Irish school students plan mass protests to tackle climate change head on

Students in secondary schools across Ireland will take part in a mass protest against the government’s inaction on climate change. In a press release on 30 January, the Schools’ Climate Action Network wrote that students from nine secondary schools will join the protests. This is “to demand action from the Irish government on climate change”.

https://twitter.com/benfabrique/status/1091269376353992704

Inspired by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, the students are set to protest on 15 March. According to the press release, these protests aim “to highlight the dangers posed by the failure of adults to address climate change”.

Mira Henchi, a student in Cork, said:

If we don’t act now we may not be able to act at all.

“Inspiring and passionate”

The students are planning a number of actions on the day. Some of their activities will include protesting outside the Irish parliament and local government buildings, as well as protesting outside their school gates. Their intention is to join in protest with other school students from around the world on 15 March.

One school principal said that it was “inspiring” to see these students “so passionate”. And he urged “other school leaders to join the network and support their students”.

Lucas Feller, another student from Cork, said:

This is us trying to make a bigger impact on the world.

In the meantime, some students will protest outside of the Irish parliament in Dublin every Friday. Other students are planning similar protests in Cork in the lead-up to 15 March.

As The Canary has previously reported, students worldwide have already protested against the inaction of their governments in combatting climate change. This included protests outside parliament in Dublin.

The passion of young people standing for #ClimateAction
In Ireland. Powerful stuff.

Every Friday at 1pm outside the Dail.

Inspired by @GretaThunberg #FridaysForFuture #climatestrike pic.twitter.com/8a0Uf8ooSF

— Jim Scheer (@jimmerz50) January 18, 2019

“It’s their future that’s being messed with”

Noel Cunningham, a science teacher in Dublin, insisted in the press release that teachers and parents “owe it to young people to help them get more involved in protesting about” climate change. And he said: