Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I don’t think we have any other choice at this stage
Schoolkids strike today in fear for planet they’ll inherit
HUNDREDS of Northern Ireland children are set to walk out of school today in protest at the state of our environment.
In recent years we have seen temperatures climb, entire cities levelled by floods and other species pushed to the brink, but with just 12 years to avoid catastrophe world powers have yet to take any real action.
Two local teenagers taking part in the #Schoolstrike4climate – supported by 234 top UK academics who described human nature. In primary school we had work sheets we were doing and my teacher crossed out the nature bit and said, ‘You don’t need to know about that’.
“It’s a dire situation when your school is supporting you going out of school.”
Belfast girl Maia Willis said the headmaster at Methodist College is also behind the 30 sixth formers planning a walkout.
The 17-year-old added: “We are marching because we have no political voice.
“I think the current nonexistent government is not doing enough for the planet.
“The RHI [scandal] was a disgrace, especially because the fuels they were providing were not carbon neutral. Recycling, monitoring water intake and getting a green tariff on your energy are all great but the change needs to come right from the top.
“People in developed nations such as Northern Ireland are setting a horrendous example for the world in the way we misuse fossil fuels and contribute to global environmental destruction.
“They need to invest heavily into renewable industries and realise the potential Northern Ireland has.
“We are empowering ourselves to push for action through striking, and none of this would be possible without the actions of those worldwide already, and of course Greta Thunberg.”
Like Swedish girl Greta – the first to strike for the climate last August – Dara and Maia have bigger and better ideas to help preserve our natural landscape than many in power.
Dara advocates taking more “notice” of the world around you instead of just stepping on those wildflowers or spiders and destroying them.
He has also urged families to reduce plastic and products with palm oil, as well as cutting down on meat.
Maia’s suggestions for the future include alternatives like hemp biodiesel, replacing plastic and harnessing energy from wind and waves at our coasts as well as geothermal heat from the Mournes. Until we can keep the global rise in temperature below the 1.5C set by the United Nations she promises to “protest, campaign, strike and do more than what is necessary”.
Hundreds of our young people are expected to protest at Belfast City Hall from 11am to 2pm today.