I’m very pleased that my work place (the Family Action Centre) has endorsed the School Strikers and the Global Climate Strike on Friday 20 September. Here is our statement:
The Family Action Centre, University of Newcastle, recognises that families and children around the world are already being impacted by the effects of climate change, and research clearly shows the need for urgent action to avoid even more serious impacts on our health and wellbeing. We thus encourage everybody to support the Global Climate Strike on Friday 20 September organised by Student Strike 4 Climate and others.
Initiated by the international Student Strike 4 Climate movement, there will be strikes and rallies around the world in the week starting Friday 20 September. In Australia there are three demands:
- No new coal, oil and gas projects, including the Adani mine.
- 100% renewable energy generation and exports by 2030
- Fund a fair transition and job creation for fossil-fuel industry workers and communities.
As the Newcastle School Strike 4 Climate say,
By taking time off school and work together around the world, we’ll show our politicians that people everywhere want climate justice and we’re not going away until we get it. We’ll strike in solidarity for everyone who’s already being hurt by the climate crisis and everyone who will be impacted if we don’t act now: workers, first nations people, young people, mining communities and more.
Everyone is invited, everyone is needed.
Please show your support by attending the Newcastle Rally, 12:00 – 3:00 Friday 20 September in Civic Park. (As it is not industrial action, employees will need to make arrangements with their supervisor to take leave or flex time to attend the rally.) Details of the Newcastle are at https://www.facebook.com/events/707767722986366/ and you can find details of events in other cities at https://www.schoolstrike4climate.com/sept20.
To hear why students are striking, and why we are supporting them to take action, see this TEDx talk by Greta Thunberg, the Swedish high school student who started the School Strike 4 Climate movement.
I hope as many of you as possible will join us in Newcastle or wherever your live to send a strong message to world leaders that the time for urgent action is long overdue.
If you liked this post please follow my blog, and you might like to look at:
- 10 ways to reduce your consumption
- Dear Future Generations: Sorry
- Climate change, health and children
- Special days and dates for families and communities – 2019
- Four roles of social activism
- 7 principles guiding my work
If you find any problems with the blog, (e.g., broken links or typos) I’d love to hear about them. You can either add a comment below or contact me via the Contact page.
Sustaining Community 