There are a few realisations we’re made to face whenever a climate strike occurs.
The first being that literally thousands of Australians are passionate about the issue, the second: Australia’s youth are far funnier than what we give them credit for.
Today’s strike was part of the “school strikers” movement that began last October in Castlemaine, Victoria. High school students protested together after being inspired by Swedish advocate, Greta Thunberg.
The movement itself is focused on championing for three things:
- No new coal, oil and gas projects.
- 100 per cent renewable energy generation and exports by 2030.
- Fund transition and job creation for all fossil fuel workers and communities.
Credit: Twitter
50,000 people were predicted to march through Melbourne’s CBD today but the photos prove that protestors have exceeded those numbers. Sydneysiders gathered in The Domain, where police have also confirmed that at least 50,000 people were in attendance.
While these massive, climate strike crowds in the city have left us with dropped jaws, this protest has also shed a light on Australia’s rural communities, that are equally-as-concerned about the future.
This young girl from Chinchilla, a town four hours inland from Brisbane, made a Powerpoint presentation on climate change for her Year 6 class. She told the Brisbane Times that her peers didn’t really know how to make a difference but that they appreciated her slideshow.
Here are some of the fire posters from today:
Real talk: climate change can be overwhelming. It’s hard to stomach just how much damage our Earth is facing. There are, however, things you can do right now to make a difference regardless of your circumstances:
1. Growing your own fruits and veggies helps to prevent more CO2 from entering the air via transport systems.
2. Planting a tree to help reduce greenhouse gasses from the air.
3. Reduce your carbon footprint. Switch to energy-efficient lightbulbs, turn off your appliances after using them and make carpooling great again.
Concerning news about our climate is in full force but that doesn’t mean there’s no point in taking action. Even the smallest changes can make a difference, regardless of all the doom-and-gloomers who argue otherwise.