'School strike' Oxford: Pupils get green light for Friday's demo

Friday’s action, which is part of a global strike over climate change, will see pupils from across Oxfordshire miss lessons en masse, weeks after Bonn Square was filled with demonstrating children as young as four.

The strike, which is backed by an Oxford MP, has now won the support of Westgate store Lush.

Worldwide, it could be one of the biggest environmental protests in history.

Oxford’s strike organisers have told would-be protesters: “Come join the global movement showing the government that we, as young people, aren’t going to let the government play with our futures for their own interests.

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"Last time the energy was insane. Let's make this one bigger and better."

In a poster, they add: "Young people have the most to lose from climate breakdown.

"10 per cent of the world's population will be climate refugees by 2050. Over 200 species go extinct every day. We're the first generation to know what we're doing and the last generation to be able to stop it."

Since the February 15 demonstration – which was one of the country's biggest strikes and involved primary and secondary school pupils, sixth formers and university students – a worldwide movement has been gathering momentum, spearheaded by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg.

Student Oscar Idle – who says he is organising this Friday's strike, in Bonn Square from 11am to 2pm – explained: "The climate strikes last month saw tens of thousands of students skip school to speak out. This month, the strikes are being coordinated globally and we expect an even bigger turnout."

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But the strikes have divided opinion, with many expressing concerns about students missing classes. Some heads have also warned that students will be punished for walking out.

Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran, who addressed striking students along with prominent Oxford environmentalist George Monbiot, led the first Parliamentary debate in two years on climate change last month and has been a vocal supporter.

Elsewhere, Westgate's Lush outlet has promised to host 'a creative space' for last minute placard making and will offer massages 'for students who need some relaxation during or after the march'.

Lauren van Weyenberg, a Supervisor who co-organised the support, said: "We're so proud to show our support to students striking for the climate.

"We're living in a time of climate emergency, where many politicians are turning a blind eye to signs of global ecosystem breakdown. We stand in solidarity with these brave students."

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Tina Fawcett, a researcher at Oxford University's Environmental Change Institute added that she is planning to run an information stall to 'share information/have discussions with anyone interested in the science of climate change, and the social, economic and technical policy responses to it.' She added that the aim of the event was to provide further information on this issue and that '10 to 20, but possibly more' people would be on the stall.

The number of students likely to demonstrate is difficult to estimate.

Windmill Primary head Lynn Knapp, who took a delegation of students to the last strike, said Red Nose Day meant the school would not be attending this action.

The organiser of the last strike, Ella Mann has said 'I am sure that (this strike) will be bigger and better than the last one.'

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Ms Knapp said she would allow parents to take children out of school and that students would now be focussing on how to be as environmentally friendly as possible in school.

The United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently warned that there are only 12 years to take urgent action to cut the risk of extreme heat, drought, floods and poverty.