SCOTTISH businesses, charities and other organisations have announced their participation in Global Climate Strikes on Friday, September 20.
They include ScottishPower, the National Union of Students Scotland and other trades unions, Friends of the Earth Scotland and Children 1st. The protests could be the largest climate mobilisation in Scotland’s history and millions are expected to take part in events around the world.
Major marches are planned in Edinburgh and Glasgow with more rallies in Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness and Crieff, among others.
However, councillors have banned the capital march from Princes Street and warned organisers could be arrested if the ban is not adhered to.
The organisations taking part will support the strikes in a number of ways, including: closing their offices; allowing staff to use time normally allocated for volunteering to join or steward the strikes; organising workplace climate conversations; and allowing staff to attend the protests in work time.
The strikes are the latest in a wave of action being spearheaded by children and young people.
ScottishPower, which last year became the only integrated energy company to produce 100% renewable electricity, will allow staff to steward the Glasgow march as a staff volunteering day.
The National Union of Students Scotland has written to the Scottish Government to seek assurances that there will be no academic, financial or other penalties applied to striking students.
Dylan Hamilton, 15, said of the Princes Street ban: “This goes directly against the council’s declaration of a climate emergency and proves that those words were, in fact, just words – and threatening young people with being arrested goes against our right to march.”
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