SHEFFIELD STUDENT STRIKES ON FRIDAY 15TH FEBRUARY

Extinction Rebellion Sheffield, Press Release for Action 15/2/19
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE 04/02/2019

Sheffield Student Strikes on Friday 15th February

• At 11AM on Friday 15th February, Youth Strike 4 Climate Sheffield will be gathering outside Sheffield Town Hall to demonstrate against the destruction of their future.

• National Association of Headteachers supports pupil’s decisions to stand up for their and the planet’s future. THIS HAS SINCE CHANGED. - Extinction Rebellion Sheffield would like to state their full support of this action and offer the group any appropriate help.

Climate change is not something in the distant future. It is damaging people’s lives around the world now. There has so far been 1.1°C of global warming and floods, wildfires and extreme weather events have already become much more frequent. Even if the nationally determined commitments under the Paris Agreement are fulfilled, we are likely to reach 3-4°C by 2100. With 4°C warming coastal cities will be flooded leading to mass displacement and migration of people, extreme weather events and droughts will be the new norm and food crop yields will decline significantly.

Climate change will impact on the world’s youth most, if we do not take radical action to reduce emissions now, a significantly less inhabitable world will be their future. But the world’s youth are taking action, with Greta Thunberg’s school strike in Sweden inspiring young people around the world to take action, with thousands of schoolchildren walking out of school in Belgium and Australia.

A national day of student strikes is being organised in the U.K on this Friday the 15th of February, with strikes planned across 30 cities. There is a rally happening from 11-2pm outside Sheffield Town Hall, for students of all ages to strike for the future of the planet. In the words of Greta Thunberg, 16; “with action, comes hope’. Let’s all have hope.

Sheffield School Strike Facebook event:

https://www.facebook.com/events/240461060216379/

Greta Thunberg visited COP 24 (The UN Climate Conference) and delivered this speech to world leaders:

“My name is Greta Thunberg. I am 15 years old. I am from Sweden. I speak on behalf of Climate Justice Now. Many people say that Sweden is just a small country and it doesn’t matter what we do. But I’ve learned you are never too small to make a difference. And if a few children can get headlines all over the world just by not going to school, then imagine what we could all do together if we really wanted to. But to do that, we have to speak clearly, no matter how uncomfortable that may be. You only speak of green eternal economic growth because you are too scared of being unpopular. You only talk about moving forward with the same bad ideas that got us into this mess, even when the only sensible thing to do is pull the emergency brake. You are not mature enough to tell it like is. Even that burden you leave to us children. But I don’t care about being popular. I care about climate justice and the living planet. Our civilization is being sacrificed for the opportunity of a very small number of people to continue making enormous amounts of money. Our biosphere is being sacrificed so that rich people in countries like mine can live in luxury. It is the sufferings of the many which pay for the luxuries of the few. The year 2078, I will celebrate my 75th birthday. If I have children maybe they will spend that day with me. Maybe they will ask me about you. Maybe they will ask why you didn’t do anything while there still was time to act. You say you love your children above all else, and yet you are stealing their future in front of their very eyes.

Until you start focusing on what needs to be done rather than what is politically possible, there is no hope. We can’t solve a crisis without treating it as a crisis. We need to keep the fossil fuels in the ground, and we need to focus on equity. And if solutions within the system are so impossible to find, maybe we should change the system itself. We have not come here to beg world leaders to care. You have ignored us in the past and you will ignore us again. We have run out of excuses and we are running out of time. We have come here to let you know that change is coming, whether you like it or not. The real power belongs to the people. Thank you'.

ENDS

Contact: Nathan Strathdee 07741490906 njstrathdee1@sheffield.ac.uk

Dr Bing Jones 07711447306 bingportraits@gmail.com xrsheffield@gmail.com

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/1188085694677545/

Twitter: @XRShef

Notes to editors

Climate Factsheet for Rebels https://rebellion.earth/the-climate-factsheet-for-rebels/

About Extinction Rebellion

Time has almost entirely run out to address the ecological crisis which is upon us, including the 6th mass species extinction and abrupt, runaway climate change. Societal collapse and mass death are seen as inevitable by scientists and other credible voices, with human extinction also a possibility, if rapid action is not taken. Extinction Rebellion believes it is a citizen’s duty to rebel, using peaceful civil disobedience, when faced with criminal inactivity by its Government.

Extinction Rebellion’s key demands are:

The Government must tell the truth about the ecological emergency, reverse inconsistent policies and work alongside the media to communicate with citizens The Government must enact legally binding policy measures to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2025 and to reduce consumption levels.

A national Citizens’ Assembly to oversee the changes, as part of creating a democracy fit for purpose.

Get involved in Extinction Rebellion’s other events:

In the UK, come to one of our events, join the Rebellion Network and let us know how you can help out.

Start a group where you are - locally in the UK or in your country around the world

Find your local group:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=11jUqqjTHMThksd4KbvGGzb3I3Cr3PkBl&us p=sharing

Check out the International XR website, with links to the French, German, Italian and UK websites.

We are holding Collaborative Leadership Calls to help coach people to improve their leadership skills and capacities And while your time and energy are the most important things, if you are financially able to donate money, see our Fundrazr crowdfunder.

UK website: https://rebellion.earth/

International website: https://xrebellion.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExtinctionRebellion/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExtinctionR hashtag #ExtinctionRebellion

Declaration of Rebellion: https://rebellion.earth/declaration/

About Rising Up!

Extinction Rebellion is an initiative of the Rising Up! network, which promotes a fundamental change of our political and economic system to one which maximises well-being and minimises harm. Change needs to be nurtured in a culture of reverence, gratitude and inclusion; whilst the tools of civil disobedience and direct action are used to express our collective power.

Website http://www.risingup.org.uk/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RisingUpUK/

Twitter https://twitter.com/RisingUpUK