Let’s support students climate strikers; they are heroes
Regarding current world wide protests against government inaction in the fight against climate change, I am surprised and disappointed by the expressions of disapproval appearing in letters to the editor in local and other papers. In particular, I am disappointed in the criticism of school children who take time out of the classroom to voice their concerns.
Our children know protest urging immediate action in the fight against climate change is controversial, though it should not be. Fortunately many of them are supported by their parents and many teachers when protests call for skipping classes.
I was in London earlier this year when Extinction Rebellion spoke out and took action to protest lack of action on the part of the British government. These were people from every walk of life, intelligent, well-informed, disciplined.
Here in the Cowichan Valley there are many intelligent, well-informed, and socially responsible citizens who have taken action in a variety of ways to do their part in recent years. These actions have included encouraging and enabling the installation of solar heating and electrical generating systems by individual householders as well as businesses and even public bodies. All of this, however, is but a drop in the bucket compared to what is needed to confront the challenge of global warming.
Governments in Canada at all levels have failed to take the situation seriously, fearing change, fearing controversy, unwilling to step up and provide leadership at a time when it is needed more than ever.
Government actions to date have been slow in coming, meagre, half-hearted and largely ineffective. It’s our children’s generation who will have to suffer the consequences of our generation’s inaction. Let’s do what we still can, whatever it takes. And let’s support the kids and others who support them in their efforts to bring about change. They are heroes.
Tom Masters
Chemainus