‘The youth are rising’
Thousands join students’ rally over climate policy
THOUSANDS of students skipped classes yesterday to march around Hobart in a call for stronger climate action, joining tens of thousands of students across Australia and 90 other countries.
Up to 8000 school kids, university students and families gathered at Parliament Lawns about noon, chanting their demands and waving their banners as the School Strike 4 Climate kicked off.
“The youth are rising, no more compromising,” was chanted by the masses as they marched through the streets of central Hobart, holding banners and posters that bore slogans of discontent at current climate policies.
The protest has called on politicians to stop Adani’s coal mine, say no to all new fossil fuels and power Australia with 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030.
The march was followed by speeches from students and the cheers of protesters could be heard through Salamanca.
Lucy Harrison, a Year 10 student at Mount Carmel College, said she was attending the rally to send a message to politicians that she wants her children and grandchildren to live on a healthy planet.
“I think they need to work on reducing carbon emissions and greenhouse gases because it’s like, killing us,” she said.
New Town High student Masyn Wilkins, who held a poster reading, “Grandpa, what’s a glacier?” said the School Strike 4 Climate was a great cause to get behind.
“Climate change is a real issue in the world and we need to get on top of it before it’s too late,” he said.
Hobart Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds attended the rally with her daughter and said the call for action was inspiring.
“The student strikes are a turning point for action on cli- mate change,” Councillor Reynolds said.
“How could we as adults and decision makers ignore the calls of young people in our community to take stronger action?”
Premier Will Hodgman said he would prefer students to be at school.
“I strongly encourage young Tasmanians, including my own children, to stand up for what they believe in and for what is important to them,” Mr Hodgman said.
“My preference would be for Tasmanian school students on a school day to be at school.”
The protest came about three months after students first skipped school over climate action, a move condemned by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Senior cabinet minister Christopher Pyne has criticised the students for striking, saying it will damage their education. Mr Pyne said the students should be in school, and if they wanted to engage in political activism it should be on their own time.
Labor national president Wayne Swan defended student activism.
“Great to see young Australians demonstrating their support for a sustainable future and repudiating the climate change denialism of so many conservatives in our community,” he tweeted.