Greens: Back school students ahead of new climate strike
Scottish Greens have today (8 March 2019) stepped up calls for councils across Scotland to back young climate protestors with just one week to go until the next global school strike.
Green MSPs have written to bosses at all Scottish councils urging them to publicly support young people who take part in the strikes, after the City of Edinburgh Council backed a Green motion to veto punishment earlier this week.
An estimated 15,000 people took part in a wave of climate strikes across the UK in February, inspired by 16-year-old Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg. Many more are expected to take part in the next global strike on 15 March 2019.
Scottish Greens Education spokesperson, Ross Greer MSP, said:
“The climate crisis - and how we all respond to it - will now unavoidably define the lives of young people at school in Scotland today. Many are, completely rationally, fearful for their futures and those of young people around the world. It’s clear why they feel compelled to speak out and urge stronger action from governments and corporations who have not just failed to tackle this crisis but who have caused it.
“Local councils should support young people who chose to strike for the climate - after all, they epitomise what it means to be responsible citizens. They should certainly ensure that there is no threat of any form of punishment.”