As a movement that cares deeply about the future of our natural world, The Wildlife Trusts live and breathe ‘the change we wish to see’. Every single day, you’ll find us restoring and protecting our special wild places, inspiring and educating people about the wonders of our wildlife, and galvanising public support – encouraging people to speak out and take action for a healthy natural world.
On one particular, extraordinary day we will be supporting another approach, too: strike action.
Young people across the world have been leaving their classrooms every Friday for the best part of a year now, to demand immediate and radical action on the climate crisis we are collectively facing. The ‘school strikes’ have been a concerted effort by young people to make governments understand that they are tired of waiting for their future to be written for them. They’re taking charge of their own narrative. And they’ve publicly invited the whole world to join them for one day.
On Friday 20 September we are all being urged to come together as part of a massive, global, day of action.
You’re invited
The strike aims to demonstrate that people are no longer willing to continue with ‘business as usual’ – the urgency of the climate crisis requires a new approach. Meanwhile public awareness of the issues, and pressure on those people in power to act, continues to build.
Just a few weeks ago we were part of the largest-ever environmental lobby of parliament: ‘The Time is Now’. On the day, The Wildlife Trusts and our supporters spoke directly to MPs about the urgent action needed to tackle the climate crisis, and to halt wildlife decline. In the coming months there will be further opportunities for global governments to commit to decisive action that will truly protect nature, not least in the UK when Glasgow hosts the 26th Conference of Parties (commonly referred to as COP). There are several other environmental events and milestones that converge throughout 2020 including an important opportunity for our seas, when the UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea will also meet to negotiate a new global oceans treaty.
So, it’s no surprise that strike momentum is building fast, right across the world. So far people from 150 countries have organised climate strikes. In the UK alone over 170 strike events are already registered with the UK Student Climate Network with many more expected.
Wildlife Trusts across the UK will be present at many strike events, helping people be part of the solution at a grassroots level. And for anyone who wants an alternative to strike action, our nature reserves are the perfect places to get in touch with nature where you live.
If you have ever subscribed to the maxim “don’t do nothing because you can’t do everything. Do something. Anything”, then the global strike offers something for you.
Find out about strike action near you and be sure to add your voice to our call for a Wilder Future.
