(An Taisce is pleased to publish this short and timely statement on behalf of long-time member and professional environmental scientist Mr. Jack O'Sullivan.)

I'm delighted to give my support to Stop Climate Chaos (SCC), to Friends of the Earth Ireland (FoEI), to Fridays for Future, to An Taisce and to the other groups participating in the Global Climate Strike on Friday 20 September. Working as an independent environmental scientist, I've followed with growing concern the "progress" of human-induced climate disruption since the 1970s, the failure by governments and by the international community to take concrete action, and the appalling level of ignorance and lack of concern shown by the mainstream media in Ireland. However, I also feel that the tide is beginning to turn at last, thanks mainly to the weekly strikes all over the world by school students, and by the work being done by the Irish Citizens' Assembly, and by SCC, FoEI, Trocaire, An Taisce Climate Committee and Friends of the Irish Environment. As a 77 year old scientist, I will participate in the Dublin event, and I hope to see 100,000 people, maybe even a quarter of a million people, on the streets protesting at the government's inaction. Hopefully, the message will be received by government decision makers! Or do we have to go further, and break a few windows of Leinster House, as Hanna Sheehy Skeffington and seven other women broke the windows of Dublin Castle just over 100 years ago in order to fight for gender equality and womens' rights!

Jack O'Sullivan, County Westmeath

Member, An Taisce Climate Change Committee

(Other An Taisce members with scientific or academic backgrounds are encouraged to consider adding their names to this international letter of support from scientists and academics for the youth climate movement’s call to strike.)