Today around 15 youths – all aged under 17 years old – held a large banner with the words “Are we the last generation” on the pavement outside Heathrow airport. Heavy police presence stopped the children standing on the road.
“I’m Felix, I’m 14 years old. I’m doing this because when I have children I want to be able to tell them I did everything I could to protect their futures.”
“I’m Samar Faraj, I’m 14, and I’m doing this because there are things that need doing that aren’t being done, and in 30 years time, I don’t want to be looking back on this and regretting not doing everything I could do to help prevent the disasters we’re facing.”
Extinction Rebellion Youth is a network for everyone born after 1990: “We are a generation that have never known a stable climate and that will be defined by how the world responds to the climate and ecological crisis.”
“I’m Mia, I’m 13. I’m doing this because something has to change, I’m being told to make decisions about my future when it cant even be guaranteed the earth has one.”
“I’m Maya Rivett-Martinez, I’m 15 , and the constant fear for my future is what gives me the need for change.”
The global aviation industry produces 2% of all human-induced carbon dioxide emissions. If global aviation was a country, it would rank in the top ten emitters. Unfortunately, the emissions from this industry continue to increase at a truly alarming rate. Parliament has approved a policy for airport expansion. The UK Government is moving in completely the wrong direction.
“I’m Samar Faraj, I’m 14, and I’m doing this because there are things that need doing that aren’t being done, and in 30 years time, i don’t want to be looking back on this and regretting not doing everything i could do to help prevent the disasters we’re facing.”
Oscar, 17. “To every member of this planet, I’m here because I love you. What would you do when you sincerely feared for those you loved?”
“My name is Nathan Hunter, I’m 15, and I’m protesting today because I don’t want to wake up in 15 years and regret that I didn’t do more to stop the climate crisis. I don’t want to live in a future defined by an unstable climate; A world where future generations may not be able to live happy, healthy lives – or even have lives at all.”
Letter from the Dr James Hansen to the British public – especially young people
In a letter dated yesterday, the godfather of climate science Dr James Hansen, who first alerted the world to the dangers of climate change more than 30 years ago, appeals to the British people.
“I write in recognition that citizens throughout the U.K., led increasingly by the young – those who stand to lose most – now are rising to demand that national leaders develop and adhere to a viable path away from calamitous global warming.”
To every parent, and every grandparent, “I urge you in particular to take a stand, so as to not let the full burden of responsibility befall our children. Arm yourself with information of the highest quality, think for yourself, and then exercise your full intellectual and moral capacity to help your nation and our planet survive.
“I have no doubt that the era of fossil fuels is drawing to a close. But questions remain as to the speed of the coming transition and, in direct consequence of that speed, the nature of what will be left in its wake. I cannot answer, in particular, whether our civilization will survive in any recognizable form the the assault on nature and the human dislocation attending loss of our planet’s great coastal cities that we of necessity will confront with continued unarrested climate change.”
In his letter, to the British people, Hansen sets out the truth about the ecological emergency: “The foregoing, accordingly, constitutes my best brief effort to explain our present, serious, global, climate crisis. I will have failed if, upon its review, the reader decides to shirk his or her fundamental responsibility. Now, more than before, we need to bring to bear our full acumen, time, and resources so as to demand and forge a viable future.”
Last night, the words of the world’s most respected climate scientist were echoed by naturalist Sir David Attenborough: “If we have not taken dramatic action within the next decade we could face irreversible damage to the natural world and the collapse of our societies. What happens now and in these next few years will profoundly affect the next few thousand years”.