Marching to the Beehive

Right up until the moment of the Christchurch killings, the news of the day was the student climate change protest. Now it seems like the big controversy--whether kids should skip school for the protest--was small potatoes. I thought it was important for the girls to take part so we bused in with Bindi and her girls to civic square.

The girls made their own signs. Quinn's read "We need to save the environment and the oceans!". Wren's read "Attention all super earthers I am calling because a report of climate change our lives are being...".

"Destroyed!"

We arrived before the crowds gathered so got to see the square fill with students.

Some very good facepainters were on on hand

In a protest of kids, it's okay to wear a unicorn headband...

Sisi, Summer, Wren and Quinn ready to march

It was very powerful to walk down Lambton Quay, the main downtown street, with so many other chanting students.

Crowds of adults had gathered outside their offices to watch the kids

At the end of the march we 'stormed' the beehive, the parliament building and seat of government for the country.

We found a spot up on the wall so the kids could be out of the crowds. The speeches from students as young as 11 were very moving, and inspiring. This is the first generation to feel the effects of climate change, and the last one to be able to do anything about it...

The elephant in NZ's room, half their greenhouse emissions come from animal agriculture.

We tried to keep it light, but this issue will define their world in the years to come.

As we were leaving, this guy was arriving. I love this older gent's sentiment.