May 3rd, 2019
An Irish youth climate activism group has clarified that its
teenage members do not affiliate with or receive financial support from any
political party in the country.
In a statement issued on social media, Fridays for Future (FFF)
Ireland described speculations about its political alliance as “misconceptions”.
“We are a wholly independent movement that does not endorse any
political party, nor are we supported by them in any way, financially or
otherwise,” the statement read.
The group has said that various political parties’ have used children’s
images and slogans without their knowledge or consent and called on the public
to bring such instances to its attention.
“If you see this happening please make us aware of it, as we
consider it a misappropriation of our movement,” a statement from the group said.
FFF added that its local branches have invariably asked adult
activists to refrain from bringing banners emblazoned with any logos or symbols
of their associated political parties to school strikes and continue to
reiterate their request.
“We would now like to implement this request on a national level; please do not bring any party emblems to our strikes,” the statement continues.
Speaking to The Green News, Saoi O’Connor, Cork’s most
prominent teenage climate activist, said that FFF Ireland felt it necessary to
issue the statement as some political parties had used the photographs taken
with young activists as “election material”.
“This wasn’t widespread, but images of strikes with politicians
were used as election material and we were not okay with that,” she said. “[Releasing
a statement] was our way of combating that.”
Ms O’Connor continued that people have misguidedly inquired the
young activists as to their political affiliations, stressing that “no one party
owns” the issue of climate change.
“This cannot be a partisan
issue, the idea that one party has to own it or make it their identity is what
what’s going to make us go down,” she said. “This is division. [Climate change]
goes beyond party lines, and we have to work to keep it that way.”
Earlier in April the issue of Ireland’s youth climate movement and
its political affiliations was raised at a Sinn Féin climate change seminar.
Addressing the confusions at the event, 17-year-old climate
striker Darragh Cotter stressed that FFF does not support nor endorse any
political party, adding that all parties need to “work together” to eliminate
the threat of climate change.
FFF Ireland is part of a global youth climate movement driven and
inspired by pioneering, Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg who is
spearheading a campaign against climate change.
Ms Thunberg was the first teenager who refused to attend school on Fridays and sat before her
country’s parliament instead to highlight the futility of attending school
while climate change threatens the future of children worldwide.
The act of civil disobedience has inspired thousands of schoolchildren to follow suit, most prominently, thousands of children around the globe walked out of their classrooms on March 15 to demand a rapid, far-reaching action on climate change from politicians.
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