Climate inaction has ignited the passions of a group of Wollongong high school students who will strike from school on Friday.
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They will join students from 25 other towns around Australia who will drop by NSW Parliament House on November 30 to protest against climate inaction.
Smith’s Hill High School student Laura Charlton said Illawarra students were calling for political action on climate change and Adani’s coal mine.
“Everyone in the Illawarra can see first-hand the impacts of climate change,” the year 11 student said.
“We understand entirely the importance of the steelworks and mines for our city…but we also have grown up beneath the incredible escarpment and beside some of the most beautiful beaches on the South Coast of Australia.
“The kids from the Illawarra have seen the threat climate change poses to our lives, our region, the world at large; we want action.”
The month of strike action was started on November 1 by year 8 students in central Victoria who were inspired by 15-year-old Swedish student Greta, who started striking this year and strikes with other kids every Friday.
“Kids across Australia want our futures protected by the government. We don’t want our coastal cities washed away, or regional towns crippled by drought,” Laura said.
We don’t want our coastal cities washed away, or regional towns crippled by drought.
- Laura Charlton
Laura and fellow Smith’s Hill High students Jess Hewett, Miranda Green, Luca Corby and Tyla Haines as well as Fairy Meadow Demonstration School student Sari Wallace met at the University of Wollongong on Saturday to discuss their plan of action.
“We may not be voting yet, but we’re already making our voices heard,” Laura said.
“We ask our local MPs — Sharon Bird and Ann Sudmalis — to take climate action: stop the Adani coal mine, put Australia on the path of a country fuelled by green energy, and make a commitment to ensuring that the protection of the natural world is at the forefront of government priorities.
“Our future depends on it.”
Other school students set to strike come from Canberra, Cairns, Adelaide, Albury, Townsville, the Whitsundays, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, Geelong, Lismore, Byron Bay, Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Bega, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Perth and Darwin.
Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
