Campaigners are changing climate
Backing and criticism for youngsters in climate change day of action
FOR the generation that trashed the planet to castigate the next one for trying to save if would be a bit rich.
We can only salute the thousands of teenagers who pointedly took the day off school yesterday to demand action on climate change and ecological collapse.
Caught between denial and despair, the older generation did not believe that global warming was taking place until it was almost too late.
Now, as we catch the plane to the second foreign holiday of the year we treat as our right, we argue that we can do little about it.
Meanwhile, parts of the planet are literally burning up and the polar caps are melting.
We’ve messed up, we’ve let climate change slide off the agenda in our obsessions with one political outcome or another.
The people who will save the planet will not be this crop of politicians or the wealthy who dictate how the world is run, how finance is ordered and how brands are marketed to a consuming world.
The people who give us hope are the young people on yesterday’s demonstrations, activists who will lead the choice to change, the scientists who will find the solutions, the leaders who will forge the path. They were on the streets yesterday.
It will be the people who make the choice to change, it will be the generation of scientists and campaigners thrown up by the people on yesterday’s demonstrations.
NICOLA Sturgeon backed youngsters who skipped school yesterday to take part in climate-change protests, while Theresa May took a swipe at the young strikers.
The First Minister offered her support on Twitter, writing: “It’s a cause for optimism, in an often dark world, that young people are taking a stand on climate change.”
But the Prime Minister’s office said: “Disruption increases teachers’ workloads and wastes lesson time crucial for young people, precisely so that they can develop into the top scientists, engineers and advocates we need to help tackle this problem.” Jeremy Corbyn also backed the walkout, tweeting: “The school
kids of today are those whose futures are most on the line.
“It’s inspiring to see them making their voice heard.”
Environment Secretary Michael Gove’s daughter was among the thousands of pupils who skipped school, as revealed in his wife Sarah Vine’s newspaper column. She wrote: “I did point out that since her father is the actual Environment Secretary, she could theoretically petition him directly.
“’That’s all right,’ she said. ‘I’d rather go to the park.’”
Gove was due in Moray yesterday
where the Forres office of local MP Douglas Ross was blockaded.
Ross tweeted a picture of the demo and stated: “Superb turnout in Forres. Look forward to meeting these young people soon to discuss their concerns and hopes.”
Among protesters at a demo at the Scottish Parliament was sixyear-old Dougie, with his mother and sister. He said: “We’re here to do climate strike, because the Parliaments aren’t acting for us so we’re having to act on our own and it’s annoying.”
Portobello High pupil Adam Ballard, 12, said of politicians: “It’s time to actually start doing stuff now. People talk about it but they don’t do anything – so please do.”
Scottish Green Ross Greer said: “They have our support and I hope they will have that of teachers and education authorities too.”