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Geraldton students “fight” for a clean future and demand climate action in national school strike

Phoebe PinGeraldton Guardian
Cooper Booth, 14, Tabitha Murdoch, 15 and Lucy Murdoch are preparing for the School Strike 4 Climate event
Camera IconCooper Booth, 14, Tabitha Murdoch, 15 and Lucy Murdoch are preparing for the School Strike 4 Climate event Credit: Picture: Phoebe Pin

A group of climate-conscious Geraldton youth are refusing to let criticism stop them protesting about claimed government inaction on environmental policy.

The Geraldton Youth Regeneration Organisation will participate in the national initiative School Strike 4 Climate today, taking time out of the classroom to demand that the Morrison Government invest in clean, renewable energy and job solu-tions instead of gas and coal projects.

This is the third time the group has taken part in the climate protest, with Geraldton strikes attracting up to 200 young people in the past.

Local student Lucy Murdoch, 17, said the protest hoped to raise awareness about national and Geraldton-specific climate concerns.

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“Fracking and coastal erosion are huge things around Geraldton and Dongara, so we have certainly got some specific local issues that are always good to bring up,” she said.

Some locals have taken to social media to criticise chalk drawings which advertised the local strike, with several saying students should not take time out of school for the protest.

It is our future, why not fight for it?

Tabitha said it was often “hard to see” social media criticism of youth actions to raise awareness about climate concerns, but she believed the cause was worth fighting for.

“It is definitely a bit disheartening to know there are still people who are actively denying climate change is real and, further than that, are criticising us for trying to put a stop to it,” she said.

“But it is nothing that should be taken too seriously because they are just keyboard warriors, they are not out there doing anything that we can see.

“We are the future generations, we are going to be in power, and we are letting the current leaders know that we will be taking action on this when we are in power, so they should just start now. It is our future, why not fight for it?”

The School Strike 4 Climate event will run from 11am-1pm at Stow Gardens today.

GYRO meet at Lester House every Sunday from 3pm, with young people aged 12-18 invited to attend meetings.

Tabitha Murdoch, 15, Lucy Murdoch, 17 and Cooper Booth, 14, are preparing for the School Strike 4 Climate event
Camera IconTabitha Murdoch, 15, Lucy Murdoch, 17 and Cooper Booth, 14, are preparing for the School Strike 4 Climate event Credit: Geraldton Guardian

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