Climate protesters to strike from home

Thousands of Kiwis and Australians will strike over climate change on Friday – from home.

The coronavirus has prevented climate strikers gathering, and leaving their homes, but it won’t stop the action. Instead, strikers will arm themselves with technology to ‘‘Unite For Climate’’.

School Strike 4 Climate coordinator Oli Morphew said a strike through technology will be like no other.

‘‘Even though we’re in isolation right now, we can make a difference,’’ Morphew said.

During the lockdown, the country witnessed empty roads, cleaner air and nature returning to urban city spaces.

‘‘It’s shown us how the world works when we stop in our tracks,’’ Morphew said.

‘‘We’re using our online presence as a group to hopefully make as much noise as possible.’’

The coronavirus recovery could bolster the economy while also protecting the environment, she said.

‘‘We’re really calling for a ‘green’ Covid-19 response ... moving towards a more sustainable economy.’’

In September last year, 170,000 New Zealanders striked for climate change action.

Unions, businesses and working adults marched alongside the students in the strike.

Morphew said Friday’s strike was also open for anyone, and they wouldn’t even have to leave their homes.

‘‘We’re really hoping that the intergenerational nature of the September strike can continue,’’ she said.

In New Zealand, over a thousand have already signed up to strike from home. The strike will coincide with action in Australia.

‘‘Unite Behind Climate’’ is the message behind Friday’s strike.

Placards will be held in driveways, and Instagram and Facebook will be used to share hopes for climate action, Morphew said.

‘‘We’re hoping to see this online action growing, especially overseas, where the situation with Covid-19 is still very unknown,’’ she said.

To coincide with the strike, School Strike 4 Climate NZ and 4 Tha Kulture have penned an open letter to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and MPs for a ‘‘green’’ Covid-19 response.

‘‘We need to listen to the indigenous voices that are too often excluded from the conversation,’’ the letter says.