Tens of thousands of students and supporters across Australia engaged in protest calling for an end to fossil fuel projects and to ramp up renewables and increase Australia's weak climate targets.
In over 50 locations across Australia, in all capital cities, and in many regionals centres too, students left school on Friday to demand that the Morrison Government says no to funding dangerous gas and coal projects with Australians’ money and, as an alternative, invests in clean renewable energy, secure jobs and First Nations solutions to protect Country.
Employees from 382 businesses from the Not Business as Usual alliance also joined the strike. They joined the 656 businesses, organisations, unions and individuals who directly pledged to join the strike.
According to Students Strike 4 Climate across the nation:
- Brisbane: 5,000 attended
- Melbourne: 20,000 attended
- Sydney: 10,000 attended
- Canberra: 2,000 attended
- Darwin: 100 attended
- Perth: 700 attended
- Adelaide: 2,000 attended
- Hobart: 1,000 attended
Regional Victorian actions included at Albury-Wodonga, Ballarat, Belgrave, Benalla, Bendigo, Castlemaine, Geelong, Mildura, Mornington Peninsula, Riddells Creek, Shepparton, Wonthagi.
Ballarat #ClimateStrike @StrikeClimate #FundOurFutureNotGas
— Belinda Coates (@BelindaCoates) May 21, 2021
“What do we want? Climate Action! When do we want it? Now!!!!”#climatechange #ClimateAction #ClimateEmergency pic.twitter.com/vdMCd8XCnd
Belgrave, Victoria School Strike #FundOurFutureNotGas #ClimateStrike #schoolstrike4climate pic.twitter.com/9ZLSy6l6Qs
— 💧Don McArthur (@Don_M_) May 21, 2021
About 200 at the #ClimateStrike in Castlemaine, nicely covid spaced. pic.twitter.com/cTitKzD4yr
— Cam_Walker (@Cam_Walker) May 21, 2021
14 year old #Geelong student at #schoolstrike4climate "Scott Morrison, you are directly funding climate catastrophe." #ClimateStrike #KurriKurri #ScottyTheAnnouncer pic.twitter.com/th8iOUPiCL
— Environment Victoria (@EnviroVic) May 21, 2021
We went to our local #ClimateStrike today, organised by teens within a COVID-19 and quite negative #climate environment here in #mildura. They did a great job despite the backlash!
— Emma | Small footprints, big adventures (@EmmaWalmsleyEco) May 21, 2021
We’re not backing down, we need #ClimateActionNow! #FundOurFutureNotGas #FridaysForFuture #auspol pic.twitter.com/iLOYoZLudm
Riddells Creek School Strike 4 Climate.
— Dionne (@DionneHindell) May 21, 2021
Students voices were heard loud and clear. #greenfuture #FundOurFutureNotGas #ss4c #ClimateStrike pic.twitter.com/3qlWUMyEqI
Fridays for Future in Bairnsdale today. Week after week, calling for urgent climate action. Our government must listen to the overwhelming science and follow the clear path to stopping greenhouse gas levels relentless rise.@PeterDGardner @GippsNews @bairnsdalexr pic.twitter.com/HaQXdMg4XZ
— Tony Peck (@ragger51) May 21, 2021
In regional NSW, the first official climate protest was held in the Parkes area, with 80 people!!! Parkes is part of deputy prime minister Michael McCormack's electorate, and as a farming town it feel the impacts of climate inaction every day.
"I've lived through six droughts in 17 years, so when our local member harps on about 'inner-city raving lunatics' with their climate agenda, it feels like a slap in the face. Does this look inner city to you, Mr McCormack?" said a student from Parkes on FB.
On my Facebook page I commented:
The only thing that gives me hope with the climate and biodiversity crisis is the determination of young people fighting for their future against the inter generational theft being imposed through continuation of fossil fuel dependency.
The science is clear. We need to rapidly reduce emissions, kick our fossil fuel habit. Even the conservative International Energy Agency in their Roadmap to zero emissions by 2050 makes clear we need to stop building any more fossil fuel infrastructure like the $600 million for the Kurri Kurri gas power station just announced, and start the rapid phase out of the use of coal and gas. We have a #climateemergency. You were awesome today students and my fellow Melburnians.
Brunswick Greens MP Tim Read posted this video report of the Melbourne rally:
My Flickr photos of Melbourne Climate Strike:
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