We're striking and we're doing it right!

We, the students of Dunedin, are joining an international movement fighting for a safe climate future by demanding government action. This is the greatest crisis humanity has faced and we will not be silenced.

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We will join an international School Strike 4 Climate (SS4C) on Friday in the hopes of sending a clear message to the government that they want urgent action on the current climate crisis.

“We are demanding that the government stops toying with the future of children as if it is a game,” said Zak Rudin, one of several Year 13 students helping to organise the strike.

“The climate crisis threatens our very existence, yet politicians are doing barely anything to stop it. Fixing the planet has gone far beyond banning supermarket checkout bags. We need urgent and informed action.”

“Politicians must listen to scientists and the people of New Zealand. Government inaction and large corporations are destroying the Earth and the future of humanity. Yet ironically, despite the excuse that climate action will damage the economy, we won’t have an economy if we continue the way we’re going.”

“We’ve done our homework. The climate crisis is complex, yet the solution is simple. We need to stop emitting greenhouse gases.”

The School Strike 4 Climate is an international event that was inspired by Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old who spoke last year at the UN Climate Change Conference. A global movement is taking place across the world on March 15th. In New Zealand, school strikes are occurring in 20 different locations, including Dunedin.

“This strike is about standing up for what we believe in, not bunking off school for fun,” says Abe Baillie, a Year 13 from Logan Park High School.

“SS4C is about making a strong statement to our politicians that they absolutely must start listening to the young people of New Zealand.”

“We won’t continue to be silenced by the excuse that we are “children” and “too ignorant to understand” while the government turns a blind eye and large fossil fuel corporations profit at the expense of our futures.”

“This crisis affects everyone, but it will have the biggest impact on our generation and the generations to come. As school students we are under 18; we cannot vote for change, so we are forced to fight for our survival using other means. We need bold action now.”

“Climate change is not something to be taken lightly. According to a report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the UN Climate agreement, we need to do more now to hold global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. If we don’t take serious action within the next 12 years, the effects will be catastrophic and irreversible.”

“Ecological collapse will cause immeasurable damage to the natural world meaning many plant and animal-based food sources will essentially die out. Predicted sea level rise will threaten more than $400 million worth of roads and other assets owned by the Dunedin City Council.”

“We’re not only fighting for our future but the future of humanity.”

“The education system is also at risk because of the impacts of climate change. It will prove difficult to educate students in flooded cities with extreme and unpredictable weather as part of a collapsed ecosystem with scarce food and no clean drinking water.”

“The last thing we need to be doing in the face of global catastrophe is relaxing. There will be speeches and creative performances. Everybody will be writing letters to Parliament.” says Baillie.

Although this is a school student organised and driven event, the Dunedin organisers from Logan Park High School have been working with many grassroots organisations to make sure the event is well organised and will be a success. The Octagon has been booked 3 weeks in advance.

Event details

School Strike 4 Climate
Friday 15 March 2019
12 pm

The Octagon, Dunedin

Students will be marching from Logan Park High School from 11:20 am before meeting with university students at the Union Lawn around 11:30 am and connecting up with other youth groups at the Dental School around 11:45 am. Adults are encouraged to meet the march at the Octagon from 12 pm. Please see the image below for a map of our route.

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