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Guildford Joins World’s Millions To Protest and Demand Action Now On Climate Change
Published on: 20 Sep, 2019
Updated on: 23 Sep, 2019
Teenage organisers from George Abbot School leading the march past the Guildhall. Photo – Mandy Millyard
About 1,000 climate change protesters, led by schoolchildren organisers, marched through Guildford today (September 20) as part of the global climate strike.
Across the world, millions have been on the march against lack of official action to combat climate change. In Westminster by mid-afternoon, thousands of children and adults had massed, with many thousands more in towns and cities across the UK and Europe joining the universal protest.
And the giant movement appears to be affecting world opinion. The head of OPEC, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, has branded climate-striking students as the “greatest threat” to the oil industry. Activist Greta Thunberg replied: “Thank you. Our biggest compliment yet.”
The attendance in Guildford far surpassed the organisers’ expectations. They and the police had anticipated only about 200 people would turn up. Just two police were deployed but the marchers were well-behaved and the only task for the officers was ensuring safety as roads were crossed.
The estimated size of the march was about 1,000. Photo – Mandy Millyard
Today’s protest is the biggest seen in the town since the campaign to keep the Royal Surrey Hospital open in 2006.
Newly Independent MP Anne Milton joined the march and said: “It is great to have so many on the march today and of all ages. It was all peaceful and well behaved, as you would expect in Guildford.”
Anne Milton MP watching the march before joining in. Photo – Mandy Millyard
Cllr Susan Parker, leader of the Guildford Greenbelt Group, was also present. She has recently resigned as the lead councillor for the environment at Guildford Borough Council and said: “I’m proud to have been part of the march – the whole community was represented, from babies in slings to the elderly, all showing their passionate concern for the environment – even Guildford’s MP.
Petra Todd with the Bullhorn leads the chanting. Photo – Mandy Millyard
The local demonstration was organised by the Youth Strike movement, co-ordinated by 15-year-old Petra and Rowan Todd, 13, and Alice, 18 and Hattie Twigger-Ross, 15, all from George Abbot School. Inspired by 16-year-old Swedish climate activist, Greta Thunberg, they started their strikes in February and have been striking once a month since then.
As they marched they led chants of, “This is what democracy looks like!” and “When our climate’s under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!” and “Whose future? Our future!”
Onlookers appeared sympathetic to their cause. A few motorists were frustrated when their way was blocked for a short period and one shouted, “Bloody liberals!” although the protest was clearly not aligned with any particular political party.
The four school teenagers had formed up at the top of the High Street, by Holy Trinity Church, and led the swiftly growing parade down the High Street back up North street and through Swan Lane. It took more than 10 minutes for the estimated 1,000 marchers to pass through.
See: Video Feature: One Thousand in Youth Strike Climate Change Protest
The protest then headed across the town bridge. Ruth from Guildford and her friend Evi, from Aldershot, watching the march by St Nicolas Church, said they would have joined in had they known about it earlier and they believed the climate change danger transcended party politics.
The march then proceeded to the council offices in Millmead where they were met sympathetically by council leader Caroline Reeves who said she supported their protest.
The final leg of the march was to the railway station where they were addressed again by Petra Todd, then Paul Couchman of Unison and Thomas Hazell a member of the “Young Greens” (Green Party).
He said: “I’m angry. I think the rest of you are probably too. I’m angry because the climate crisis puts our futures on the line. And our political class are making a huge mess of it.
“Guildford, I don’t know if its through boneheaded ignorance or willful idleness, but they’re driving us head first into this emergency.
“We’ve seen government after government in the UK choose not to face up to the crisis and take the bold action we need. For decades we’ve seen toothless international negotiations become talking shops that don’t even come close to addressing the crisis.”
Crowd being addressed at Guildford Railway Station by Thomas Hazel.
Did you take part? Do you agree or disagree with the protesters? Please use the leave a reply feature below to have your say.
See also:
School’s Dilemma With Student Climate Strike On September 20
Adults Must Tackle Climate Change Urgently, Teenagers Tell Councils
Youth Climate Change Protest In Town Centre
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Responses to Guildford Joins World’s Millions To Protest and Demand Action Now On Climate Change
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Julia Shaw
September 20, 2019 at 7:13 pm
Let’s hope the huge number of people means the government will wake up and start taking meaningful action.
Sean Jenkinson
September 21, 2019 at 4:46 pm
It’s not just up to government everyone has to do their bit, and I am sure plenty of these kids and adults around the word protesting will still jet off on their holidays, drive their cars, want the latest smartphone and computer console and think nothing of it. And how did they all get to the protest I wonder?
Alice Fowler
September 21, 2019 at 9:55 pm
“How did they all get to the protest I wonder?”
For information: my son walked from his home to George Abbot school (40 mins) to attend the first lesson of the morning. He then walked from school to join the protest.
Having taken part in that he then walked back to school for the final lesson of the day. He then walked home.
Please don’t underestimate the passion and commitment of these young people.
Jules Cranwell
September 20, 2019 at 9:07 pm
Let’s hope GBC wakes up to what damage their Local Plan will do to the environment locally and quits its irrational support for it. Climate crisis? What crisis? They seem to say.
R Devlin
September 21, 2019 at 1:13 pm
I was there with my children and couldn’t have been prouder of them and all the others for standing up and being heard.
Steph Bleach
September 21, 2019 at 2:05 pm
What an inspiring group of students. I was in awe as I marched along side them. Guildford is waking up to the climate crisis we all face, and it couldn’t come any sooner!
Bill Smith
September 21, 2019 at 2:08 pm
I joined this march and it was inspirational to see so many people demanding government action on climate breakdown. Particularly from students who risk their permanent record. This issue outweighs a pointless argument of whether kids should be in school when we are in the midst of a sixth mass extinction.
Our so-called leaders must wake up. This doesn’t stop with the government. Our local councils have a moral obligation to rewrite all policy in line with the threat of the climate crisis. This includes Guildford Borough Council. And most importantly it includes a complete overhaul of Surrey County Council where a few councillors put business ahead of the Surrey residents’ future – notably in their disgraceful decision to allow 3,500 barrels of oil to be extracted per day from Horse Hill.
Our system has failed us. We must push for a radical rewrite of democracy and a total overhaul of the economic system that puts corporate interest above the future of the planet.
Alison Moulden
September 21, 2019 at 3:09 pm
Amazing sight! What incredible kids they are. The tide is finally turning.
Donall Dempsey
September 25, 2019 at 7:35 pm
The children came, they saw, they conquered. That “Veni, vidi, vici” moment when it all comes together.
And come they did: babes in arms; babes in prams; toddlers held by the hand or backpacked by dads in top knots. And teenagers taking their first step into the real world of politics. They flowed down the High Street and I was glad to be part of that great flowing.