Climate Action Merribek: people in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy wanting action on climate change

Momentum gathering for global school strike for climate in Melbourne

March 9, 2019 at 2:21 pm John Englart Leave a comment

Student Strike for climate outside Bill Shorten’s office

Momentum is gathering for the global student strike for climate on March 15 in Melbourne.

• Here in Melbourne a rally is being organised at 11am to 2pm outside the Old Treasury Building in Spring Street. (Facebook Event)
• In Moreland families with young children are gathering at Jacobs Reserve, Melville Road, Brunswick West between 3pm and 5pm. (Facebook Event). Some of the kids have already prepared banners for this event.
• Visit the School strike for climate website to find other locations around Australia.

Students from Castlemaine, who initiated the November 30 student strike for climate, have been using Fridays to highlight the importance of action by visiting various politicians in Melbourne including Liberal Government Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Labor Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, and our own Federal MP for Wills Peter Khalil.

Student Strike for climate outside Bill Shorten’s office

As of March 6, according to Greta Thunberg, “there are 524 places in 59 countries and counting… Everyone is needed. Everyone is welcome. Find your closest strike or register your own here: https://www.fridaysforfuture.org/events/list”

Australian Education Union issues statement

The Australian Education Union, representing 190,000 educators and teachers in schools around the nation, have issued on March 8 the following statement of support:

The Australian Education Union (AEU) supports the rights of students to speak out in protest about the challenges posed by climate change in Australia.

AEU Federal President Correna Haythorpe said that under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, all children have the right to express their views freely on all matters affecting them.

“The AEU supports the democratic right of students to take direct action, giving voice to their real concerns about the impacts of climate change, and protesting the inaction by the federal government,” Ms Haythorpe said.

“We commend the actions of students who participated in the climate strike in November 2018 to build pressure on the Morrison government to enact laws and policy that would place Australia at the international forefront on proper action to tackle climate change.”

“The AEU stands in solidarity with students and will work with education departments to ensure that students who wish to participate in the student strike planned for 15 March 2019 are afforded their democratic rights and can do so safely,” Ms Haythorpe said.

“The commitment of the teaching profession in educating the next generation about climate change is critical.”

“Tomorrow’s workers will need to be empowered with the problem solving skills to make a just transition, negotiate new global trade markets, new technologies and understand which industries will expand and which will disappear in a potential carbon neutral economy,” Ms Haythorpe said.

“Our students must be equipped with the right skills to become innovators and agents of change in a rapidly changing world.”

Ms Haythorpe said Australians must recognise both the impact of climate change and the setting of ambitious measures to mitigate the effects of climate change, on workers’ lives, livelihoods, communities and families.

“The Morrison Government’s continued denial of climate change and lack of action is placing Australians and our Pacific neighbours in grave danger,” Ms Haythorpe said.

“Climate change is a reality and the only acceptable debate is about how we deal with the consequences and ensure that our children and students are prepared for the future.”

“The AEU will advocate strongly for educators to be properly informed and educated about the science of climate change and its impacts on Australia and the world’s developing countries,” Ms Haythorpe said.

Chalk art highlighting climate choices

Stop Adani Chalk sign outside Bill Shorten’s office

Entry filed under: Climate Emergency, Event, news, rallies & protests. Tags: climatestrike, fridaysforfuture, studentstrike4climate.