Nirvana Talukder claims that she was preoccupied with her plans for the future on the day that she skipped school, which was Friday.
The teenager, who is 16 years old, was one of hundreds of schoolchildren who participated in a demonstration in Surry Hills, Sydney, on their way to the office of Tanya Plibersek, the federal environment minister, to demand action on climate change. They participated in the School Strike 4 Climate together with thousands of other kids from all throughout Australia, who had the day off on Friday.
Talukder, who was a key organizer and speaker at the Sydney strike, stated that a lot of leaders “like to talk about the fact that we are skipping a day from school and jeopardizing our education.” In point of fact, however, we are battling for the educational opportunities of other individuals.
She advocated for putting a halt to the development of new coal, oil, and gas projects.
“We want for people like environment minister Tanya Plibersek… to actually start listening to us, and to recognize that we might not be able to vote but we will be in a few years and, before that, we are still listening to what they have to say,” said the group. “We want for them to recognize that we might not be able to vote but we will be in a few years and, before that, we are still listening to what they have to say.”
According to what she claimed, her family in Bangladesh is “constantly forced to rebuild” infrastructure for shelter, sanitation, and education as a result of the deteriorating climate. And worrying about “how the future is going to be” makes her anxious.
“We have seen how terrifying the climate crisis is,” she remarked. “We have no choice but to act.” “We have seen the bushfires, we have seen the flooding, and we have seen how it impacts not just Australians but those in other countries in the global south.”
The scientists who signed the “climate doctor’s certificate” cited “elevated stress” and “feelings of despair” as a result of the climate catastrophe in order to show their support for the students who skipped class in order to participate in the strike.
After gathering in Flagstaff Gardens in Melbourne, a large number of people led a march into the central business district of the city. At a number of important crossroads, groups of demonstrators staged sit-ins, which effectively halted traffic and caused trams and vehicles to be held up.
Anjali Beames, who is 17 years old and lives in Adelaide, had been on a school strike for the entire week. Instead of attending classes, she had been studying on the steps of Parliament House with other students who are members of the South Australian Youth Climate Alliance.
“I am studying for my future, but I am worried that without real action on climate change, my future will be bleak,” she added. “I am studying for my future.”
Students have expressed their tremendous dissatisfaction with the Australian government for its lack of action in the face of predictions that another summer in Australia will be marked by record-breaking temperatures and widespread wildfires.
“I was expecting, at the very minimum, no new coal and gas – that’s a very minimal demand, that we shouldn’t make it worse,” said 16-year-old Alexander Duggan. “That’s a very minimal demand, that we shouldn’t make it worse.” There is not a single person in my class who disagrees that the environment is in a bad state.
One protester who was 16 years old and traveled from Newcastle to the march in Sydney without the support of her parents stated that it was vital to strike because “the world is falling apart.”
“Animals are dying, humans are dying, and there are huge natural disasters all over the world, and people think that it is fine,” they continued. “People think that it is fine.” We are not making sufficient efforts, and we are not making them quickly enough.
Harriet Stark, another young person who participated in the demonstration, went with her mother despite not having permission from her school to do so.
“It is important for people to realize the effects of climate change on our lives,” she added. “It is important for people to realize the effects of climate change.” “I believe that many people choose to be willfully ignorant. Many people have an unwillingness to be informed, and as a result, they choose not to listen.
And Sol, who was only seven years old at the time, went to the rally with his mother while holding a sign that he had made himself and written the words “save the Earth” on it.
When questioned if he believes the protest will result in change, Sol shook his head in the negative. He claimed that he was participating in the demonstration to “stop coal in Australia.”
His mother always stressed the significance of being present for the sake of future generations.
She claimed that her generation, along with previous generations, had reaped the benefits of all the resources that the earth had to offer. “The price for us will be paid by our children and grandchildren in the future.”
