Greens representatives will join the climate strike today. Michael Berkman is closing his office for the afternoon to attend with his children and staff.
WHEN 12:30pm Friday 20 September 2019
WHERE Queens Gardens, to the left of the Queen Victoria Statue (William Street side)
WHO Greens MP Michael Berkman and Senator Larissa Waters
WHAT Greens representatives will join the climate strike today. Michael Berkman is closing his office for the afternoon to attend with his children and staff.
Before the march begins he will address the Qld Premier’s refusal to support the strike action and her government’s new laws to “crack down” on climate protests.
Media contact for Michael Berkman: Emerald Moon 0431 388 755
Media contact for Larissa Waters: Jane Garcia 0419 626 725
This is the biggest day of collective climate action the world’s ever seen, and the government is still hiding in their offices pretending we don’t exist.
Yesterday they introduced legislation to “crack down” on climate protesters, as if the people here today are the dangerous ones.
If governments’ response to the strike today is business as usual, what are reasonable people supposed to do?
This is an emergency, and civil disobedience works. It’s always been integral to social change, and we need that now more than ever.
When I asked the Premier if she’d support workers’ right to strike for climate action today, she said these strikes should be held after hours or on lunch breaks.
Well we didn't get the 8 hour work day, sick leave, or weekends by striking when it was convenient to our bosses - and we won't get climate action by striking when and where it suits the government.
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Notes about the new laws:
- They’re unnecessary (relevant offences already exist)
- They’re just a political stunt to vilify protesters
- They’re designed to obfuscate Labor’s hypocrisy on climate change
- I’ll be fiercely opposing the laws - Queenslanders know increasing police powers on a whim is a slippery slope