On Friday March 15, the second Strike 4 Climate Change Rally took place. Launceston held a climate strike rally in Prince's Square. Hundreds of school children from Northern Tasmania turned up to the rally.

More than 500 people gathered at the School Strike 4 Climate in Prince's Square on Friday, organised by a group of students from Launceston College, St Patrick's, Launceston Church Grammar and Scotch College.

They had never met each other before coming together to organise the rally, and Launceston College Grade 12 student Anna Roberts said they were amazed at the show of solidarity.

We also saw thousands of kids walking out of school around the country and the world, joining together to demand a change in response to the climate crisis.

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Clearly threatened by the idea of kids with opinions, the Prime Minister, Scott 'this coal is great' Morrison, seems to think it is not the place of kids to protest climate change.

Following the first Strike 4 Climate Rally in November 2018 he said in Parliament: "we don't support the idea of kids not going to school, to participate in things that can be dealt with outside of school."

The Prime Minister does not wish to hear from the voices of the next generation of voters, preferring that the youth of today who are so often criticised as being 'vapid, egocentric and lazy' would stay quiet and not engage in what he essentially terms a 'grown-up issue'.

While we have to respect those in elected office, they must constantly be reminded that they represent us and our futures.

It is difficult to muster respect when the efforts of student activism are arbitrarily dismissed.

How can any of us ignore what is happening right in front of us?

We all endured the sweltering nights of summer and watched as Australia suffered through fire, flood and drought.

January was the hottest month on record, an unprecedented 1.4 metres of rain fell on northeast Queensland and here in the southern island of Tasmania, bushfires engulfed heritage forests just hours away from many of our homes.

Yet still the only green that seems to motivate our politicians is that of the $100 note.

Student activism is more important than ever before. For years we have been told that, 'you can do anything if you put your mind to it' and encouraged to 'stand up and speak out'.

Yet in response to various instances of student activism most Australian politicians have been far from supportive.

Federal Resources Minister Matt Canavan told the young Australians who organised the 15,000-student strong protest: "that's what your future life will look like, up in a line asking for a handout, not actually taking charge for your life and getting a real job,".

Right now, as I sit here writing this I feel empowered.

Watching the remarks of politicians in response to the rallies, I feel empowered, and knowing that on Friday as I lend my voice to shout that we and our planet deserves better, I feel empowered.

Is this not the goal of our schools, to empower students?

Our politicians are meant to lead our nation, but in this issue, politicians are only led by public opinion. Student efforts to promote recycling and sustainable practices in the school community can only do so much, that is why we are leaving our classrooms to motivate those in power to have a real response to the climate crisis.

Our motivation is not in question. By the time I have kids the CSIRO projects that global temperatures will have risen by as much as 4.8 degrees in a high emissions scenario.

I do not want to live in a world where heat waves and drought are the norm. I do not want my kids to grow up in a country ravaged by bushfires and floods.

If it is kids that must lead the politicians to the truth, then so be it. We must live with the consequences of their decisions. It's a shame I need to miss a lesson to teach our politicians one.

If we leave our school, we lose a lesson. If we leave our planet, we lose our home.

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