Pupil strike on Friday over climate change.

[justasking111]

DS said on Friday the pupils at his school might walk out on Friday over climate change. I did not realise at the time it was a national thing. Not impressed with this, what are the children going to do for three hours. We have had nothing official from the school. Has anyone?

www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/08/global-school-strikes-over-climate-change-head-to-the-uk

I think it's fantastic and I support them.

DS2 10 participated yesterday. His whole school marched with teachers to the suburban village nearby and back. He said it was lots of fun with cars hooting support.

Next one is March 15th. If I can join them I will.

Come on Mumsnet!!!

If we can't support our kids in demonstrating to save the planet who can?

There was a retired head teacher on Sky News who did a brilliant job in illustrating why the young people should have been commended for standing up and making the point.

The interviewer did well to stay polite with him and point out that were they not learning while they were involved and surely good teachers would use it as teaching opportunities.

He was very much in the school of "children should be seen and not heard", that they should know their place (neither of which he said directly but which oozed out of everything he was saying) and that the only reason that the children were out there was because teachers had been irresponsible and politicised the children, using them as pawns for their own political beliefs.

I think it’s great that children are interested and involved, but the problem is (and always has been) that everyone wants someone else to do something.

Say the government listened increased taxes by 10%, banned single use plastics, made having a car or flying unaffordable and made all the other changes needed. Would everyone suddenly be delighted to be poorer, have less choice in foods as well as having to carry these food home on the bus without even the glimmer of a week in the sun?

I doubt it.

Everyone wants change that doesn’t effect them personally.

Saw this on the local news and had a good old laugh. We have quite an obvious local accent round these parts and not one of the people interviewed had one. Lots of upper cut classic radio 4 voices.

No idea how that’s relevant really but I did wonder why only the posh kids and their natural fibre wearing parents were the only ones at the protest.

ffs, all very well but until mum, dad and kids stop driving, flying, wasting food and natural resources, this 'trendy' walk out demo thing is not going to do fuck all, i don't know but unless 3 odd billion people stop doing those things nothing is going to change.
this like everything else until a new fad comes along,

Waste of time and excuse to skive. Wonder how many of these protesters are going to never use cars, forgo having kids at all and not fly. Yeah, right. Not news, just distraction from the fact that we're sitting on the loaded bomb that is no-deal Brexit.

I am sure that they are very passionate, bet they all charged their mobile phones before going though!

someone commented on wearing natural fibre, most people would say cotton is good but it takes so much water to grow and process it, hardly eco.
there is no way this will achieve anything. governments treat rallies and marches as a fun day out for the peasants to let off steam,then go home thinking they've changed the world.

The only way 3 billion people will stop doing things is if the government force it. So the protest is saying to them, do something.
My kids chose go to to school and I respect their choice, they did say many were doing it to get a day off, but many went and protested and it’s the government and councils that needs to sit up and act.

My dh took the day off to take my (primary age) ds. It was a thoroughly worthwhile experience for him. It was officially unauthorised but our head was actually very supportive and thought it was great that we were making a stand.

Am shocked that people think there's no point. There's no point in an education if there's not going to be a recognisable planet in 30 years. Governments are entirely ineffectual, how else can we get them to take notice (serious question).

@Mitsouko67 that's fab. I'm pretty sure my son was the only one at his school taking part but he still enjoyed it.

Fully behind them protesting.

Yes I'm sure the protesters could individually do more to help slow climate change like walk more, be more conscious of clothing choices etc.

However this was a protest on the governments failiures to protect us from our biggest threat to date.
These young people were taking a stand to protect their future. They're the ones who will see thousands of species die, water levels rise at alarming rates, extreme weather patterns, lack of food, poor air quality etc. And what does the government do? Jack shit quite frankly.

It may not make such a massive change now, but by causing people to discuss the movement it creates awareness of the issue. And when people become aware they may become passionate about it and help make a difference.

This isn't just a one off to be able to go on half term early. This is a worldwide movement that has already seen government ministers resign in other countries. This protest isn't an one off, it will continue for the forseeable future into governments wake up and realise the danger they're putting us all in.

@Tiscold thanks for your post. Exactly what I think but you express it brilliantly.

takes a bow

I'm just a tad passionate about climate change if you can tell. And quite frankly the more the merrier.

These protests are an intricate part of getting the government to take charge and help solve climate change. They will already have made a difference even just a small one. Why? Because all these adults were talking about it, the prime minsiter commented, senior government ministers had to respond. Even if they didn't promise change, they were made to think about the issue. And if we keep making them think about it, knowing our politicians they will do something about it, just to shut people up .

Am shocked that people think there's no point.

There isn't. The government can't make things more expensive than they already have, there are already more and more people in poverty don't have time to go poncing round whinging about climate change skiving off school or taking time off work when they don't get paid for time off anyhow.

The young people charged up their phones to go take selfies of them 'protesting', later going to go getting driving licenses, flying around, reproducing.

The no. 1 cause of climate change is overpopulation, but you never see anyone 'taking a stand' saying 'Stop Reproducing!' no, it's all wank about charging more for basic services and goods.

If it was a protest that they all truly believed in, then I would be happy. But realistically they suffered not in the slightest and had a day off school. Then boasted about it on their mobile phone!!!!! (which is probably not their first mobile phone!). Why not protest on a sat/sun or half term (coz they were probably away, ha ha flying/driving etc). That is what I have an issue with. Doing without instagram for a week might have been a better idea or picking up rubbish for a day, but no they skive off school and carry a placard (and parents probably drove them to a protest)

Its easy to blame the government, I would be more impressed if kids started the ball rolling at home!

Taima I'll give you one simple example of a government policy on climate change which would help people save money every day.

Better energy efficiency standards in new homes. But when George Osborne was in power he axed the zero carbon homes policy.

www.mirror.co.uk/money/how-200-extra-added-bills-13982333

This is the sort of reason our kids are striking. To get politicians to listen.

Why would politicians listen to a load of uneducated kids skiving off school?

Doctor, people don't go on strike on days when they wouldn't be working. What would be the point in that?

What do you think the government is doing to stop climate catastrophe?

But am loving the Mumsneters sticking up for their kids (doing sod all themselves

Thank God they can't vote

Doctor, the government has been forced to respond to the school strikes. I heard Claire Perry give an interview about it on the radio, Theresa May issued a statement about it, and Ken Clarke & other politicians were talking about it on Any Questions yesterday & today.

Those are just the ones I happened to hear. They need to take notice of it because in a few years time these kids will be voting. And if they don't see the government doing something about climate change they can vote them out.

Do you actually have children, Callmeadoctor?