Missing the Message of the Climate Strike

History has been made today, It is Friday 20th September 2019 and worldwide; millions take to the streets to send a clear and strong message. TAKE ACTION NOW! You see, this is the start of the largest manmade climate change protest in history, children and young adults across the country (and the world) are ditching the classroom to make their message heard. Unsurprisingly, this course of action is not without its critics. I can’t help but wonder if many are missing the message of the climate strike (or at worst, ignoring it).

Reacting Negatively

Here in the UK, one question keeps cropping up is it ok for our children to miss school? Various teaching unions, politicians (including the Education Minister) and schools have made it clear that whilst they appreciate the enthusiasm and passion; leaving the classroom is unacceptable. In fact, threats of professional or legal repercussions have been given to teachers considering supporting these actions. 

Ignoring the message itself, this attitude worries me. I realise why the system wouldn’t want to encourage young minds to step outside of it (even for a moment) but it diminishes and discourages a massive achievement. Millions are making a political statement, democratically in a unified, coordinated fashion; those millions struggle to be heard politically. This isn’t how to make our future heard, is it?

Just look at the Brexit debacle to see how much our youth have achieved. Internationally, I would like to reiterate. Discouraging this is more a support of oppression; and taking a “children should be seen and not heard” mindset rather than an encouragement of democracy. However, in critiquing this achievement, we’re also taking a positive (unity) and devaluing it, massively.

It feels shortsighted to focus on academic success when millions of young people have achieved the most practical of successes, unity. Something, that politically; despite all the money and schooling available to them, our MP’s have failed to achieve. Education is important, but it comes in many forms and sometimes our system fails on this front.

Hearing the Message

The world we live in is beautiful but life is diminishing because of inaction. Yet, we continue to put budget and effort elsewhere. The action we are taking is too little, too late. Manmade climate change isn’t an issue that needs addressing when our kids finish their education. This is the point, it is an issue that needs addressing here and now. It is more important than the classroom, there is no point if there is no future to work towards. This is the message that’s being missed.