Students to strike for climate change action again

By John Lewis

Feb 13, 2019

School students across Australia are being urged to join a global strike for climate change action next month.

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This follows strike action in November last year when 15000 students walked out of school in 30 locations across the country calling for urgent action on climate change.

That strike defied calls from Prime Minister Scott Morrison to stay in school.

The global groundswell has been inspired by 15-year-old Swedish student Greta Thunberg, who pledged to protest outside parliament in Stockholm until Sweden firmed up its commitments under the Paris Agreement.

This Friday’s Australian strike action is being backed by the Australian Conservation Foundation and several unions including National Union of Workers.

Organisers have also called for adults to join the nationwide protests.

The ACF claims more than 50000 students have already walked out from schools in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland during February.

ACF campaigner Phoebe Rountree said it was the right time to call for more action to help prevent the worst effects of climate change.

‘‘With a federal election approaching, this is our moment to turn out in the thousands and stand with kids across the country demanding an end to digging and burning coal,’’ Ms Rountree said.

By John Lewis

Columnist