School’s out

After reading Matilda and Hugh’s article on the climate strikes (School strike! July 2019), I must express my thanks to them, Greta Thunberg and each and every student and their supporters who striked.

Climate change results from the environmental destruction that has been seen in many countries. To combat this, I’d like to see these kids approach the International Olympic Committee and ask them to ban the countries that commit these acts from attending the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

For those who say the kids are just skipping school, the kids should say to them “I’ll be voting in the next election”. Emmanuel Fardoulis, Australia

I read Matilda and Hugh’s article on the climate strikes and wanted to write in to say how much I enjoyed the intelligence and wisdom, and that I support the students striking. Shannon Smy, via email

I felt the school strike article missed a crucial question: what action are these teenagers taking in their own lives to reduce climate change? It is all very well lobbying government, but politicians are simply representatives of the people, so if we demand energy-intense and consumerist lifestyles (which we do) then that is what they ensure that we get.

I would applaud these striking children much more if they

could show that they are using sustainable transport, buying second-hand clothes, eating less (or no) meat, eating organic and petitioning their parents to exchange the family holiday abroad for one in the UK. The list can go on and on. Ken Neal, Devon