Storm Dennis not enough to dampen spirits of youth climate strikers

The climate was definitely present at the youth climate strike on Friday afternoon.

Storm Dennis meant that the event, originally set to take place at the Market Cross, was moved to the main hall at Lerwick Town Hall.

Galeforce wind and heavy rain was not enough to dampen the spirits of sodden young folk, including Anderson High School pupils, who showed up at the town hall to talk about the issue of climate change.

Eco Youth Shetland arranged the strike for lunchtime on Valentine’s Day, to coincide with the Show The Love campaign, where people across the UK take part in climate action in February.

Isla Johnson, Laura Bisset and Celestine Verdcourt-Lawrence, from Eco Youth Shetland, organised the strike on Friday.

Ms Johnson, an S6 AHS pupil, said it was “more a gathering of young people and all ages to support the Friday’s For Future movement”.

Friday’s For Future began in 2018, when Greta Thunberg, who Ms Johnson called an “inspiration”, sat in front of the Swedish parliament every schoolday for three weeks, to protest against the lack of action on the climate crisis – sparking a worldwide climate movement.

The Lerwick event allowed people to discuss “what we are doing to make our own lives more sustainable”, according to the Eco Youth Shetland organiser.

Town hall table with love letters to the planet.

In keeping with it being Valentine’s Day, there were pens and papers for folk to write their own love letters to the planet.

There was even an Extinction Rebellion dog, decked out in a yellow jacket with the symbol from the environmental group.

Council leader Steven Coutts was on hand to speak to young activists, and said it was good they had showed up in good numbers again.

 

The event was an opportunity to “make sure we play our part”.

“The council is very keen these conversations and discussions continue and that we all feel we are able to contribute.”

COMMENTS(4)

Add Your Comment
  • Ian Tinkler

    • February 14th, 2020 18:39

    Three people! Rock on Greta.

    REPLY
    • Robin Black

      • February 15th, 2020 13:53

      Haw sad, you find it necessary to mock youth, both home and overseas, who are taking a stance and doing something in support of protection of the environment.
      Shame on you.

      REPLY
  • Steven Jarmson

    • February 17th, 2020 16:59

    How many people attended?

    REPLY
  • David Spence

    • February 18th, 2020 3:43

    Although in many cases, transportation is blamed for a lot of pollution, this pales into insignificance compared to agriculture, which is, I believe, 6 times more polluting than transportation?

    However, the disturbing irony is we hear very little about this source of pollution due to obvious and economic reasons. This being the production of food on a large scale in terms of crop and meat production.

    One can see the dilemma in regard to how to deal with this form of pollution compared to other sources?

    As our population grows, this will become more evident where something will have to be done. What this maybe is yet, I think, going to be difficult…….especially when economics are involved to the cost of farm production and providing food at the cheapest cost…….despite the fact supermarkets giving very little back to the farmer. Supermarkets, I believe, have around 65 – 70% of the food market?

    Farm production is a very low income source of revenue, and this has lead to the massive import of many foods. This again, dominated by the supermarkets. This in itself, another source of pollution through transportation on a global scale.

    We should support our local farmers.

    REPLY

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