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‘Schools Strike for Climate Action’ Protest Posters

Date2019

Object number00056614

NamePoster

MediumCardboard and acrylic paint

DimensionsOverall (Overall dimensions): 770 x 500 x 10 mm, 250 g

ClassificationsPosters and postcards

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection Gift from Paul Jeffress

Terms

DescriptionIn September 2019, Australia witnessed one of the largest contemporary protests potentially since 2003. Children, parents and the community came together under the leadership of ‘Schools Strike for Climate Action’ to demand more urgent and concrete action on the consequences of global warming and wider issues of climate change. Paul Jeffress brought his daughter Noni (aged 7) to the protest, joining her classmates Jamilla and Giselle Yamani. Noni stayed up until midnight the night before working on her sign and finished it the morning of the protest. The girls all held their home made signs and walked the protest with their families to demand from the government a sustainable and ethical transition to renewable energy and cutting of emissions from fossil fuels by 2030. All three girls donated their signs to the museum.HistoryThese protest signs represent a pivotal moment in grassroots action for climate related policy and action, led by youth living in Australia on 20th September 2019. The Guardian claims these protests “were likely the largest public demonstrations in Australia since the marches against the Iraq War in 2003.” The organisers claim about 80,000 people joined the Sydney protest where these posters were collected by curator Emily Jateff. Across Australia, the turnout was estimated at 300,000 protesters unified on demanding politicians to take climate action seriously. The ‘Schools Strike for Climate Action’ protest demands for the government were: 1. Net zero by 2030 which means no new coal, oil or gas projects including the Adani mine 2. 100% renewable energy generations and exports by 2030 3. Fund a just transition and job creation for all fossil-fuel workers and their communitiesSignificanceThese posters were collected from a contemporary historical event for Australia. As one of the largest political demonstrations since potentially 2003, these posters mark a significant day in the history of Australia. It was the first large scale protest of its kind, but it has not been the last and the group ‘Schools Strike for Climate Action’ have had subsequent rallies since. This first rally was monumental because of its size and symbolism as a time stamp. It showed that there is a large consensus within the Australian community, of people who want the government to commit to more ambitious steps towards avoiding the predicted consequences of global warming and wider issues of climate change.