THOUSANDS of pupils across Scotland are to go on strike today, as part of a global protest against climate change.
It’s the second day of action and demonstrations are expected in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Fenwick, East Kilbride, Coatbridge, Stirling, Inverkeithing, Peebles, Fort William, Forres, St Andrews, Inverness, Ullapool, South Uist, Aberdeen, Aberdour, Kirkwall and Eigg.
Holly Gillibrand, 13, from Fort William, who was one of the first Scottish school kids to go on strike, said the dangers of climate change were too important to be ignored: “I’m not the sort of person who would consider breaking the rules in any way. But if we don’t strike and demand that our leaders take action, we’re not going to have a habitable planet to live on in the future”.
Last month, Nicola Sturgeon came out in support of the school strikes, tweeting: “It’s a cause for optimism, in an often dark world, that young people are taking a stand on climate change.”
Both Edinburgh and Glasgow councils have said they will not penalise kids who miss school to take part in the Youth Strike For Climate – as long as they have permission of parents or carers.
On Uist, the protest is being led by 11-year-old Meabh Mackenzie.
The Daliburgh Primary school pupil said: “I am doing this because I feel that governments are ignoring what will happen to our planet if we don’t slow down global warming.
“South Uist where I live is very low lying and it wouldn’t take much for it to disappear under the waves.
“I love this island and I will do anything at all so my children, my grandchildren and maybe even my great grandchildren see how lovely this place actually is.
“We, the future generation, are now going to tidy up the mess and we will not stop till it’s done.”
Naomi McAuliffe from Amnesty International said it was “truly inspiring to see young people organising and taking part in school strikes for climate change.”
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