The kids are alright: School Strikes 4 Climate
IEU General Secretary and Trades Hall President Deb James made a keynote speech at this event, marvelling at the clever, passionate, highly organised students leading the fight for sustainable development.
Melbourne’s recent rally was effortlessly co-convened by Ella. She is 14. It’s hard not to conclude that our species has evolved, and that we’ll be in better hands in the future than we are now!
The 21 May event in the idyllic Treasury Gardens was faultless – good sound, passionate, snappy speeches gripping an engaged crowd, some music and even a merch tent.
These youngsters have somehow soaked in (and improved on) the lessons from a generation of music festivals and protests to include marshals, first aid, a signer for the hearing impaired, QR sign-ins, reminders to take rubbish home, an accessibility zone and a chill-out area for the overwhelmed and anxious. Their Welcomes to Country were informed and heartfelt, and their soundbite for the media catchy and relevant: ‘Fund our future, not gas’.
But they’re not looking for pats on the back from dazzled elders. They are purely and simply on point: ‘None of us should have to live in fear of an uncertain future’.
‘Climate change is being funded by public money,’ said Francesca Smith from Narrabri, a town of 6000 ‘divided’ by a gas project, nailing the takeaway from the gathering – that gas, favoured by the Morrison government, is no better than coal and our kids want their future put ahead of the profits of multinational corporations.
There was opprobrium for the budget and the announcement of a new, taxpayer-funded $600 million gas project. ‘We don’t have time for this. We need a transition to renewables right now,’ said co-MC Anj Sharma. ‘We will keep building the movement because there is no other option’.
Tish King, a Torres Strait Islander, said creating ‘clean jobs’ was the key to the future. ‘When there is injustice, resistance is required.’ She demanded urgent action to counter erosion, coral bleaching and inundation affecting her family’s lands.
The final speech was delivered by IEU General Secretary Deb James, in her capacity as Trades Hall President. It balanced the role of the unions in climate change activism with support for the stars of the show, the students. She said unions stood in solidarity with the students ‘because we strongly believe in the rights of young people to have a say in our democracy’.
‘Do not let the conservative media try to silence you – be loud and proud. As we know in the union movement, when we raise our voices together, we can’t be silenced!
‘Your struggle is our struggle too. Climate change is union business! It is union members and workers on the frontline right now in the fight against climate change. Just as young people will experience the worst of climate change in your future – it is workers who will be on the frontline against bushfires, storms, droughts, and heatwaves.’
The Age quoted Deb’s apt ad-lib: ‘The Morrison government should be very worried that you will all be old enough to vote soon!’ That brought a huge, galvanising cheer. She brought the event to its crescendo by leading a ‘Stand Up Fight Back’ chant at the end of her speech.
The great range of home-made placards was a particular highlight. Some witty, some deadly serious, many amusing pop-culture references and a significant number that were presumably very clever, but largely incomprehensible to anyone born in the twentieth century. ‘Mother Nature: Another Woman ScoMo doesn’t respect,’ one banner read. ‘If you did your job, we’d be in skool! (sic)’ proclaimed another. From Camberwell Girls Grammar: ‘The Earth is getting hotter than my imaginary boyfriend’.
The IEU joined with the Australian Education Union and the National Tertiary Education Union to issue a joint statement of solidarity with students who participated in 50 events across Australia.
‘Australia’s lack of meaningful action on climate change is a lost opportunity and has become an international embarrassment. Worse, it is a reckless and irresponsible betrayal of future generations.
‘Our three unions represent nearly 300,000 education workers across Australia who care deeply about the future of their students.’
As Deb said, those unions and education workers are also incredibly proud of their students.
‘Your courage and your conviction are absolutely inspirational. You are leading the way in showing the world and showing our politicians how to fight for what is right.’
This article was originally published in The Point, V1, No2, 2021.