join the youth strikes

You’d have to have your head in the sand to not know about the incredible climate change protests that young people throughout Europe have been spearheading over the past few months.

The Youth Strike 4 Climate movement, initiated by then 15 year old Greta Thunberg’s solo protest outside the Swedish parliament has spread like wildfire. Now, around 70,000 students and young people each week are holding rallies and protests across 270 towns and cities throughout the world. ​

Not too shabby, for a bunch of meddling kids.

In the past week, British students have joined in solidarity with protests in Paris, Berlin and Sweden to show how passionate they are about preventing climate catastrophe. ​

From London to Manchester, Cumbria to Exeter, individual walk outs and the organised March on Friday 15th dominated the media with an important message as voiced by 17 year old Anna Taylor: “young people aren’t apathetic, we’re passionate, articulate and we’re ready to continue demonstrating the need for urgent and radical climate action.”

Want to stand up with the protesting students, and do your bit for the planet? See how you can get involved at https://www.schoolstrike4climate.com/. You can also head to the World Wildlife Foundation’s website for some great starting points on how you can reduce your environmental impact. 

For starters, think…

• Turning off TVs, consoles and speakers when you’re not using them
• Turning off the tap when you’re brushing your teeth
• Using rechargeable batteries and energy saving lightbulbs
• Reducing use of disposable products like plastic cutlery
• Taking your own bags when shopping (this one will save you cash, too!)
• Buying products with less single-use packaging
• Using public transport or cycling over a trip in the car

Another thing you can try is cutting your meat and dairy consumption, even if only for a few meals a week. According to new research, avoiding meat and dairy products is the single biggest way to reduce your environmental impact.

The Guardian interviewed Joseph Poore from the University of Oxford, who led the research: “A vegan diet is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth, not just greenhouse gases, but global acidification, eutrophication, land use and water use,” he said. “It is far bigger than cutting down on your flights or buying an electric car,” as these only cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Not to mention, if you’re a student or thinking about going to uni, there are loads of benefits to reducing your meat and dairy. Think cheaper (meat is expensive, and if it’s not, you should probably be worried), longer shelf-life, healthier, less worry of eating food that’s off.

Want some ideas on cheap, easy meat-free student meals? The internet’s rife with them, but give free online sources like Deliciously Ella, BBC Good Food, Veganuary, Tesco Real Food and Jamie Oliver a read.

The planet (and your student budget) will thank you!

Author

LUCY HARDING is the Editorial manager for Push. She is an English Literature grad and an MA Publishing student at UCL. She is passionate about international relations and cultural diversity, having worked closely with her university’s Erasmus society to support European students. She also spent a year abroad studying at California State University: Long Beach

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