'We'll Be Voting Soon': Students Take On PM Over Climate Change

Fairfax - Chloe Livadeas

More than 200 Canberra children skipped class and another 100 parents and supporters rallied in the rain on Wednesday morning in front of Parliament House to call for government action on climate change.
The strike was part of a nationwide protest on global warming this week. Thousands of students from more than 200 schools in towns and cities were expected to skip class to put pressure on politicians.
The strike was organised by the School Strike 4 Action, a Victoria-based student activist group that's spread across Australia. The movement was inspired by a 15-year-old Swedish school girl Greta Thunberg who skipped school to camp outside Sweden’s parliament last month.

Canberra students protesting outside Parliament House on Wednesday asking for climate change action. Credit: Karleen Minney

During question time in Parliament on Monday Prime Minister Scott Morrison condemned the children who were planning to miss class and said there should be less activism in schools.
Clara McArthur, 17, of Canberra College, called Mr Morrison's comments “ridiculous”, and said the students were using what they learned in school in their protest.

Canberra students will be protesting outside Parliament House on Wednesday. Credit: Karleen Minney

“We’re taught about how amazing this planet is and how important it is that we look after the environment, but he won’t let us do anything about it.
"Me and my friends here are turning 18 soon, we are able to vote in the next election and if he won’t listen to us that is ridiculous.”
Miss McArthur said every teacher and guardian she had spoken with had been incredibly supportive of the strike. “I’ve only heard praise,” she said.
Zaki Sullivan, 10, said he was striking because he believes Australia must take action on climate change now before more species became extinct and the number of natural disasters increased.
"I don’t want to live in that world,” he said.
Zaki said nature and environment had always been a large part of his life.
"I love being out in nature. I love camping, swimming and bush walking like all Australian kids. I want to live in the world that I know now and it needs to be there for future generations too," he said.
His brother Ayo, 8, said, "I’m going on strike to make politicians think about the decisions they’re making and how they impact me. I can’t vote yet but I still have my right to a future and a world that is fit to live in."
Both boys, who attend Chapman Primary, said they wanted a commitment from the government to use 100 per cent renewable energy by 2050.
An ACT Education Directorate spokesperson said it valued student voices in education and would not stop or penalise any student attending a rally, as long as they were supervised by carers in "their actions as global citizens".
Iolo Cornthwaite, 11, also from Chapman Primary, said, “I’d like the [government] to listen to the 99 climate scientists that have told them for a few years that they need to stop doing coal and change to 100 per cent renewable energy.

Clara McArthur, 17: I'll be voting soon, he should listen. Credit: Karleen Minney

Iolo said he became engaged with the issue of global warming when he heard that temperatures were predicted to ruse by 1.5 degrees “because even one degree can damage our world for the rest of our lives”.
His sister, Nia Cornthwaite, 10, was also striking.
“I do really love school but this is important. There’ll be no school to go to in the future if the government doesn’t listen,” she said.
Nia said she wanted Australia to stop investing in coal mines such as Adani and that it should stop damaging the Great Barrier Reef.
“If we destroy it we’ll never be able to recreate it. We can’t bring it back,” she said.
ACT Minister for Climate Change Shane Rattenbury said, “Young people don’t want to just stand by and watch this climate emergency roll out.
“As future leaders, they’re making their voices heard - and the message is clear.”
The federal government must deliver a clean, renewable future for all Australians, he said.

Links

• Why Aren't They Doing Anything?: Students Strike To Give Climate Lesson
• School Strike 4 Climate Action
• Australian Students Plan School Strikes To Protest Against Climate Inaction
• Why We're Striking From School Over Climate Change Inaction
• Join The Melbourne Big Walk Out: 12 Noon November 30
• Join The Sydney Big Walk Out: 12 Noon November 30
• Join The Brisbane Big Walk Out: 12 Noon November 30
• The Fifteen-Year-Old Climate Activist Who Is Demanding A New Kind Of Politics
• The Swedish 15-Year-Old Who's Cutting Class To Fight The Climate Crisis
• Giant Postcard On Swiss Alps Glacier Sends Kids' Climate Change Messages