Greetings,

On Friday 15 October, students from all around the country will be gathering together in over 30 locations around Australia for School Strike 4 Climate.  Due to Covid-19 some gatherings, like the one in Melbourne, will be held online.

Many young people are passionate about climate change and the fact that Australia is not doing what it could to address the climate crisis.  They are calling on our politicians to take the future, theirs and ours, seriously.  Simply, their demands are:-

1. No new coal, oil and gas projects, including the Adani mine.
2. 100% renewable energy generations and exports by 2030.
3. Fund a just transition and job creation for all fossil-fuel workers and their communities.

While it is young people who are raising their voice on this day, the changes they are demanding are things that would benefit all of us, and the earth itself.  Recently the young people from our congregation expressed their views about climate change and their words encouraged many of us.  So how might we encourage and support the young people we know?

Have a conversation and listen to their concerns.  Share stories about things you might have fought for in the past and the difference your protests made.  Ask them how you might be able to support their efforts.  Embrace their enthusiasm – we were all young once and this stuff really matters.  You never know, you might even begin to build a great relationship in the process!

You might also have the opportunity to share what you learn from young people with your peer group.  We all see things differently and there is so much we can learn from one another.

Blessings – Heather.