Chai Brady
Catholic schools have a responsibility to empower pupils with the confidence to get involved in climate action, according to a Dublin teacher involved in an upcoming ‘climate strike’.
Thousands of children across Ireland will be skipping school on Friday, March 15, as part of a global day of action pressuring governments to act against climate change.
Peter Fitzgerald from St Joseph’s College in Lucan says school management fully supports the initiative, and with permission slips signed by parents, the students are now gearing up to strike outside Leinster house.
The business, accounting, economics and LCVP teacher said he is encouraging other schools to get involved. “As a teacher it is wonderful to see the students enthusiastic and engaged with real world issues that will impact their future,” he said.
“As a Catholic school it is vitally important that we encourage students to look after the planet that we have been given.”
Europe has been flooded by the new youth movement popularised by Greta Thunberg (16), a Swedish activist who made waves after speaking at the UN Climate Change COP24 conference, and staged a lone climate action protest at the Swedish parliament during school hours.
Protection
Mr Fitzgerald said his school has always been “very proactive” in relation to the environment with students taking a lead role in initiatives such as protecting the Irish Boglands, The Bees Need Trees, or the Green Schools Committee.
He advises contacting schoolstrike4climateireland@gmail.com or visiting the Facebook page SchoolStrike4ClimateIreland for more information.