CENTRAL Victorian students will be using different methods to collectively call for action on climate change.
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More than 400 different demonstrations will be taking place across the country on Friday as part of the National Day of Action on Climate Change.
Students will be calling on the federal government to focus on renewable energy sources rather than gas-fired power.
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Castlemaine year 12 student Niamh O'Connor Smith, 18, said each demonstration would be different due to varying COVID-19 restrictions around the country.
She said students in Castlemaine were encouraging residents to be involved in a collaborative art installation.
Each resident should bring a yellow flower as a symbol of climate justice, which would then be placed on a banner.
"This will symbolise the amount of people who want a renewable-led recovery over a gas-led recovery, without the representation of actual people," Ms O'Connor Smith said.
Bendigo's Jemille McKenzie, 24, said she would also take part in the National Day of Action - albeit, virtually.
"It's going to be an online school strike," she said. "It will be a big online get together for people who are saying no to the lack of climate action.
"The message this year is fund our future, not gas. The focus needs to be on renewable energy rather than fossil fuels."
Miss McKenzie said although the COVID-19 pandemic had taken a lot of focus from the government and the community, there still needed to be action on climate change.
"Climate change doesn't go away because of the pandemic," she said. "People are living with the climate-related emergency in the pandemic. We have to change what we are doing now."
Ms O'Connor Smith said the movement - which was created and led by young people - would continue until changes were made.
"We're not going to back down or stop fighting for climate action," she said. "We want a safe future and a safe now. People are seeing the effects of the climate crisis right now."
Miss McKenzie said there was more information about the demonstrations at: schoolstrike4climate.com
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