Students from schools across the borough have taken to the streets today as part of a global protest urging action on global warming.
The day of action saw parts of Reading town centre closed as youngsters massed outside the Civic Offices to make their cause known.
Meanwhile, students from Oakbank School in Three Mile Cross have been told they must make up any studies missed as a result of the day of action.
And protests will be held outside the Oakwood Centre in Woodley from 1.30pm this afternoon.
The events have been organised by Extinction Rebellion and says that the climate strikes calling on governments to take immediate action on the climate and ecological emergency.
They come ahead of the emergency UN Climate Summit which begins in New York City on Monday.
Greta Thunberg said in January at the World Economic Forum in Davos, “I want you to act as if the house is on fire, because it is”.
Extinction Rebellion UK said that it stands in solidarity with all those striking in cities and towns around the world.
In a statement, it noted: “To witness the fierce compassion and motivation of the young has been a galvanising force to action and we want to thank all of you for inspiring us day after day.”
The group says it believes it is a citizen’s duty to rebel, using peaceful civil disobedience, when faced with criminal inactivity by their Government.
Extinction Rebellion’s key demands are:
- Government must tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, working with other institutions to communicate the urgency for change.
- Government must act now to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.
- Government must create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.
Caspar Hughes, 48, Extinction Rebellion activist and father of school striker, Max, 12, added: “Parents have left their children to clear up the Climate and Ecological Crisis they have created. The youth should be out partying rather the protesting.”
Pictures by Dijana Capan/DVision-images