5 ways to help organise a group of students from you school to join the YOUTH CONTIGENT @ Walk against Warming (in most places on Sunday November 11)

1. Organise for a time and place for people from your school to meet before the contingent, like a train station or bus stop. 2. Make some leaflets with the time and place of where you are meeting (and the details for the contingent) Photocopy as many as you can and start distributing them, - outside your school, in class, where ever you ca! Leave a bundle by the door of the library, or pin a couple to the notice boards 3. Paint a banner to lead the contingent. Buy some cheap calico, brushes and paint and paint it one lunch time. Ave a slogan like “Bradfield College students support renewable energy!” and get people to sign their name or put their hand print in it, This is a good way to start political discussions on your school and get in contact with student who you may not have known are interested in leftwing politics. 4. Paint placards with anti-coal slogans like “Coal is not Cool” or “Save Anvil Hill” Try to place an ad in your school newsletter advertising the details of the rally and your contingent- it might get rejected but it’s worth a try. 5. Ask if you can announce the contingent at your school assembly.

A few other ideas

Find others who are interested in progressive politics on your school. You can do this simply by talking to people and maybe advertising a meeting about student opposition to global warming; there might also be a number o teachers w will be supportive or sympathetic, who can be a big help’s Get names, email addresses down on a contact list.. Polls show the majority of people are against the war in Iraq and want action ti be taken against climate change, and this should be reflected in high schools- the difficult part will be convincing people to be active around these issues and taking part in the protest. Start an organising student collective, involving other students who are interested. Collectives could hold advertised organising meetings at lunchtime or after school to discuss what action it wants to take. Meetings don’t have to b officially approved if by the administration- you could even just have it in one area if the playground, or on the school oval. A good way to communicate and make sure everyone knows what's going on is to set up an e-group. (Check out yahoogroups.com) Start Campaigning! This will involve distributing leaflets for upcoming protests and events. You could ask students and teachers to sign a petition stating their opposition to nuclear energy and ‘clean’ coal. You could distribute information and fact sheets about the government’s lack of action on climate change stick up posters. Reach Out: There are heaps of groups springing up all over the place, on high schools, campuses and in the broader community. Try to get in contact with other groups also that mobilisations and actions can be coordinated, big and inclusive as possible. Get in contact with Resistance for ideas about other groups to approach. Want help organising activist stuff on your school? Call the Resistance Centre for posters, leaflets, people who can speak at your school assemblies or top classes, suggestions for stuff to do, help with leafleting or postering or anything else!

These are just some ideas of how to be a climate change activist. It’s important to remember that you are part of a movement, in which literally hundreds of thousands of people are taking part, working together, we can beat seemingly insurmountable problems like war and environmental destruction.

www.resistance.org.au