry or call 250-864-7494 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2020