All Campaigns subcategories:
Education keywords:
Students
Highlight keywords |
Print this article
Search site for keywords: Climate change - Strikes - Students
Climate strike reports
Youth climate strikers outside Buckingham Palace, 15.3.19, photo by James Ivens (Click to enlarge)
- Link up with trade unions
- Set up a student union
- Defend the right to protest
- Socialist change not climate change!
Millions of students walked out against climate change again on 15 March. See 'Massive protests over catastrophic climate change'. Check out more reports below.
Manchester
Around 500 school, college and university students gathered in central Manchester, demanding action to combat climate change. The atmosphere was one of anger and militancy.
Students as young as eleven attended, urging that our future cannot be jeopardised through another generation of destructive fossil fuel reliance. Some of their parents were protesting too!
There were, however, attempts to 'depoliticise' the strike. Certain environmental groups limited themselves to vague talk about simply 'acting' on climate change.
This didn't stop many students from talking about the need to kick out the Tories and to put the 'planet before profit'! Our socialist ideas were received with keen interest.
A positive mood exists on these strikes for system change. We argued that to take immediate action to halt climate change, we have to take on the profiteers that drive the fossil fuel industry.
This means socialist change, based on public ownership and workers' democracy - not a false 'green' capitalism!
Tom Costello, Manchester Socialist Party
Worcester
From nothing a month ago, there was a gathering of over 200 mainly school students in Worcester city on 15 March.
There were a couple of speeches at the start along with a minute's silence for the victims of the mass shootings in New Zealand.
Students from local schools, some as young as eleven, explained why there were taking part in the walkout. This was followed by more speeches and then we marched off.
Nothing had been organised but it went around the town with many people stopping to watch, taking leaflets and buying the Socialist.
There were hoots in support from passing traffic. Later still, one of Worcester's Socialist Party members spoke to cheers from the audience on the need for socialist change to halt climate change.
One of the main student organisers spoke alongside a Socialist Party member at a Socialist Party public meeting on 18 March.
Ruthie McNally, Worcester Socialist Party
York
Over 400 school students rallied in the centre of York. They were there to listen, discuss and march.
There were some speakers from the Green and Labour parties but the mood was definitely in advance of the contributions made by those speakers.
Major system change was demanded over and over again by young contributors. I addressed the rally as secretary of York trade union council (TUC) and as a member of the Socialist Party.
My argument that capitalism has no answer to halting catastrophic climate change and that socialism is the way forward was met with loud applause.
The students also applauded the motion passed by the York TUC in support of their action.
The rally lasted for three hours and there was a strong interest in socialist ideas as well as building links with the trade unions.
Over 20 students left their contact details for more information about the Socialist Party, and 20 copies of the Socialist were sold.
Nigel Smith, York Socialist Party
- Read more: 'Oil firms spend £1 billion fighting climate laws - Green New Deal needs socialist policies'
- Go to socialiststudents.org.uk for more resources and ideas for the next 12 April walkouts
LATEST POSTS
19 Aug Leeds Socialist Party: Women and the class struggle
21 Aug York Socialist Party: Class and the education system
22 Aug Cardiff East Socialist Party: Hong Kong - the struggle for democratic workers' rights
CONTACT US
Phone our national office on 020 8988 8777
Email: info@socialistparty.org.uk
Locate your nearest Socialist Party branch Text your name and postcode to 07761 818 206
Regional Socialist Party organisers:
Eastern: 0798 202 1969
East Mids: 0773 797 8057
London: 020 8988 8786
North East: 0784 114 4890
North West 07954 376 096
South East: 020 8988 8777
South West: 07759 796 478
Southern: 07833 681910
Wales: 07935 391 947
West Mids: 02476 555 620
Yorkshire: 0114 264 6551
ABOUT US
ARCHIVE
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999