Video Feature: One Thousand in Youth Strike Climate Change Protest

Published on: 20 Sep, 2019
Updated on: 23 Sep, 2019

See today’s (September 20) Youth Strike climate change protest in Guildford, the biggest our town has seen for over a decade.

Included are interviews by Martin Giles with the school girl organisers and with Council Leader Caroline Reeves. Video shot and edited by Mark Insoll.

More images and quotes from those participating can be seen below.

Three of the organisers address the protesters before they set off. Photo – Mandy Millyard

Photo – Mandy Millyard

Ruth from central Guildford (she did not wish to have her surname published), taking part with her young daughter, said, “I have children and I want them to have a safe future. It’s time we stood up to the fossil fuel industry.”

All ages were present. Photo – Mandy Millyard

Andy Giess, who takes the lead on the Climate Crisis at Guildford Labour, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many young people taking part in the fifth Climate Crisis rally. It’s great to see young people taking a lead and trying to get not only the government but local authorities to produce Action Plans now, to tackle the climate emergency.”

Rewilding from the front…

…and the back. Photo – Alice Fowler.

Dressed for the occasion.

And financial modeller (above wearing tie) Jonathan Mitchell said: “I have been attending and supporting these strikes for the past year and I will be going to protest in London in October. I think this is the greatest crisis facing humanity”

Bill Chilcott, an older protester, said: “Climate change is happening now. Taking the world as a whole, last year was the hottest on record; there are more long hot dry periods and more hurricanes; ice is melting in the Arctic and Antarctic, and consequently, sea levels are rising.

If sea level rises enough to flood the Thames Valley, that will be serious for a lot of people. No-one knows when the really serious effects will happen. I think 2100 was one early prediction, and by that time I’ll be safely dead. A more recent prediction is 2050, so I may still be alive.

Just one of the Extinction Rebellion banners and flags on display.

Cllr Susan Parker (GGG, Send): “We all know that we need to change our behaviour. But it is the turn of both national and local government to recognise that they need to make fundamental changes. National government is too busy.

“Our local and county council are good at saying the right things, but words are cheap. Surrey County Council recognised a climate emergency then approved oil drilling at Horse Hill. GuildfordBC has recognised climate change but when I resigned from the Executive at GBC there was no budget for dealing with climate change, and frankly, not much will to act.

“I wanted an active autumn programme of urban tree- and hedge-planting (especially kerbside) but costs and budget were flagged as constraints that would limit this – we don’t even have proposals for one test site yet.”

John Bannister of the Guildford Environmental Forum said: “I joined today’s School Climate Strike protest as global heating is so serious that I felt I couldn’t carry on with business as usual.

“Across the world, the resulting problems are there for everyone to see and the situation will only get worse. Our politicians, including those in Guildford, are sleeping at their desks happily playing politics.”

Well behaved, good-humoured protestors make their way back across the town bridge having visited the council offices at Millmead.

Responses to Video Feature: One Thousand in Youth Strike Climate Change Protest

Dave Middleton Reply

September 21, 2019 at 3:09 pm

Whether one supports the action taken by these young people or not, they should be commended for making their point in a dignified, civilised and above all, lawful manner.

Other protest groups who chose to act unlawfully by blocking roads, disrupting public transport, invading private buildings and carrying out acts of vandalism should take note and be ashamed of themselves.
Lisa Wright Reply

September 21, 2019 at 6:39 pm

It’s incredibly disappointing that there were only a few schools represented at the March. I didn’t expect thousands of school children but it would have been nice to see a good range of the various Guildford school uniforms and pupils making the most of this fantastic learning opportunity.

Editor’s note: It was quite hard to identify which schools were represented. I spoke to some girls who said they were from George Abbot School and that there were a hundred of their fellow pupils taking part. Of course, the organisers came from George Abbot. I did spot some Royal Grammar School uniforms and one of their pupils, watching the march, said that they had not been threatened with punishment if they took part, as had been rumoured. I think I might have spotted some pupils in Tormead uniform too.

If you are a pupil or teacher that can clarify whether your school was represented please do.
Harry Eve Reply

September 22, 2019 at 8:46 am

Excellent coverage from The Guildford Dragon. The organisation of the march was very good and surely a very worthwhile lesson in citizenship and democracy for the schoolchildren who took part, even more so for those who led it.

We should also thank the police (and a GBC officer?) for their low key presence helping to keep everyone safe. And a tongue in cheek thanks to the motorists who sounded their horns in support.

I was also pleased to observe red admiral and peacock butterflies on the “Rewilding” hat.

Editor’s note: Thank you. We had a team of three covering this important event and I would like to pay particular thanks to Mark Insoll whose professional skill-level camera work and time-consuming video editing is letting those who were not there see what happened.
Dave Middleton Reply

September 22, 2019 at 4:36 pm

In response to Lisa Wright and the editor, does it really matter which, or how many different schools the protestors came from?

From the video and pictures, the bulk of attendees were in everyday clothing, not school uniform, so could be from any of the schools in the borough. They were representing themselves and their personal views, not their schools, so which school they may, or may not, attend is surely irrelevant.

As for any school board of governors, or head teacher prohibiting pupils’ attendance under pain of punishment, I rather think it would take a very brave, some might say stupid, governor or headteacher to ban their pupils’ attendance in this day of self-assured young people and instant publicity on social media.
Sara Tokunaga Reply

September 22, 2019 at 4:40 pm

I was in town on Friday and saw some of the protesters. I am in favour of making your voices heard about the damage being done to our planet.

Call me an old cynic, but the fact this international call was made for a Friday walkout (a school day) did make me wonder how many had taken the opportunity to miss school.

I saw rather a lot of children who were not involved in the protest but were just having fun, apparently skipping school. I also wonder how many would have been there if this international “call to arms” had been on a Saturday.
Jules Cranwell Reply

September 24, 2019 at 6:36 pm

Ms McVey said: “Once the green belt is built on it’s often gone for good that’s why we are determined to protect it. The public has told us loud and clear they want it kept for future generations to enjoy.”

So why is GBC persisting with the discredited Tory Local Plan? It could not be clearer that the Tories got it wrong on the green belt.