Coronavirus Impact Addressed by USyd Students at March for Climate Justice

By Maddie Clark

A hundred University of Sydney students gathered yesterday in what could be the last climate strike for a while. Students assembled outside of Fisher Library where speeches were given by SRC Education Officer Jack Mansell and Environment co-officers Prudence Wilkins-Wheat and Lily Campbell. Although the crowd was much smaller than previous strikes, overshadowed by the news of the rapidly spreading coronavirus, it made up for it in enthusiasm. 

The news of the spread of the virus led speakers to address the crisis and the fact that public gatherings could be prohibited. 

“We have to take every opportunity that we have to stand up and say that the system is not working for us. The system has never worked for us and we demand the fall of the system,” Lily Campbell, SRC environment officer said.

“I think you should take every opportunity to resist, because resistance is what gives you hope and what gives you power and what gives you strength.”

From USyd, the protest marched down City Road and onto Parramatta Road, where it converged with university students from UNSW and Macquarie University at Railway Square. Chanting slogans: “Exxon Mobil, BP, Shell, take your oil and go to hell!” and “the oceans are rising, no more compromising” the group then listened to more speeches. 

Chloe Rafferty, Uni Students for Climate Justice representative, also addressed the coronavirus in her speech: “I think it’s really important to say that the health crisis that is unfolding, the climate crisis that we have been living through, and the economic crisis that is seeing stock markets tank, are all intrinsically linked. They are caused by a system that puts profits over humanity and the sustainability of the planet.”

“All crises are tied up together and our rulers, our governments; from the Republicans to the Democrats to the Labor Party to offices all across the world, will be putting those costs onto us.”

Students then marched to Town Hall where the protest dispersed. 

The formal demands of the strike were: land rights for Indigenous peoples, a just transition that includes green jobs for workers, an end to fossil fuels and for the climate criminals to pay for the destruction they have caused.