Here & Now Issue 35 | August 2019

MAKE A DIFFERENCE
We're the generation, we're the inspiration
Protecting the environment is one of the
most pressing concerns for young people
today, and more and more of them are
making sure that their voices are heard
with national movements springing up to
fight for their future.
want us to do it. But because no one’s doing stuff and we need to
spread the word to get people to stop, they support us.”
Ettiene: “I am the Eco Council Leader at school so I do talk to the
class about it. A lot of friends have asked me questions about it.
“Our family is quite into this sort of thing and eco-friendly so
they’ve been very supportive of it. Our uncle and auntie have
worked for the Wildlife Trust in different places, so we’ve grown
up with that sort of environmental influence, and my dad shows
me the videos of Greta Thunberg doing her
speeches and the strikes in London and other
places that are that much much busier.”
So, do you take inspiration from
Greta Thunberg?
Ettiene: “Yes, she’s very inspirational. She’s
very brave and doing a great thing.”
Where do you see it going next
locally?
OUR LOCAL
BRANCH OF
YOUTH STRIKE
4 CLIMATE
has grown
from just two children in
May to over å50 at the last protest in June. The next action is
planned for September (info FB @worthingclimateaction or
YouthStrike4Climate Worthing) but we spoke to the two children
who started it all, Ettiene, 11, and nine-year-old Travis.
H&N: What inspired you to get the Worthing
movement going?
Ettiene: “Our cousins who live in Devon, they were doing it, and
then seeing all of the news around it was kind of something we
wanted to do. I think everyone wants to grow up in a world where
you can do things like getting a job or having children and not have
to think, well, should I actually be doing this or is it not worth it
because of what’s happened to Earth.”
Travis: “I wanted to take part in helping the environment and not
just let everyone else start it. I knew that maybe that if we didn’t
start it, it might not have started. The other people who did it [in
June], I think they did because they heard we were doing it.”
Do your family and friends support you?
Travis: “If we were taking time off school and it wasn’t necessary,
if people were acting to save the environment, then they wouldn’t
Ettiene: “Since we started, when it was just the
two of us, last time there were a lot more people
on the march, so we’ve obviously inspired people, which is really
good. And since there’s more people, they can spread the word to
more people, who can spread the word to people they know. So I
think there’ll be more and more people every time, hopefully.”
Do you have any top tips that children can
do at home?
Travis: “I think to start off, if you can’t do lots of stuff, when
you’re not using your room, turn off lights.”
Ettiene: “Whenever we go into shops, and they ask if you
want a bag, I ask if it’s plastic or paper. I’ll get it if it’s paper, but if
it’s plastic, just think again. And if you can, recycle food waste. Less
food waste going to landfill and the composting and that can be
used again and it’s kind of a cycle. Just little things like that.”
Where can young people in Worthing go for
more information?
Ettiene: “These are some ones you should check out. Worthing
Climate Action Network (Worthing CAN) were really great,
Michelle came down and sat with us on our first protest, and
promoted the second event in Worthing. If you’re quite new to this
and you’re interested, they can give you more information.
“Also, Journey to Zero Waste Worthing is how Worthing can
be better with recycling, as they say, zero waste. There’s also
lots of videos with the strikes up in London and of Greta
Thunberg which are very interesting and inspirational.”
HEREANDNOWMAG.CO.UK HERE & NOW | August 2019 | 11