In the lead up to the 2019 federal election, we asked young people what their key issues were. Resoundingly, the top response was the climate crisis.
Over the last 12 months, the School Strike 4 Climate movement has catapulted its way into the national spotlight, as young people have staged the biggest protests in a generation.
Doha, a young person currently completing year 12, has been one the key organisers for the Climate Strikes in South Australia. We caught up with her to discuss her personal journey and her experience going from a concerned citizen to an activist driving change on issues she’s passionate about.
Let’s go:
We’ve seen two Climate Strikes in Adelaide, with thousands of young people taking to the streets to demand action on climate change. We’ve seen the footage of the Climate Strikes around Australia, and around the world. This is a huge movement.
Where did your involvement with this movement begin? How did all of this start?
It started initially with Greta Thunberg striking outside the Swedish Parliament and it took off from there. There were groups popping up across Australia, starting with two girls from Castlemaine, Harriot and Milou. They connected with a group called Tipping Point - who support grassroots groups establish themselves. From there, they put a call out for people from capital cities who were interested in looking to kick something off locally. They sent out a link and I signed up! Two other students signed up as well and we founded it here.
What made you want to click that link and take that first step?
As young people, there aren’t many opportunities to take the lead on issues. Initially, I never would have thought of striking if I thought something was unfair. I would just post about it on social media and let it go. It was just the perfect opportunity to get into activism and actually take a stand.
So what happens next? How did it grow?
There was a group chat made with the two others and some adult supports - and we kind of went from there. After the November 30th strike happened, we kind of started building the student team. We went from three students to 25 now in the central team.
In terms of getting it out there and recruiting people who wanted to be involved, it was the role of the students. We went into our schools and into our networks. We handed our posters and flyers. We were the ones responsible for getting students on board. Adults helped with logistics and council stuff.
Building the team was really challenging at first. It’s hard to reach out to people and it’s hard to bring them in and keep them in. What we did to get the first group of students into the team was to have an open meeting and introduce them to what School Strike 4 Climate was, why it’s a good opportunity to get involved with, and what the role would entail. A big part of keeping them in the group was giving them a sense of empowerment – giving them a role they felt like they could do and a role that contributed to creating this change and this movement that was really taking off.
How did you come up with the things that you’re asking for? You’ve got this giant energy behind you, and you want to spearhead it with demands, what was that process like?
While we want the same end goal, while we want climate action, there’s a lot of different pathways to getting there.
To come up with the demands, and to make sure people are behind those demands, it takes a lot of consultation. It took us a while to come up with the School Strike 4 Climate demands. We kind of pulled on what the wider environmental movement was saying. So we got behind the Stop Adani campaign, we got behind the Just Transition demands. We got behind the 100% renewables by 2030 campaign, and the No New Fossils Fuels campaign. I guess the process was democratic and there was a lot of consultation.
We do try to bring a sense of urgency to it. There was a report released recently saying we don’t have 12 years to act – we only have 18 months!
What apps or resources do you use to connect, organise and inform so many people?
It’s mainly just messenger groups – we have so many group chats! And to connect with our supporters, we mainly use Mailchimp.
Photo taken at the School Strike 4 Climate - March 15 2018
What’s been the biggest challenge for you throughout this process?
I get the worst case of ‘imposter syndrome’. Like I feel like I kind of just fell into this position – sort of like the coordinator for the Branch in South Australia and the national rep for South Australia as well – and sometimes it’s like ‘how did I get to this point’. It’s been a really fast journey and we’ve grown really quickly.
I think most young people doubt their abilities, and I kind of do that too. Because with the strikes – we always try to say that our voices are important and we must be listened to – but when it comes to personally, what I can contribute, I’m a little bit… I guess… hesitant. I want to make sure what I’m contributing is meaningful and can actually make change and provide a perspective that isn’t provided by other sources.
I think the politics side of it was the most challenging thing about coming into this space as an emerging activist. We had some issues with a group trying to hijack our stuff. They were kind of telling us, you know, how things should be done. They were doing it in a way that was quite controlling. They wanted to see it go in a certain direction. They were aggressive and critical of our choice to not go in their direction. I suppose it was like a wake up call.
A bunch of university student union people came in and helped out and helped us write up formal partnership agreements.
I learned that I wouldn’t go into a partnership without a formal agreement beforehand.
What’s been the coolest moment?
Straight after the March 15 Strike. That was the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen in my life. I’ve never seen a turn out for a protest like that. And it seemed insane that a group of 15 or so 13-17 year olds organised all of that… yea. That was pretty insane. It was very empowering.
When you’re looking to the crowd, what are you thinking to yourself?
‘This is absolutely incredible’.
Actually. On the day I was really concerned because the stage actually didn’t show up - so I was really thinking ‘where’s the stage, where’s the stage, where’s the stage!’
Why do you feel it’s important for the Strikes to be organised and led by young people?
I think that it’s just in the spirit of an event organised by young people for young people – I think having it organised by young people makes sure that youth perspectives are truly represented and truly made accessible to everyone.
Photo taken at the School Strike 4 Climate - March 15 2018
The next strikes are for everyone, and not just students. What was the decision-making process there?
Part of it had to do with the election outcome. There was some sentiment around how Queensland was ‘lost’ because of coal jobs, and workers felt like they weren’t included in the environmental movement. So we are opening it up and changing our demands to reflect that we need a Just Transition. Workers can’t be left behind, they’re part of this movement too – so opening it up is a reflection of that. The Climate Justice movement is for everyone.
We do try to make it pretty intersectional. The movement is quite diverse. We don’t just have left leaning people. We have right leaning people and centrist. We have everyone. That’s one of the reasons we’ve kept it nonpartisan – to ensure that as many people as possible can relate and connect with the issue and get on board.
What have been the cool, helpful, effective ways that adults have helped you
Firstly, by giving us space and letting us do our thing and not encroaching on that space.
And then secondly, engaging in conversations about how they can help and really listening to young people and the team. Our adult supporters currently support us by reaching out to adult institutions like unions and workplaces. And so that’s the area that adults are working in now, because they’re best positioned to be effective in that area.
Have there been examples of adults getting in the way?
Not really. The adults who have supported School Strike 4 Climate have been really respectful with how it’s meant to be youth led.
Do you have any advice for young people looking to drive change?
I would advise… to make sure that you’re really using the platform for good. That you’re opening it up to people who wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to share their perspective. As a youth movement, our generation is so diverse, and we really need to be making sure that we’re providing a platform for all youth.
Photo taken at the School Strike 4 Climate - March 15 2018
One of the themes of the protests has been the language used to describe what young people are doing, and what they’re achieving. From negative comments about how young people aren’t qualified to be in this space, to patronising supportive. How has that been for you?
That irks me. I think that young people are inherently quite active. They are passionate. But I guess we’ve provided a platform for that to be more visible.
A lot of the language being used in the lead up to the Strike attacked young people for being young. Are you seeing that as well?
Yea definitely. That’s a point that was highlighted a lot in our networks. And we saw that as a win. They’re not rebutting our demands. They know we’re right. They’re just launching this ad hominem attack that are just fallacious and wrong.
I think it highlights how opponents of climate action really have no grounds to stand on. Everything that we’re saying, all the concerns we’re highlighting have been highlighted for years by science, and by people who are actually proper experts in their field.
I think it’s a cop out. A flaky way to try to undermine the movement. I don’t see how anyone can take it seriously, and I don’t think it’s going to drive anyone away from the movement who wasn’t already against it.
But on the other hand, you might notice that Greta refers to herself as a kid or a child. And while language like that coming from other people is infantilising, it’s part of our movement that we are in a powerless position, we are asking you to step in and do something. We’re using our position - as kids and children, as people who can’t vote and are vulnerable and rely on you – to bring change.
What do you say to people that think young people aren’t qualified to speak in this space?
I think that’s a very dangerous argument. We shouldn’t need any qualification to ask for change. It’s antidemocratic. It’s wrong for them to suggest that young people aren’t qualified to give an opinion on things that will affect them.
Photo taken at the School Strike 4 Climate - March 15 2018
A massive thank you to Doha for spending the time to talk to us about her experiences driving change, and the work she’s doing for School Strike 4 Climate.
To read more from us about the importance of getting language right when we discuss the political and democratic actions of young people, click here.
YACSA’s position on the School Strike 4 Climate is simple. We support any movement, campaign or action in which young people are driving change about issues that they are passionate about. Young people have a right to be involved in decisions that affect their lives.
