Wonthaggi student Jessie Harrison explains why she’ll be joining next week’s global climate strike.
Post: How much do you worry about climate change?
Jessie: I worry quite often. Every day there are more reports on the news: the hottest day on record. The other day I heard a report that we have only 18 months to act to reverse climate change and become carbon neutral or else there’s no return.
Our generation will be hit the worst with climate change, with hotter summers and colder winters, bigger floods and melting ice signifying just the beginning. I want to be able to live to an old age without experiencing the worst impacts of climate change.
Post: How much do you worry about climate change?
Jessie: I worry quite often. Every day there are more reports on the news: the hottest day on record. The other day I heard a report that we have only 18 months to act to reverse climate change and become carbon neutral or else there’s no return.
Our generation will be hit the worst with climate change, with hotter summers and colder winters, bigger floods and melting ice signifying just the beginning. I want to be able to live to an old age without experiencing the worst impacts of climate change.
Post: Does it depress you? Does it scare you?
Jessie: It doesn’t depress me. It does scare me, but in a good way. It makes me want to take action about what’s happening. We’re going on strike because we believe our government isn’t doing enough to support our future. By striking from school, onlookers take notice of us. If this was on a weekend or a school holiday our strikes could be taken as a fun trip to the city, instead of a march through the streets.
Post: Are your fellow students as concerned as you?
Jessie: Definitely a lot of young people discuss this and have the same sort of views. Some aren’t interested. I wouldn’t say it’s a lot but I have heard those views expressed.
Post: How do you feel about the response by our politicians?
Jessie: Angry because they’re not going to be as affected as us. I guess hopeless as well. They are the ones who can do something about it. We can’t. Our country is still using outdated forms of energy such as coal and fossil fuels and our leaders are continuously endorsing fossil fuel companies instead of moving towards a greener future.
Post: Given that most of our politicians have children themselves, how do you understand the lack of will to act?
Jessie: I’m not saying they don’t care about their children but I guess the way they’re going about it is to think it won’t affect them either.
Post: Are you aware of the policies of the different political parties on climate action?
Jessie: Yes!
Post: After the most recent student strike in March, critics claimed the students were just doing the bidding of their parents or teachers. How about you?
Jessie: I know my parents aren’t that supportive so no. There are a few teachers who are supportive but they’re not really making a comment on it.
Post: Others said students should be at school, not marching in the streets …
Jessie: I do agree that school is important but our goal is to make a difference. At our age we can’t vote or make a significant difference to government but we can use our numbers and our voice. The strike is to enable us and the students who come after us to have a future.
Jessie Harrison, aged 16, a student at Wonthaggi Secondary College, will join fellow students from around Victoria at next Friday’s climate change student strike in Melbourne. There will also be a Wonthaggi Global Climate Strike at the McBride Avenue gardens at 1pm on the same day.
Jessie: It doesn’t depress me. It does scare me, but in a good way. It makes me want to take action about what’s happening. We’re going on strike because we believe our government isn’t doing enough to support our future. By striking from school, onlookers take notice of us. If this was on a weekend or a school holiday our strikes could be taken as a fun trip to the city, instead of a march through the streets.
Post: Are your fellow students as concerned as you?
Jessie: Definitely a lot of young people discuss this and have the same sort of views. Some aren’t interested. I wouldn’t say it’s a lot but I have heard those views expressed.
Post: How do you feel about the response by our politicians?
Jessie: Angry because they’re not going to be as affected as us. I guess hopeless as well. They are the ones who can do something about it. We can’t. Our country is still using outdated forms of energy such as coal and fossil fuels and our leaders are continuously endorsing fossil fuel companies instead of moving towards a greener future.
Post: Given that most of our politicians have children themselves, how do you understand the lack of will to act?
Jessie: I’m not saying they don’t care about their children but I guess the way they’re going about it is to think it won’t affect them either.
Post: Are you aware of the policies of the different political parties on climate action?
Jessie: Yes!
Post: After the most recent student strike in March, critics claimed the students were just doing the bidding of their parents or teachers. How about you?
Jessie: I know my parents aren’t that supportive so no. There are a few teachers who are supportive but they’re not really making a comment on it.
Post: Others said students should be at school, not marching in the streets …
Jessie: I do agree that school is important but our goal is to make a difference. At our age we can’t vote or make a significant difference to government but we can use our numbers and our voice. The strike is to enable us and the students who come after us to have a future.
Jessie Harrison, aged 16, a student at Wonthaggi Secondary College, will join fellow students from around Victoria at next Friday’s climate change student strike in Melbourne. There will also be a Wonthaggi Global Climate Strike at the McBride Avenue gardens at 1pm on the same day.