'Walk to school, make a sandwich and switch off your devices': Baby boomer slams 'selfish, virtue-signalling' school kids who skipped class to protest against climate change

A baby boomer has unleashed on 'selfish, virtue-signalling' school kids for skipping class to protest against climate change.

The man's rant, which went viral after being posted online, came after thousands of students walked out of class on Friday to demand federal government action on climate change in a series of coordinated rallies across Australia.

Shared to Facebook, the man's scathing attack began by addressing school kids who went on strike for climate change.

'You are the first generation who have required air-conditioning in every classroom. You want TV in every room and your classes are all computerized,' he wrote.

'More than ever, you don't walk or ride bikes to school but arrive in caravans of private cars that choke suburban roads and worsen rush hour traffic.' 

The man then continued by taking a swipe at young people's consumer culture, arguing the youth of today opts to replace 'expensive luxury items to stay trendy'.

'How about this... tell your teachers to switch off the air-con.'

'Walk or ride to school. Switch off your devices and read a book. Make a sandwich instead of buying manufactured goods.'

The post takes a turn, targeting the character traits of young Australians.

'No, none of this will happen because you are uneducated, selfish, virtue signaling little turds inspired by the adults around you who crave a feeling of having a ''noble cause'' while they indulge themselves in Western luxury and unprecedented quality of life.'

The man's post argued children were being used as 'political pawns' in a continuous game of seeking votes.

'This is weapons-grade autism at it's malignant best,' he finished.

The viral post was met with support and criticism by a number of social media users eager to share their opinion on the matter.

One viewer said the letter was 'great', claiming the children were 'brainwashed and spoilt'.

Another said 'it's a different world today' claiming they were glad they grew up without devices and material objects. 'Everything was homemade and all paper bags and cardboard boxes were repurposed,' they wrote.

Other social media users commended the children for taking action on an issue they were passionate about. 'Today's society has been created at a great cost and well done kids for taking your action,' wrote one viewer. 'I am proud of them standing up for what they believe in,' commented another.

Many drew attention to the fact climate change was not created by the school kids but the generations before them. 'Why take it out on the kids who have to inherit this s***y planet which I might add we f****d up as adults'.

The 'Strike 4 Climate Action' rallies involved children in capital cities as well as 20 regional centres across Australia.

An estimated 1000 protesters packed Sydney's Martin Place in the CBD on Friday afternoon, chanting 'climate action now,' with similar numbers in Melbourne.

The series of rallies were inspired by Greta Thunberg, a teenager who went on strike ahead of Sweden's national election. She demanded the country's leader address climate change back in September.

Federal Resources Minister Matt Canavan slammed the thousands of students who skipped school to protest climate change action in an extraordinary rant. Mr Canavan said students who truanted from the classroom 'may as well learn to join the dole queue.'

'These are the type of things that excite young children and we should be great at as a nation,' he told 2GB radio on Friday.

'Taking off school and protesting? You don't learn anything from that.

'The best thing you'll learn about going to a protest is how to join the dole queue. Because 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.'

SOURCE 






Youth are happiest in apprenticeships and full-time work, says Australia's largest national youth survey    
         
Youth are happiest in apprenticeships and full-time work, says Australia’s largest national youth survey

Taking on an apprenticeship leads to the highest level of wellbeing among young Australians out of all post-school pathways, according to the results of the nation’s largest youth survey to be released today.

The Skillsroad 2018 Youth Census gained more than 30,000 responses nationally from youth aged 15-24, and found that those undertaking an apprenticeship, traineeship, or working in some capacity were happier overall and experienced higher levels of ‘meaning,’ ‘resilience’ and ‘optimism’ than all other pathways after school.

Additionally, that survey participants who were working whilst in secondary school, and contributing financially to their housing situation (even if living at home with parents), reported higher levels of wellbeing than those that weren’t.

The first Skillsroad Youth Census was commissioned by Apprenticeship Support Australia (ASA) in 2017 in response to the nation’s suffering youth unemployment rates, which have been hovering at around 12 percent since 2014. Last years’ Census revealed that young Australians were experiencing low levels of ‘life satisfaction’ and wellbeing, as well as significant levels of stress around choosing and securing a career pathway.

Supported by the Business Chamber movement, the Skillsroad 2018 Youth Census was designed to further illuminate the specific hopes, fears and general attitudes of Australian youth during their transition from school to the workforce.

The 2018 Youth Census employed a brand new psychological research tool that investigates youth wellbeing through a multidimensional approach.

ASA National General Manager, James Moran, says that the new research methods used in the Census provide unprecedented, evidence-based insights for schools, parents and businesses.

“The information gained from this report can be used by government and education providers to develop new policy, educational and workplace programs, and resources that will address the particular concerns of young people,” he said.

“In this Census, wellbeing has been broken into fifteen different areas to identify specifically where youth are flourishing and which elements of wellbeing they are struggling with,” says Registered Psychologist for ASA, Danielle Buckley.

“It has really shone a light on how youth in Australia are experiencing life, and the more we know, the more we can help them to succeed,” she says.

Mr Moran says that the Youth Census has also highlighted the value of apprenticeships, and vocational work more broadly, as a meaningful after school career option for Australian youth.

Among Census participants who had left school, apprentices cited a wellbeing score that was well above the national average, followed closely by those in traineeships, taking a full-time job, and going on a ‘working’ gap year. Meanwhile, getting a part-time job, going to university or not working at all scored either on or below the national wellbeing average.

The Census results also reveal a disparity between the reality of the job market and young people’s perception of available career opportunities. Despite a national skills shortage across the Australian trades sector, the concern that “there aren’t enough jobs” was cited by youth as one of their top three biggest worries about living in Australia.

This concern is likely exacerbated by the reported lack of career guidance for some young people during their secondary studies, with only half of all Skillsroad Youth Census participants reporting that they received “quality” career advice throughout their schooling.

Mr Moran says that these results should serve as a strong message to schools, parents and employers that young people need to be better informed about all post-school pathways.

“Choosing a career pathway is an important and exciting decision, and it’s vital that our young people are made aware of all of the opportunities that are available to them early on in the process,” he said.

“Everyone is different. We need to make sure that our youth are armed with all of the necessary resources and information to make a well-informed decision about their after school pathway, and aren’t just pushed towards one option,” Ms Buckley agreed.

Download the full report at https://www.skillsroad.com.au/youth-census-2018

Via email. For all media enquiries, please contact Tess Green on (02) 9458 7339 / 0468 697 512 OR Amanda Wood on 0409 050 244





National approach needed for adoption

With over 47,000 children in out-of-home care, and one of the lowest adoption rates in the world - the Australian Parliament’s Social Policy and Legal Affairs Committee has today recommended that the Commonwealth work with the states and territories to enact a national law for the adoption of Australian children.

Issuing the Committee’s report into local adoption, Committee Chair Julia Banks MP said the differences between adoption laws in Australia’s states and territories are a major barrier to more children being adopted in Australia.

“During our inquiry, we heard evidence that Australian children are denied the opportunity of adoption due to the complexity and lack of consistency of legislation across Australia. We also heard that the system is trapping many of these children into an unhealthy cycle. One of the biggest problems facing children in out-of-home care is the lack of permanency. Children are likely to ‘bounce around’ the system from carer to carer, in some cases experiencing over ten placements. We know that these children have poorer outcomes. They face constant change and instability, on top of the trauma that led them to out-of-home care in the first place.

“This is a national issue that needs a national solution” Ms Banks said.

“This report is about breaking the barriers that are preventing vulnerable children from enjoying the safety, security and wellbeing that a permanent adoptive family can provide.

“The Committee recognises that the best interests and safety of the child are paramount and override all other considerations. When it’s not safe for children to remain with their parents or family, adoption needs to be considered a viable option. Childhood is fleeting and children must not remain in situations where their safety or wellbeing is threatened.”

The Committee received important evidence from many people who have been negatively affected by past adoption policies and practices. The Committee’s report reaffirms that all Australian governments have committed not to repeat these policies and practices. The Committee’s recommendations are forward-looking with its focus being on improving outcomes for adoptees in the future. Open adoption is very different to the past policies of forced or closed adoptions that were shrouded in secrecy.

To this end, the Committee recommends that, when it is determined that it is not safe for a child in out-of-home care to be reunited with their parent(s) or placed in the care of extended family, ‘open adoption’ should be a viable option. Under open adoption, children are encouraged to stay connected with their birth parent(s), with the support of caseworkers and their adoptive parent(s).

Legal permanency is an integral part of the success of open adoption. With open adoption, children retain a relationship with their birth family and identity. At the same time, they gain a sense of belonging, stability and permanency with their adoptive parents and family.

The Committee’s report, presented to the House of Representatives today, also recommends the introduction of ‘integrated birth certificates’. Integrated birth certificates include the names of both birth and adoptive parent(s) and are already being considered in many jurisdictions.

Other key recommendations made by the Committee include that adoption be considered before long term foster care or residential care; and that timeframes be set on a child centric basis in legislation for decisions on whether a child may be able to safely return to their birth parent(s).

The report is available on the Committee’s website (www.aph.gov.au/localadoption).

Medianet Press Release [aapmedianet@aapmedianet.com.au]







Is religion a higher loyalty?

At a time when Australia is grappling with the latest example of Islamist-inspired terrorism on the streets of Melbourne, Britain is also dealing with another impact of extremism.

The application for asylum by Asia Bibi — a Pakistani Christian whose recent acquittal of charges of blasphemy and insulting Mohammed sparked violent protests led by Islamic hardliners — was rejected by the UK government, based on security concerns and fear of stirring up unrest among some sections of the community.

This is a long way from the dream of a harmonious multicultural society in which all citizens, regardless of race or creed, enjoy the same rights and liberties.

Islamists believe that religious obligations trump their obligations as citizens, and this belief fundamentally undermines the civil compact of mutual respect for the freedoms of all that lies at heart of Western liberal democracy.

We are of course talking about small number of radicals who hold extreme views and are not representative of the vast majority of Muslims.

However, during the session on child protection in which I took part at  London’s recent Battle of Ideas conference, there was disturbing discussion of the UK child grooming gangs — which involved serial child sexual assaults by mostly Muslim men, often from Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds.

As expected, a question from the audience asked what role the offenders’ religion played?

My answer is that the offending by Muslim men had nothing to do with the theology of Islam, per se, but it would be wrong not to consider the role their cultural backgrounds may have played.

This is to say:  we should think about the implications not in terms of religion, but in terms of immigration policy and the selection and integration of migrants.

However, in audience were a number of young Muslim women who eagerly sought out the microphone to express their views.

To all intents and purposes, they were young British women; educated and articulate. But they were also quick to take issue with any suggestion that Islam had anything to do with Rotherham and its sequels.

They had a point. But what struck me was how visceral their reaction was to any perceived slight on Islam, especially as they appeared to be — in all other respects — fully assimilated (to use an old fashioned term) right down to their accents and their jeans and sneakers — without a hijab, let alone a burka, in sight.

Such a demonstrable commitment to ‘defending the faith’ was therefore unusual — and therefore striking — to encounter firsthand, when in a Western nation like Australia we are by habit and custom used to the religious being subordinate to the secular.

This was a different, and obviously less extreme, expression of a higher religious loyalty that was clearly central to these young women’s identity.

But reflecting on these events makes one ponder what the implications may be for the cohesiveness of British society.

SOURCE 

 Posted by John J. Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).    For a daily critique of Leftist activities,  see DISSECTING LEFTISM.  To keep up with attacks on free speech see Tongue Tied. Also, don't forget your daily roundup  of pro-environment but anti-Greenie  news and commentary at GREENIE WATCH .  Email me  here