On Friday, 20th September, The Wifey and I joined tens of thousands of other Melburnians at the Global Climate Strike at Treasury Gardens….

 

It was incredible seeing the sea of protestors, flags and banners raised high. Music and chants filling the air. There was such a positive energy, everybody protesting peacefully and respectfully.

How can people honestly think humans can keep taking from the Earth, destroying its resources and ecosystems without it having an effect? How could clean, renewable energy be worse than digging massive holes in the ground and burning a fuel that can only be used once and never replaced again?

Looking around it was unfathomable to think that this all started with a, then, 15 year old lone girl sitting outside her parliament. What Greta Thunberg has inspired in such a short period of time is staggering. And the way she responds to the vitriol directed at her (by predominately scared, intimidated middle aged/old men) is courageous.

The Global Climate Strike (and School Strike 4 Climate movement) are demanding 3 things from governments:

  1. No new coal, oil or gas projects
  2. 100% renewable energy generation and exports by 2030
  3. Funding for the transition and creation of jobs for all fossil fuel workers and communities

It is clear where Australia’s current insipid government’s allegiances lie and it is nothing short of embarrassing and abhorrent that they would rather line their pockets with money from polluters than create a better environment for future generations. We have absolutely ZERO respect.

We have a 3.5 year old son. We want him to grow up in a world that respects and cares for the environment and the people that inhabit it. And as Greta has proven, from small things big things grow.

And that should start with us. The parents. The adults. We need to be accountable for our actions and let kids go back to being kids.

Song recorded at the global climate strike in Melbourne, performed by an older generation of protestors : )
If you want to see more inspiration for the future I highly recommend seeing the film 2040.

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