Emanuel School students take a stand
Over 150 Emanuel Primary and High School students rallied to voice their concerns about the global climate crisis.
Emanuel students
The student-led event held at Emanuel School was an outstanding success with Primary and High School students passionately sharing their feelings and research about the crisis. Local MP Dr Kerryn Phelps joined the rally and congratulated the students on their insights, passion and courage to stand up and make a difference.
The Primary School’s Green Team, a group of Primary students who are passionate about addressing climate change and other environmental concerns, worked hard to develop the event concept, create posters for the rally and spread the word to their peers.
Lia McLellan, Year 5, eloquently shared her feelings with the gathering: “We are experiencing extremely hot summers, excruciatingly cold winters, rising water levels like never before, and it’s all thanks to us. Our actions are costing the world.
Emanuel students with local Federal MP Dr Kerryn Phelps
“As kids, we don’t have a huge say in what happens. We look to our parents and leaders to make the important decisions in our world. Right now it seems that they’re doing a really bad job. In fact, they’ve completely failed us when it comes to ensuring that we have a bright future ahead. Some grown-ups don’t think climate change is real. Some grown-ups just ignore it because it’s not their future or their problem. So, we need to take action because they aren’t. I want to act now. But I can’t act alone. We all need to work together to change the future. So, let’s act now Emanuel!”
Dr Phelps was impressed by the students’ deep concern for the planet: “What stood out to me is that our kids want to be heard. They understand that the future of our planet is on the line and they are worried that nobody is listening. Young people are now way ahead of the current Government – they don’t think it’s funny when the Prime Minister brings a lump of coal into the Parliament to taunt those who want to see a focus on renewable energy.
“In addition to policy settings that lower our carbon emissions and encourage a path towards a clean energy future, collective ambitions such as minimizing waste and ensuring we have clean air and water should not be too much to ask. We owe it to our children and grandchildren.
“As a doctor, I have been scientifically trained to look at the evidence and make a diagnosis. The science tells us that climate change is real. I want science to be taken seriously again.”
Andrew Watt, Emanuel School Principal, is a staunch supporter of the students’ actions. He spoke to the students at assembly this week: “New terms, such as ‘climate justice’ have emerged recently, as many of our young people cry out for genuine and swift action. This rally is our way of supporting the global climate strikes happening this week. I believe in the power of student agency – the power of your voice – in changing the way the world responds to the climate change crisis.
“With both the NSW election and a Federal election coming up in the next few months, this is a good time to let the leaders of our state and our country know that we understand climate change and want them to take appropriate action. I am proud of you all for taking this stand and of your support of a movement that can only prosper with a youth-led voice.”
After the rally, Dr Phelps was interviewed by two Primary students for Emanuel School News Network. They asked Dr Phelps the important questions of: “Why do you think climate action is important?” and “Do you think it is important for students to be involved in events like this?”. Dr Phelps responded: “I think it is essential for young people to be switched on to what is happening in their world. For students at Emanuel School and around the world this week, to be engaged in an issue that is this important is vital to our future because a lot of the politicians aren’t listening. Now I can take your message from Emanuel, back to Canberra. I can tell them about what you have done here today and that will help politicians to understand how strongly young people feel about what needs to be done.”
I find it very disturbing that young children who
don’t have the scientific knowledge or maturity to
conclude that human beings can alter the changes
in climate.
Climate never remains constant and those who are trying to
con the youth into believing that this is the first time
in the worlds history that the climate is changing
are simply taking advantage of young people
who are always looking to change the world for the
better.
The original proponents of this giant scare agenda
called it global warming. But much later they changed their
slogan to Climate change. The reason was because
over 10,000 scientists signed a letter stating that
the assertion of global warming is due to raised
levels of Carbon Dioxide, is only a model and
not a proof. The model has various assumptions
which are not provable.
So the ‘hoaxers’ changed the hoax slogan to Climate Change
, because they knew that no opposing scientist
could ever respond by saying that the Climate is always constant.
The fear mongers also deceptively called Carbon
Dioxide , Carbon, because they knew that public
would fall for the trap of calling coal dirty. They knew
that the public would not realise that Carbon Dioxide
which the alleged culprit for Global warning, is a colourless
Gas and not the same as Carbon.
The UN tried to use this Carbon Dioxide hoax to raise billions
of dollars ( Rudd offered the UN $500m of Aussie
tax money ! ) so that the UN did not have to
be reliant on the US for funding.
Schools should in my opinion
be more careful in allowing their students children to be
snared by unprovable ISMs that create unnecessary fear in our
youth. All the dire predictions made by Al Gore in the
early 2000’s have NOT occurred. But the new hoaxers
are now making new predictions
There is so much fear generated by
the media about the future and this fear is very
unhealthy for us and our children
Parents should be very very concerned about
instilling fear of extinction into children.