Beginner's Guide - The Basics Of Striking
- Sarah S.
- Oct 1, 2019
- 6 min read
[ THE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO CLIMATE CHANGE ]
Friday 20th-27th of September has just passed and with it, perhaps one of the largest Global Climate Strikes with around 2,500 scheduled events in over 150 different countries. And it’s easy to see why so many got involved; multiple sources report that we only have 11 years to curb Climate Change and the effects can already be seen today. However, we’ll discuss these effects in a later article.
For now, let's look at striking.
The word itself is polarising and for some, it can have negative connotations of disruption, arrests and degeneracy. That being said, if you’re on this website, chances are that you would be unlikely to hold these views. However, if you’re on the fence about whether to attend an upcoming strike, or if friends/parents/guardians/other figures of authority are disapproving, this is the article for you. Feel free to share the link to this guide to show that these strikes aren’t just ‘an excuse to skip school/work’, as well as to learn the basics such as preparation, safety and what to bring.
And if you are now reading this article because you have been sent this link: hello, welcome to The Green Post! We hope you will keep an open mind while we inform you as best as we can.
WHY BOTHER STRIKING?
Before striking, we must first consider the motives behind it. This doesn’t just apply to Climate Strikes, of course, you can ask this question to pretty much every strike that has ever happened in human history. Why? My answer to this would be because we can - in a democracy, we should have the right to strike. Naturally, this may not be a good enough reason; after all, just because we can do something doesn’t always mean we should. This question therefore may be more of a personal one, why do you want to strike?
Is it to calm your eco-anxiety, is it to encourage organisations bigger than yourself to act or is it simply to be on the right side of history? Whatever the reason, they’re all valid. Understand that the majority of strikers do not want to cause trouble and burn down cities… if they wanted to cause destruction and harm, they may as well save the effort and let Climate Change do it for them. Few people would strike on a whim so if you are a hesitant parent, please see that this was not an impulse decision for fun or to ‘skip school’. Striking does make a huge difference and compared to how little there is to lose, it seems like a no-brainer. Which brings me on to my next point…
IS STRIKING SAFE?
Yes. I cannot stress this enough. Having talked to an admin for the Extinction Rebellion Leeds account (IG:@extinctionrleeds), Connor Nickols, who is also a part of the Youth Strike Team, we gained an insight into the preparation to ensure the public’s safety. And yes, these events are formally organised MONTHS in advance. Nickols states
'[XR] have stewards and a wonderful wellbeing team and people who are trained in NVDA [Non-Violent Direct Action] to make sure everyone is safe'
In addition to this, the police and local councils are informed before the event to accommodate the strike. Bear in mind, the youth strikes organised by Youth Strike 4 Climate, Fridays for Future and other similar groups are not brand new; now that there have already been a few strikes, some cities have agreed marching routes and are familiar with the protocol. Mary, an admin for the YS4C Instagram account, also mentions a well-being area for first-aid or just to get away from the crowd.
'[they provide] bustcards that people can use if they are in any way involved with the police’.
Although arrests are extremely unlikely (usually only if the rules agreed to beforehand are broken), it’s clear to see how well thought out these strikes are.
The organisers do not want to compromise our safety. Moreover, they stress that these strikes are meant to be peaceful and they want you to ‘only strike in a way, that you feel safe with’. In my own personal experience of the strike in May, having freshly come out from a GCSE exam, the police were extremely courteous and happy to protect us. However, we do understand this may not be the case for every place and I urge you to put your own safety first.
If you do see any violation against human rights at one of these strikes, please flag it up using the tag #ARZ_helps or email ARZ@FridaysForFuture.org directly.
BEFORE YOU STRIKE...
Now that we’ve established intentions and safety, hopefully, you have decided to attend the next strike. If so, that’s great! If not, don’t worry, there are plenty of other ways to help which we will highlight in a later article (so stay tuned). I would also like to point out that this is your decision; don’t feel peer pressured into doing it if you don’t want to and don’t let others make you feel guilty for ‘not caring’.
Everyone has their own priorities so if you have an important lecture at school, or if you need that day’s salary then that’s your call.
'If you can’t be in the strike, then, of course, you don’t have to' - Greta Thunberg
The purpose of this article is to encourage people to make an informed decision regarding striking, and you have just as much a right not to strike as you do to strike.
If you are planning to strike, there are some formalities which I would recommend in order to limit the disruption to your life. For those who work, it’s best to let your manager know in advance and ask for a day off. For those in school, you can ask teachers for any work you might be missing. My school is quite understanding of strikes, however, not all are. They might try to stop you but, usually, if you can demonstrate that this is an educated decision (perhaps by sharing this article as evidence of research), they understand - especially if there are multiple of you. On some occasions, schools will threaten detentions or truancy fines however these are mostly scare tactics. Remember, school strikes are legal!
That being said, please use your own judgement on what’s best for your situation. Moreover, you are representing the movement so try not to act rash or lose your temper if your request is initially denied; the last thing you’d want is for your story to be used as a ‘bad example’ to dissuade others and negatively present Climate Striking as aggressive.
WHAT TO BRING?
Finally, the day has come. It’s time to strike. Here are our suggestions on some things to bring with you:
A small, light backpack - if you’re coming from school, leave your heavy books and folders at home or in your locker.
A water bottle - when marching around a city you will get dehydrated, regardless of the weather. Perhaps bring extras for people around you too.
Comfortable shoes - once again, you’ll be marching.
Sunscreen - even in winter, the sun still produces UV rays. This should be a given any time you go out though.
Waterproofs/layers - use the weather as a way to judge this and avoid catching a cold.
Snacks - I mean, who doesn’t bring snacks with them every time they go out anyways?
A poster - show your creativity by making your own sign, you can reuse this for later strikes too.
Friends - I suggest you go in a group of three and have a way to contact each other. However, you can always go on your own, there are loads of new people to meet at the strike! You can make some amazing friends, but always remember to stay safe.
Most importantly, remember to have fun while striking and look after those around you!
We hope you now feel informed enough about strikes to make a decision. To any reluctant parties who have been sent this link, we hope to have crushed your negative misconceptions. We understand why you may have your doubts, however, this is a global movement with a very good cause. Even looking at some of our most basic human rights today, striking has played a vital role in democracy by putting pressure on governments and large organisations to listen to the people.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments.
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