Children should continue the climate crusade at weekends

GRETA Thunberg’s idealism is hard not to admire (‘Take action on climate, children urge politicians’, Irish Independent, February 14). One is reminded of the Children’s Crusade of the year 1212. Her leadership skills have already been noted and no doubt when she leaves school she will be head-hunted by big companies and her career assured.

However, her fellow student ‘strikers’ may not be so lucky. Their ongoing absences from school are unlikely to change the political mindset, but will surely impact negatively on their education. One protesting student carried a placard reading, ‘I’m missing science class for this’. Indeed. Any normal, well-adjusted child would rather crawl a thousand miles over broken glass than spend a minute extra in school – no matter how brilliant the classes or teachers.

The world’s leaders and richest elite have so far shown themselves to be impervious to the plight of millions of the world’s poorest threatened with displacement or death because of climate change. They hardly even seem to care about the water rising around their own ears.

What makes these latter-day crusaders so sure they will be listened to? Keep the protests for Saturdays. By sacrificing your personal free time you will both demonstrate your seriousness and maintain your important education.

Nick Folley

Carrigaline, Co Cork