Students to strike in Edinburgh
On Friday 20th September, students and workers across the world will be coming together to call for stronger action to prevent the catastrophic effects of climate change. This is the Global Strike for Climate: a worldwide protest where students and workers stop what they're doing and march for the future of our planet. The strikes are being organised in the run up to a key United Nations summit on climate change on the 23rd of September. Edinburgh College Students' Association supports these strikes, and encourages all students to attend.
In Edinburgh, protesters will be striking from their work and studies to march from The Meadows to Scottish Parliament. The Edinburgh march will be assembling at Middle Meadow Walk at 11am, and setting off at 11:30am.
Edinburgh College Students' Association supports this protest action, and we encourage you to take part in the Edinburgh protests. We have received confirmation from the College's Senior Management that any Edinburgh College student who wants to protest will be able to miss classes to take part without their funding being affected, so long as you inform your lecturer beforehand.
If you are planning on attending, then please fill out the form at the bottom of this page, and we will be in touch to organise an Edinburgh College students bloc at the protest. Alternatively, email alex@ecsa.scot
Show solidarity with the climate strikers
ECSA will be running stalls throughout next week to promote the climate strikes - come along to find out more. Even if you cannot attend the protest, you can add your message of solidarity with the climate strikers.
Stalls will be running 12.30pm - 1.30pm:
- Tuesday 17th September, Granton (next to reception in the Hub)
- Wednesday 18th September, Sighthill (next to the canteen)
- Thursday 19th September, Milton Road (next to reception)
EIS, the college lecturers' union are also holding information meetings about the strike. These will feature speakers from the school students that are organising the protest, and Extinction Rebellion:
- Wed 18 Sept Granton campus: (Pass Theatre)
- Thurs 19 Sept Midlothian campus (Room 201)
Why is this protest important?
"I would encourage you to attend the climate strikes on 20th September if you can. We are already starting to see the extreme weather effects of climate change; both here in Scotland with more frequent heatwaves, and abroad, such as the hurricane which recently devastated the Bahamas. It is clear that urgent action and coordination is needed. The climate crisis is one of the most important issues our society faces, and young people and children will be the ones most affected in the future."
According to the United Nations report last year, we have 11 years in which to cut global greenhouse gas emissions by 50% in order to avoid the very worst effects of climate change. Calls for climate action has strongly intensified in recent years, and young people and students have been at the forefront of this. The School Strikes movement began in August 2018 when Swedish school girl Greta Thunberg went on strike, since then the movement has spread across the globe.