School children admit that they don’t care about climate change and just want the day off

A group of school children who attended the climate change protest have admitted they just wanted the day off of school.

Thousands of people flooded Sydney’s streets as they made their way to the Domain to take part in the demonstration calling for governments and businesses to commit to a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

As the sea of people made their way to the event at midday on Friday, some school students on scooters could be seen heading in the opposite direction – appearing disinterested in the event. 

And they were not alone. A group of 14-year-old boys straggling at the back of the crowd told Daily Mail Australia they weren’t interested in the protest. They said they were just happy to be out of the class room. 

One of the boys said they were going to go to Subway for lunch as they were hungry.

When asked why they came out for the event one replied: ‘I just wanted the day off school’.

‘A lot of our friends said they were coming so we thought we should come too.’ 

A young girl sits on a man’s shoulders during the Sydney protest on Friday. She held a sign which read: ‘There is no planet B’

Thousands of people flooded Sydney's streets as they made their way to the Domain to take part in the demonstration calling for governments and businesses to commit to a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030

Thousands of people flooded Sydney’s streets as they made their way to the Domain to take part in the demonstration calling for governments and businesses to commit to a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030

The Global Strike 4 Climate will on Friday take place in 110 towns and cities across Australia, with organisers demanding government and business commit to a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030

The Global Strike 4 Climate will on Friday take place in 110 towns and cities across Australia, with organisers demanding government and business commit to a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030

'Can't eat money': Protesters take to the streets in Sydney as part of the rally which happened across the globe on Friday

‘Can’t eat money’: Protesters take to the streets in Sydney as part of the rally which happened across the globe on Friday

Parents took their children out of school to take part in the protest. However, acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack said students should be in school as it was 'just a disruption'

Parents took their children out of school to take part in the protest. However, acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack said students should be in school as it was ‘just a disruption’

However, there were hundreds of young people proving their dedication to the cause as they carried artistic placards they had made the night before, which read: ‘Time is almost up’ and ‘There is no Planet B’.

Others could be seen scribbling their signs on old pieces of cardboard on the footpath as they waited for the event to begin.

One girl the Daily Mail Australia spoke to had taken a two hour bus from the Central Coast to make it to the event.

‘I’m her because I’m afraid for my future. I don’t want to have kids and them to face the same problem,’ the 14-year-old said.

Another group of about 10 girls, aged 15, had taken the afternoon off of school to attend the demonstration. 

Millions of people from across the globe are expected to walk out of work and school as part of 'Strike 4 Climate Action' which will be held on September 20

Millions of people from across the globe are expected to walk out of work and school as part of ‘Strike 4 Climate Action’ which will be held on September 20

There were hundreds of young people proving their dedication to the cause as they carried artistic placards they had made the night before, which read: 'Time is almost up' and 'There is no Planet B'

There were hundreds of young people proving their dedication to the cause as they carried artistic placards they had made the night before, which read: ‘Time is almost up’ and ‘There is no Planet B’

Thousands of protesters turned out for the climate strike on Friday. This woman wore green and wrapped a vine around her neck for the cause

Thousands of protesters turned out for the climate strike on Friday. This woman wore green and wrapped a vine around her neck for the cause

'Today the world stands up united' a sign colourful reads at a protest in Byron Bay. A woman in denim overalls carries a sign which read: 'There is nothing we can't do if we do it together'

‘Today the world stands up united’ a sign colourful reads at a protest in Byron Bay. A woman in denim overalls carries a sign which read: ‘There is nothing we can’t do if we do it together’

They said their teachers had encouraged them to attend the  event but admitted their principal wasn’t as supportive. 

‘We had to get our parents to sign a permission slip to be able to come,’ one girl said. 

‘We want to make a difference. It’s our future. Yes, education is important but if there’s no future then there’s no point in getting an education.’

‘This is way more important than school,’ another girl said.

Daniel, 15, from Fort Street High School in Sydney said young people ‘are demanding more than they’re being offered’.

‘Seeing how many young people are coming out, I think the current politicians we’ve got might not stay in power for so long anymore, with with a new voting base coming in,’ he said.

Hundreds of school children left school early to take part in the rally. Some schools allowed the children to attend as long as they had parental permission while other forbade it

Hundreds of school children left school early to take part in the rally. Some schools allowed the children to attend as long as they had parental permission while other forbade it

The Global Strike 4 Climate will on Friday take place in 110 towns and cities across Australia, with organisers demanding government and business commit to a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030

The Global Strike 4 Climate will on Friday take place in 110 towns and cities across Australia, with organisers demanding government and business commit to a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030

Commuter chaos is expected as thousands of protesters take to the streets as part of a global strike for climate change action

Commuter chaos is expected as thousands of protesters take to the streets as part of a global strike for climate change action

A creative activist photoshopped prime minister Scott Morrision's face to look like Shrek. Their sign read: 'My world's on fire, how 'bout yours?'

A creative activist photoshopped prime minister Scott Morrision’s face to look like Shrek. Their sign read: ‘My world’s on fire, how ’bout yours?’

School children attended the protests with their parents. Many had spent the night before creating their signs

School children attended the protests with their parents. Many had spent the night before creating their signs 

Asked about those who have criticised students for protesting, he said: ‘They shouldn’t be commenting on this when we’re the ones being affected’.

Bridget, 12, from Chevalier College in the NSW Southern Highlands, had a message for the country’s politicians: ‘Don’t be a fossil fool’.

‘I’m concerned about this because I kind of want a future,’ she said.

‘They didn’t do anything when they were kids so they left it all up to us to fix.’

One of the protesters included a man dressed as a yeti, holding a sign saying: ‘Wake up humans you’re endangered too’.

'Earth don't happen twice': Children carry a colourful sign as they take part in the rally, which happened in cities across the globe

‘Earth don’t happen twice’: Children carry a colourful sign as they take part in the rally, which happened in cities across the globe

A girl sits on her dad's shoulders as she holds up a sign which read: 'Make the Earth cool again'

A girl sits on her dad’s shoulders as she holds up a sign which read: ‘Make the Earth cool again’

Enthusiastic young people chant as they attend the Sydney protest on Friday afternoon. The sun was out and people were smiling

A woman created a stunning Captain Planet sign which read: 'All our power combine we can save the planet'

A woman created a stunning Captain Planet sign which read: ‘All our power combine we can save the planet’

Protesters with placards participate in The Global Strike 4 Climate rally in Sydney, Friday, September 20, 2019

The Global Strike 4 Climate is organised in 110 towns and cities across Australia on Friday

The Global Strike 4 Climate is organised in 110 towns and cities across Australia on Friday

The strike is the latest in a worldwide movement started in August 2018 when 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg began protesting outside Sweden's parliament on school days

The strike is the latest in a worldwide movement started in August 2018 when 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg began protesting outside Sweden’s parliament on school days

Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack said students should be in school as it was ‘just a disruption’.

‘I think these sorts of rallies should be held on a weekend where it doesn’t actually disrupt business, it doesn’t disrupt schools, it doesn’t disrupt universities,’ Mr McCormack told reporters in Melbourne.

‘I think it is just a disruption.’

The strike is the latest in a worldwide movement started in August 2018 when 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg began protesting outside Sweden’s parliament on school days.

Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack said students should be in school as it was 'just a disruption'

Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack said students should be in school as it was ‘just a disruption’

The strike is the latest in a worldwide movement started in August 2018 when 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg began protesting outside Sweden's parliament on school days

The strike is the latest in a worldwide movement started in August 2018 when 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg began protesting outside Sweden’s parliament on school days

She’ll participate in the UN’s youth climate forum on Saturday and address world leaders at the UN secretary-general’s climate summit on September 23.

Ms Thunberg is currently in the US after taking a yacht across the Atlantic to prevent carbon emissions, and urged US lawmakers to “listen to the scientists”.

The next global strike is scheduled for September 27.   

Schoolgirl fails crucial maths exam to attend climate change rally:

Perth high school student Siobhan Sutton, 15, will receive zero for an exam she chose to miss.

Her exam was worth 25 per cent of her final grade but she thought the march was more important and joined the hundreds of other students across the country instead.

She has the support of her mother, however, she claims the selective Perth Modern School she attends will not allow her to reschedule the test.

‘I have basically been told that because it is not a valid reason to be missing school, it is not a medical reason or anything, I am going to get a zero on the test if I don’t actually sit it,’ Siobhan told the ABC.

She said her maths teacher gave her the option to site the test before school on Friday but she could not as it conflicted with her duties as a protest organiser.

Siobhan’s mother Antje said she is proud of her daughter.

‘You have to get your priorities right. It is regrettable that she is going to get a zero [on the test], but it is more important to be involved in the action that could make a difference to her future.’ she said. 

 

 

 

 

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