Parents Stand with Youth to Save Environment
You can't expect a mother to do nothing when her child's whole future is at risk.
Parents in Israel and across the world joined youth climate strikers in a global day of climate action on 25th September 2020. In addition to Israel, parents from Brazil, Nigeria, India, Australia, Poland, UK, Germany and many other countries took part in the day to support their children in the fight for climate action
The day of action, initiated by Fridays For Future, involved a range of Covid-safe forms of action adapted to the local situation and all focused on calling for urgent climate action as part of Covid-19 recovery plans. The actions included protests in city centers and local communities, creative protests, individual actions, litter picks, letter writing initiatives, and school-focused actions.
These parents are part of the Parents for Future global network, which consists of 130 groups in more than 27 countries worldwide. They work to engage adults and normalize climate activism at local, national and global levels. It was formed in 2019 by a network of parents inspired by Greta Thunberg and the Fridays For Future movement. https://parentsforfuture.org/
Parents for Climate Israel include hundreds of parents from different parts of the country working together for their children's future. Parents from Israel are calling on leaders to do more for the sake of the next generation.
Children and parents holding a banner saying “Declare an Emergency Climate Crisis!”
Chen Gazit-Naor, a mother of two from Parents for Climate Israel, said:
"The time to act is now. We want every leader in the world to take responsibility and start making hard, life-changing decisions: stop corruption and pollution. We need leaders who use their voices and advocate for climate and biodiversity to be part of the solution to help protect our children's future."
In Israel, the youth strike took place on Tuesday, 22th September in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Zichron Yaakov, Haifa, Kiryat Tivon, Bet Shemesh, Kiryat Ono, Carmiel, Eilat and Givatayim. Parents for Climate Israel, along with other movements, joined the youth in a united call for the government to treat the climate crisis, work towards solutions and include climate education in school curriculum.
In addition, as part of a parents and youth collaboration, on Wednesday, 23rd September an intergenerational climate panel took place on Zoom as part of a Sustainability Pop Up event in collaboration with the Tel Aviv municipality.
Parents for Climate Israel member, Ruth Mason, a new immigrant from the U.S. who represented the grandparents' generation on the panel, said: "I feel that working to prevent the climate crisis is the most important thing I can do right now. I was so happy to discover Parents for Climate Israel. It gives me a framework in which to act, ideas for what to do, and support from wonderful people. I encourage everyone to join us here."
In addition to other events, Parents for Climate Israel also held a Zoom talk on how to talk to children about the climate crisis, on October 8. To keep up with events, visit their website https://parentsforfuture.org/.
Rowan Ryrie of Parents for Future UK who helped to organize a shoe strike action in Oxford on 25th September to visually represent the impact of the climate crisis on future generations, said:
"We need brave leaders to act decisively based on scientific advice and to think long term - beyond the next election and forward to what legacy today's generations are going to leave to our children. I have two young children and my love for them is what motivates me. For the children of today and for all those yet to come we need to focus on the CO2 curve as well as the Covid curve."
In Brazil, parents are demanding that the Brazilian government urgently and effectively fight fires in the Amazon and the Pantanal and reverse the dismantling of the enforcement structure to combat illegal deforestation.
Clara Ramos, a mother of two kids, from Parents for Future Brazil said:
"Brazil has been evolving a lot in the fight against deforestation over the last 15 years and this process has been interrupted by the current government. This puts at risk the Paris Agreement, by which Brazil has committed to zero deforestation by 2030. The global strike is an opportunity to bring these serious problems to the attention of Brazilian society."
In Poland, parents are pushing for their government to declare climate neutrality, to move away from coal by 2030, stop deforestation and to take care of water resources.
Kamila Kadzidłowska, a mother of three kids, from Warsaw in Poland said:
"I believe that my responsibility as a parent is not only to take care of my children today, but also to care for the world in which they will live in 20... 40 years. This means putting pressure on politicians whose decisions nowadays have a key impact on the future of my children."
In Australia, parents are campaigning for a shift to renewable energy and an end to fossil fuels.
Leanne Brummell, a mother of one, from Australian Parents for Climate Action said:
"You can't expect a mother to do nothing when her child's whole future is at risk. Australia's plan for a gas led recovery puts the whole world in danger and there are many parents in Australia determined to ban fossil fuels."
Parents For Future Global are also encouraging online engagement with Olafur Eliasson's new project Earth Speakr, which enables young children to record their own messages and encourages adults to listen to the voices of children. Details of Earth Speakr are here: https://earthspeakr.art/en/
For more information contact:
In Israel:
Chen Gazit, Parents for Climate
Hadera, Tel: 052 448 8804
Or Gal Landesman, 054 454 0933
In the UK:
Rowan Ryrie UK, Parents For Future
Oxford & UK, Tel: +44 (0)78 139 15437 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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