Tomorrow’s School Strikes for Climate set to be biggest-ever national day of action against gas
TOMORROW THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS and supporters will join forces to demand that the Federal Government fund their future, not the gas industry, with hundreds of actions taking place across the country.
The September 25th: #FundOurFutureNotGas day of action will see over 400 powerful, covid-safe actions taking place in capital cities, regional centres and small towns throughout Australia.
With last year’s school strikes ranking amongst some of the largest protests in Australia’s history, this year with Covid-19 restrictions students have had to find new ways to have their voices heard, with powerful socially distanced actions, instagram livestreams, banner drops, “climate classrooms” on the lawns of State Parliament and art installations.
School strikers are calling for the Federal Government to spend economic stimulus money on clean energy to create thousands of jobs, rather than propping up the failing gas industry that puts our climate and economy at risk.
Anjali Sharma, 16, one of the lead organisers of Friday’s Melbourne Day of Action, said that the Federal Government’s lack of action on climate change was forcing young people to protest, even in Stage 4 lockdown.
“Although the pandemic has brought the world to a halt, it certainly hasn’t brought the climate crisis to a halt and that is why we cannot stop protesting this and demanding that the government prioritise our futures over anything else,” she said.
Brisbane student Neha Pauly, Year 11, said that State and Federal Governments need to step up and support a clean economic recovery.
“Students here in Queensland want Scott Morrison to invest COVID-19 recovery funds into renewable energy, creating thousands of jobs that would also help tackle climate change. Giving billions of taxpayer dollars to the polluting gas industry is putting the interests of the gas industry ahead of the public interest,” she said.
“In the lead up to the Queensland election we are also calling on all our state MPs to rule out public funding for gas and commit to clean energy jobs for Queenslanders. We are the Sunshine State, we need to make the most of it!”
The students will be joined by unions representing over one million workers who have endorsed the day of action, including the United Workers Union – who have coverage of many gas workers, the Maritime Union of Australia – who represent offshore gas workers, and the Australian Nurses and Midwives Association – the biggest union in Australia.
MAJOR MEDIA EVENTS
Media are invited to join in media events with interviews and vision opportunities available. Hundreds of regional events are taking place around the country, including in gasfields communities such as North West NSW. A full list of events taking place tomorrow can be found at schoolstrike4climate.com/buildourfuture
NSW – 154 ACTIONS STATEWIDE
SYDNEY EVENT
Friday Sept 25th, 10am sharp AEST,
Martin Place outside Channel 7 (near Martin Place / Elizabeth St Intersection)
Students: Veronica Hester, Natasha Abhayawickrama; Narrabri farmer Ed Nankivell; Steve Murphy, NSW Secretary, Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union; Linda Whitten, Gomeroi woman, whose lands are under threat from gas in NW NSW
VISION: Speakers + socially distanced crowd of 20 max holding a large banner saying Fund Our Future Not Gas. Behind everyone, a tableau of 100 placards hanging from washing lines to represent all the students who can’t be there due to the pandemic.
NSW event photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ss4c/albums/72157716012891081
On-site contact (strictly till 11:30am only): Alison –
