A placard reading "Don't Burn Our Future" is seen during a protest against climate change in Canberra, Australia, March 15, 2019. Thousands of Australian students walked out of classrooms to demand action on climate change on Friday. Students flocked to rallies in about 50 locations across Australia, protesting against climate change for the second time since November 2018, according to the report of Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). (Xinhua/Pan Xiangyue)
CANBERRA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Australian students walked out of classrooms to demand action on climate change on Friday.
Students flocked to rallies in about 50 locations across Australia, protesting against climate change for the second time since November 2018, according to the report of Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
Minister for Education Dan Tehan told News Corp Australia that it was "incredibly disappointing" that students would miss school time.
"The protest is all about environmental activists, sadly using our schoolchildren to advance their means," he said.
Students took aim at the Adani Group's proposed Carmichael coal mine, which experts have warned could have adverse environmental impacts on the Great Barrier Reef while simultaneously increasing Australia's carbon emissions.
Along with stopping Adani, the protesters also called on the government to rule out supporting new coal or gas-fired power generation and ensure that 100 percent of Australia's power comes from renewable sources by 2030.
Minister for Finance Mathias Cormann took a similar stance to that of Tehan.
"I think most Australians will take a very cynical view of professional adult activists using and abusing kids for this purpose during school time," he told Sky News Australia.
"During school time kids should be at school. They should not be used as pawns by professional adult activists as part of a cynical political activity."
