An exciting new student activist project is being launched later this year. The “Student Climate Project” is being set up by students to contribute to the building of a mass student anti-climate change movement. The project is to be run through non-hierarchical structures and consensus decision making. There will be a launch gathering in Oxford at the East Oxford Community Centre, from 6.30pm on the 30th November until 3pm on the 2nd December.

The aim of the gathering is to bring together a diverse range of students from around the country, all committed by a common concern about climate change. The weekend will see discussions as to what needs to be done to encourage more students to take action on this crucial issue, followed by the putting of our thoughts and ideas into concrete strategies. By the end of the weekend we hope to have a clear idea of how we are going to take this project forward collectively, and start supporting the building of a mass student movement.

“Some may argue that climate change isn’t a ‘student issue’ but what we are saying is that the consequences of unmitigated climate change are so severe that everyone has a responsibility to make it their number one priority”, states one activist involved with the project. “Climate Change is not just an environmental issue, but the largest scale social justice issue we’ve ever faced.” If greenhouse gas emissions are not cut dramatically by 90% by 2030 then we will face runaway climate change, where the climate system spirals out of our control altogether. This will lead to millions of avoidable deaths caused by droughts, flooding, a spread of infectious diseases such as malaria, and an increase in so-called ‘natural’ disasters such as hurricanes and tsunamis. In addition, as more and more regions become inhabitable, there could be the creation of 25million climate refugees worldwide. Allowing these horrific consequences to take place now that the science on climate change has been well and truly proved is nothing short of the most disgraceful crime ever committed.

Yet despite the urgency and extremity of this issue, government and big business have demonstrated that they will not tackle the issue on their own. For this reason it falls onto the people to ensure that proper action is taken against climate change. But in order to achieve this a critical mass is required.

Students have historically been at the forefront of all major social struggles, and so they must take their place in this global struggle of all struggles. Yet we must also acknowledge that student activism is not the popular activity it used to be among students. The aim of the “Student Climate Project” is to bring together existing student activists and those concerned about climate change, and ask ‘how do we engage the wider mass of students with this crucial issue?’

At the launch gathering we will discuss the question of how to engage students and build the student anti-climate movement, and there will be the chance to discuss this issue in self formed groups of interest that will hopefully lead to ideas becoming action. The event will also see a panel discussion featuring well-known climate campaigners and experts on the issue, that will serve to inform the ongoing discussions on the weekend.

Because the “Student Climate Project” is run through non-hierarchical means, it is up to every individual to make it happen and make it as successful as possible. Find out more Email:  studentclimateproject@hotmail.co.uk or join this Facebook Event and get involved today!

 http://bristol.facebook.com/event.php?eid=18943135792&ref=mf