Climate change strike: Thousands of students cut class to protest
Students across Sydney have taken part in a day of global action with more than 90 countries participating, calling for more action on climate change. The students - many wearing their uniforms - held signs with slogans such as ‘Scomo stop fracking with my future’ and ‘Make earth cool again’.
NSW
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- Year 12 student Joanne Tran said kids were being used as pawns by climate alarmists
- City of Sydney Council support student activists this Friday
Thousands of Sydney students have cut class to call for more action on climate change.
These signs are just incredible #SchoolStrike4Climate #ClimateStrike pic.twitter.com/LYdos59k12
— Mehreen Faruqi (@MehreenFaruqi) March 15, 2019
Police were directing pedestrians on the corner of George and Park St in the city to stop the build up of traffic caused by climate protestors.
NSW police sending the riot squad to the #strike4climate. The riot squad. For school children. pic.twitter.com/akEU1YuKMw
— David Shoebridge (@ShoebridgeMLC) March 15, 2019
City businesses faced “considerable disruption” with the student strike rallies in the heart of the CBD, with warnings from the Transport Management Centre about street closures and buses being diverted.
NSW Business Chamber director of policy and advocacy Chris Lamont said that while they understood climate change was an important issue, “students would make a greater a contribution by spending the day at school learning about measures on how to address climate change”.
“The closure of streets in the middle of the Sydney CBD will potentially cause considerable disruption for workers and businesses alike,” he said.
Advice from the Transport Management Centre said the march was planned to leave Town Hall at 1:15pm, and will travel along Park Street to Hyde Park.
“Due to the road closures, some buses will be diverting from their usual routes,” the TMC said.
“Roads are planned to start closing from 1pm and reopen by 3pm.”
Park Street will be closed between George Street and Elizabeth Street, along with parts of Elizabeth Street, Castlereagh Street, Pitt Street and Druitt Street.
“Traffic is expected to be heavier than usual on nearby roads including Market Street, King Street, College Street and Macquarie Street so avoid driving in this part of the CBD while the closures are in place.
“Anyone catching public transport is advised to allow extra travel time and plan ahead.”
Train is PACKED with kids! Excited for #ClimateStrike #SchoolStrike4Climate pic.twitter.com/F1dR691o9m
— Ondine 🞠(@tritonshorn) March 14, 2019
Today’s countrywide mass protest comes months after students first turned their back on the classroom in the name of climate action, a move condemned by the prime minister.
Some classic signage on the B1 bus with Northern Beaches kids heading to the #ClimateStrike in Sydney #auspol pic.twitter.com/DfAgfkAjSi
— Mike Hall (@mikehallsydney) March 14, 2019
However, this time the Australian students are taking part in a day of global action with more than 90 countries participating.
The students have also found support from universities, unions, students groups, parents, the Greens and NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley.
The kids are coming, and coming and coming .... and this was just one trai. It was packed. Go kids. #ClimateStrike #sydney #standingwithyou pic.twitter.com/4TgH08vuCf
— MarietteRupsDonnelly (@MarietteRD) March 15, 2019
Victorian high school student Milou Albrecht was central to organising the strikes and says she will be taking to the streets out of fear of not having a safe future. “We don’t want to strike,” the 14-year-old told AAP.
Having a great conversation with some amazing kids on the way to #climatestrike (happy to be photographed) #hopeforthefuture pic.twitter.com/cjkdvtexag
— Elenie Poulos (@EleniePoulos) March 15, 2019
“We love learning, that’s important for them to know.” The students have three demands: stop the Adani coal mine in central Queensland, no new coal or gas, and 100 per cent renewables by 2030.
To those joining the #ClimateStrike in Sydney today – we respect the right to protest and will not be penalising students for participating in lawful and respectful protests.
— UNSW (@UNSW) March 14, 2019
Alongside the protest, the Greens on Friday announced a $2.2 billion household battery storage policy, which would provide up to $7000 of incentives per battery.
Small businesses could also get loans of up to $15,000 to help install battery storage.
Greens senator Nick McKim says the students should get a “giant pat on the back”.
“Their future is being stolen from them in brazen daylight robbery by the major political parties,” he told Sky News.
“(They are) saying to those of us currently in power: enough is enough, pull your fingers out and get serious about climate change.”
More than 800 academics have also signed an open letter in solidarity with the striking students, with some even set to join in on protests on Friday.
Milou and her friend Harriet O’Shea Carre were inspired by Swedish teen Greta Thunberg, who has been striking for climate action since last August.
Fridays for future. The school strike continues! #climatestrike #klimatstrejk #FridaysForFuture pic.twitter.com/5jej011Qtp
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) September 16, 2018
Harriet hopes the prime minister calls a climate emergency and says she will feel terrible if he again condemns their actions.
“It’s totally unfair considering they have been representing (voters) with the expectations they will do what’s in the best interests of the country,” she said.
“They are letting us down every single day they don’t do that.”
While thousands protest for action on climate change some students are taking it as a day off.
In a pool hall in the city there are more than 10 students playing pool, more than 12 in the Internet cafe playing Fortnite and more chatting outside fast food restaurants.
“It is affectively ‘truancy’,” said one young school student who was playing pool.
“We went there and then came here (five minutes after it had started).”
A policeman on the street could be overheard saying: “I have no comment but if I were to comment I would say they should be at school.”
The amount of people at Sydney Town Hall is overwhelming! The entire square is overflowing and people can't get close. These shots don't do justice! #ClimateStrike pic.twitter.com/KHerf2Idjp
— James One 🌈 (@james00000001) March 15, 2019
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore addressed the crowd said as a former teacher she said protesting was more important than school.
“I want to say I support your strike, I support your strike and the strike of students around the globe,” she said.
Students starting to arrive at Sydney town hall for the #ClimateStrike pic.twitter.com/R0ScawLVKO
— Sparkling scribe (@SparklingDisse1) March 15, 2019
“I support your strike as a former teacher because knowing the importance of education but knowing your future and the future of the planet it more important.
“You are concerned you are fearful and you are angry.
“But I want to say to you there is some hope, recently a judge in The Land and Environment court refused a coal mine... because he said it was the wrong place and the wrong time.”
Meanwhile Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the climate march was “irresponsible” and called on students to limit their protesting to outside school hours.
“Please feel strongly and passionately about issues like climate change - you should,” she said.
“Young people should feel the right to be able to express themselves, even to protest. But please confine your protest activity to outside school hours - school is there to learn.
“I always encourage young people to be involved in public debate because that’s what being young is about... but it shouldn’t be about skipping school and attending a protest.
“I think that’s irresponsible and anyone who encourages that is not giving the right message.”
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