Thousands of Australian children skipped school on Friday in defiance of the prime minister to protest for greater action on climate change.
As the children prepared for three days of protest, Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Parliament « what we want is more learning in schools and less activism. »
Two Central Victoria pupils, inspired by Greta Thunberg, a 15-year-old student in Sweden who staged her own climate strike outside the Swedish Parliament in September, started the « Strike 4 Climate Action. »
Harriet O’Shea Carre and Milou Albrecht, both 14, penned a call to arms asking fellow school children to join them in protest, stating: « Just going to school isn’t doing anything about climate change. And it doesn’t seem that our politicians are doing anything, or at least not enough, about climate change either. »
On Thursday Thunberg tweeted her support for the Australian schoolchildren, « Time for bed in Sweden. But in Australia it’s already morning… I stand strong Australia. We are with you. »
The Australian newspaper reported that environmental groups and parents supported the protests.
« I wake every morning in a state that is 100% drought declared, » said 17-year-old Ruby Walker, a protesting pupil from the state of New South Wales.
