Protests and their Purpose - #YouthStrikeForClimateChange

On Friday, I went on strike from sixth form to protest against the lack of action to prevent climate change, and I felt that the overall experience was interesting enough to write about. So here goes....

I had been considering going on strike for several weeks and I had been aware for a while of Greta's Thunberg's actions outside the Swedish Parliament (Riksdag). With a friend having gone to the previous march in Birmingham and speaking highly of it, my mind was made up. With so much focus on Brexit in recent weeks and the minimal news coverage of climate change and its rising seas, pollution levels and increasing plastic waste in the ocean, I wanted to strike and feel as though I was filling the void of noise which I wasn't hearing on the news. I was well aware going into the protest that there would be no direct impact of me choosing to strike but that it would raise

awareness of the issue and I would feel better about it.

The protest was very enjoyable, with the highlight no doubt being when, a group of office workers on their lunch break stopped and applauded us. En route to the march - on public transport of course - their were numerous individuals in their cars who either beeped their horns or gave us thumbs up. Going forward, knowing that the adults we are trying to appeal to are supportive of us is very reassuring, to say the least. Once marching through Birmingham City Centre, I felt comfortable surrounded by like-minded individuals, normal people who want to see action taken to preserve our only planet, and our voice was heard loud and clear without there being any disobedience or unrest by either protesters or the general public. Perhaps the only disappointment of the march was the presence of the Socialist Workers Party, seeking to politicise what was an explicitly apolitical event. Climate change should not be a political issue and the UK government, irrespective of the party in power, should be using their available doctor's mandate to help tackle what is an international crisis.

It was the speeches after the march though which served as great inspiration to me. Prepared speeches were spoken and offered food for thought. But the floor was then opened up and members of the audience stood up on a whim and shared their feelings. Omnipresent were feelings of anger and despair at past actions, yet also hope and optimism for the potential future. Two friends of mine were inspired enough to stand and express their fears and dreams in front of the supportive crowd and their message was universally supported, not least with their impressive knowledge of the dangers of climate change and desperate desire for a 'citizen's change' in attitudes to the climate. However, I'm sure they will not be offended if I say that they were overshadowed by the prior speech delivered by a 7 year old boy, warning against the dangers of fracking and the natural dangers of Earthquakes. Such enthusiasm serves well for a future when time is against us before the damage is irreversible. These speeches did largely consist of  rhetoric and served as motivation. Motivation to take action on a small scale in your life to live sustainably. Motivation also on a larger scale, to lobby for greater governmental legislation and international cooperation, on a bipartisan level.

Fundamentally though, this single protest will not change the way people will live their lives or result in any substantial changes. But this does not render these (or any other) protests redundant. Far from it, protests and peaceful method of demonstration are the backbone of any western democracy.

When you protest or march, you are expressing your views to the wider world and aiming to raise awareness of an issue or concern of yours. You are exercising your civil liberties and freedom of expression, a human right you only long for when it is taken away from you. In Sudan, at the moment, the military has imposed a state of emergency to contain the current protests against the tyrannical regime, yet the Sudanese population are risking their lives, night after night by protesting. This at the moment best typifies courage and desire for civil liberties to me.

When protesting, my faith in humanity was raised. Everyone had, for slightly differing reasons, come together to push for a united goal. To know that like-minded individuals shared each other's concerns served as a great comfort to me that my actions were just and that, in striking, I had made the correct decision.

But as much as I enjoyed striking and standing up for what I believed in, will I be striking again?

My heart says yes. Climate change will not be minimised by my one-off presence outside the council house and shouting to the general populace. Our lobbying must be a continued presence to force action by governments around the world. But my head is more sceptical. Heading into mock exams, missing lessons isn't the most shrewd of decisions, not least as I'm looking to go to a good university. I also am conscious of the lack of difference my individual actions will make to world pollution levels and species dying out.

Yet, for that to be a reason not to strike is fundamentally missing the point. I strike not to change the world but to encourage the world to be changed. I strike to let the world know my opinions and concerns about such a matter. And most annoyingly, and this is mostly aimed at adults who view us students as truanting reckless youths seeking trouble, we strike not to truant, but to speak up about our opinions on the world. the most common complaints about teenagers is that they are disengaged from reality and don't care about their actions or their future. If these strikes don't disprove this concept, then I don't know what will.

I think, in the style of historical figures past and present such as Anthony Giddens, Prince Siddhartha and Bill Clinton, I will pursue a sort of middle ground. In a couple of days time, I will be in Nepal, and Kathmandu is one of the most polluted cities in the world. I want to experience what effects climate change and air pollution has had in this developing country. Then, when I get back to the UK, I will use my experiences to serve as a factor in my decision making on whether to strike again or not. In the meantime, with my fellow strikers from my sixth form, we are looking into creating an environmental society, to meet and discuss ways of living more sustainably and better organising our future actions and demonstrations. To me, this seems logical, as there is a far greater tune if everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet.

When Greta Thunberg began striking in August last year, she knew she wouldn't be making a direct impact, yet she wanted to prove a point. She wanted to demonstrate to the world that she was making a stand and wanted to be taken seriously. And now, with thousands of like-minded students around the world joining her, the message is slowly beginning to be heard.

FACT of the IPOT: Whilst in Nepal I will be writing a blog for the Solihull Scouts page where possible and will be uploading these posts also here when I get the chance. Stay tuned!