manchester foe logo

Time to support the Climate Strike on Friday 20th September

news release

 “I want you to act as if the house is on fire, because it is.” 

Greta Thunberg 


Young people have been leading the fight against the climate crisis – striking from school to demand the government takes urgent climate action. 

The UK Student Climate Network are calling on everyone to join a global general climate strike on Friday 20th September – just 3 days before the UN emergency climate summit (23rd September). [1]    

Catherine Thomson, Manchester Friends of the Earth campaigner said: 

“We need to act now. But our government is continuing to make climate-wrecking decisions – from airport expansion and fracking, to funding the oil and gas industries overseas.”  

“It’s time for us all to stand with young people and demand emergency action on climate breakdown.”

Around the world a huge range of organisations including banks, churches, designers, doctors, football clubs, schools, trade unions and universities have publicly supported the climate strike and are encouraging their staff and customers to show solidarity with the young students. [2]

On Tuesday 10th September the Trades Union Congress (TUC) supported a motion to encourage workers across the country to show support for the Climate Strike and Trade Unions across Greater Manchester are encouraging their members to support the Climate Strike events.

In Greater Manchester a growing number of organisations have already pledged their support, including:

  • AKT II (Manchester) “We will be organising events within our offices to discuss ways that we can all do more to solve this crisis – on a personal and on a professional level as engineers and designers.”
  • A Small Good Thing (Bolton) “We will be closing the shop for a few hours to show support for the strike and walking into town, via Chorley Old Road to the Town Hall steps.”
  • Corporation Pop (Manchester) “we’ll be allowing our team to walk out of work and join demos supporting the young climate strikers on 20th Sept”
  • Ethical Property Company / Green Fish Resource Centre (Manchester) “We’re proud to be in solidarity with the Global Climate Strike. We are supporting all of our staff who want to take part in the #ClimateStrike during working hours as we believe that climate change is a very real threat to our planet and society.”
  • HOME (Manchester) “we will also be screening another climate change short, this one starring the fantastic Julie Hesmondhalgh (BroadchurchCoronation Street). This short is to raise awareness about the Global Youth Strikes happening on 20th September. We support staff to take action in your lunch break.”
  • LUSH Cosmetics (Manchester)
  • Patagonia (Manchester) “The climate crisis is an emergency. This September millions of us will walk out of our workplaces and homes to join young climate strikers on the streets to demand that leaders respond to this emergency and for an end to the age of fossil fuels.”
  • Rowlinson Knitwear (Stockport) “On Friday 20 Sept, we’re closed for business to support the #ClimateStrike. Instead, our colleague community is investing time to plan how we can take meaningful action for people and our planet.”
  • Salford CVS  [2]

Manchester Friends of the Earth is calling on businesses and organisations across Greater Manchester to publicly support the Climate Strike and encourage their staff, volunteers and the public to show solidarity.

We realise that due to work or other commitments, not everyone will be able to join them on the strike. This guide offers tips on how you can organise an act of solidarity, whether at work, university or in your community. There are also a resources (flyers, placards, leaflets etc) available to download. [3]

By the end of 2020 Friends of the Earth wants commitments on:

  • Transport: Invest in brilliant and cheap public transport, cycling and walking everywhere. New petrol and diesel cars shouldn’t even be for sale within the decade.
  • Power: Start aiming for 100% clean energy from the wind, sun and sea.  Electricity can’t come from dirty fuels anymore and fracking should be banned.
  • Buildings: Fund a massive insulation scheme and shift to eco-friendly heating – this will end the misery of cold, expensive-to-heat homes.
  • Agriculture and land use: Double tree cover and let wildlife thrive – our land is too precious to be given over to intensive farming.
  • Infrastructure: Start making climate change a deal-breaker in all spending decisions.  That means projects that fuel climate change, like airport expansion, can’t go ahead.
  • International justice: It’s time the UK paid its fair share to support more vulnerable countries to cut carbon pollution and deal with the impacts

ENDS

Contact for comments:  Pete Abel, Manchester Friends of the Earth, Mobile: 07951 642858.   Email: pete@manchesterfoe.org.uk

Notes for Editors
1) See UK Student Climate Network https://ukscn.org/ and Global Climate Strike – Manchester Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/2543418052552560/

2) See ‘Is your organisation supporting the Climate Strike on 20th September?’ for just some of the businesses and organisations supporting the climate strike.  https://www.manchesterfoe.org.uk/blog/2019/09/03/is-your-organisation-supporting-the-climate-strike-on-20th-september/  

3) See https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climate-change/how-act-solidarity-strikers

4) Manchester Friends of the Earth is an award-winning environmental campaign group, raising awareness and lobbying for policy changes at a local, regional, national and international level. The group consists entirely of volunteers, and its campaigns are funded by membership fees and individual donations. Up-to-date information is available on the group’s website: www.manchesterfoe.org.uk. Manchester Friends of the Earth is a Licensed Local Group of Friends of the Earth, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. www.foe.co.uk

Find us on

Facebook

Support Us

Donate or join us using a standing order or PayPal.

Twitter @foemcr