Cork students to join protest demanding climate-change

Action

STUDENTS from Cork schools will this Friday join counterparts from across the world in a day of strike action as part of a global initiative aimed at raising awareness of the impact of climate change.

In addition to marches taking place in Cork City and Dublin, students will also gather outside local authority offices and school gates across the country to demand the Government take immediate action to address the issue.

The global #SchoolStrike4Climate was called by 16-yearold Swedish schoolgirl Greta Thunberg who made headlines across the world after she begin striking outside the Swedish Parliament last August.

On Friday participating students will gather in front of the Cork Opera House at 11am before marching along Patrick Street, the Grand Parade and The Mall to the City Hall where they will hold a protest outlining their demands.

Chief among these are that the Government block the construction of fossil fuel infrastructure and that Ireland become fully dependent on renewable electricity by 2030.

They also want to see school curricular revised to address “ecological literacy”; the immediate implementation of climate change recommendations made by the Citizens Assembly and the creation and enforcement of stronger regulations for the business and agriculture sectors aimed at reducing reduce harmful emissions.

Friday’s day of action will follow on from numerous smaller strikes that have already taken place across the country organised by groups including ‘Friday’s For Future’ and ‘School Strikes For Climate’. They operate under the umbrella of the Schools’ Climate Action Network, a student driven network of young people who have the backing of their schools for the strike action.

Maisy Morgan-Sutton, a second year students at the Cork Educate Together Secondary School accused the Government of failing to take action to address climate change.

“The Earth isn’t dying – it is being killed. The Government is doing nothing and then blaming us for our personal choices,” said Maisy.

“Sustainability isn’t a luxury – if we fail now there is no undo button. If you truly cared for your kids, you would fight for their future.”

For more information about the #SchoolStrike4Climate campaign visit www.schoolsclimateaction.ie.