Coming of Age

Excerpt from Greta Thunberg’s speech at the National Assembly in Paris

Our house is on fire. I am here to say, our house is on fire.

On climate change, we have to acknowledge we have failed. All political movements in their present form have done so, and the media has failed to create broad public awareness.

But Homo sapiens have not yet failed.

We can still fix this. We still have everything in our own hands. But unless we recognize the overall failures of our current systems, we most probably don’t stand a chance.

Solving the climate crisis is the greatest challenge that Homo sapiens have ever faced. The main solution, however, is so simple that even a small child can understand it. We have to stop our emissions of greenhouse gases.

Either we do that or we don’t.

You say nothing in life is black or white. But that is a lie. A very dangerous lie. Either we avoid setting off that irreversible chain reaction beyond human control or we don’t. Either we choose to go on as a civilization or we don’t. That is as black or white as it gets. There are no grey areas when it comes to survival.
We all have a choice. We can create transformational action that will safeguard the living conditions for future generations. Or we can continue with our business as usual and fail.

That is up to you and me.

Adults keep saying: “We owe it to the young people to give them hope.” But I don’t want you to be hopeful. I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. And then I want you to act.
I want you to act as you would in a crisis. I want you to act as if our house is on fire. Because it is.
 
Good morning.
The reading will be familiar to many of you, I am sure. An address given to the World Economic Forum in January by a young woman called Greta Thunberg. Similar in tone and content to another high-profile speech that she gave when she was invited to speak to the United Nations General Assembly in New York just two weeks ago.

Two opportunities to speak directly to the world’s most powerful people. To reach the ears and perhaps sway the minds of national leaders and policymakers. And she used those opportunities well. Pulled no punches, delivered challenging messages. You may have seen the photos of her glaring angrily at the arch climate change denier, President Trump. She directly accused him, along with all my generation, of failing the young people of the world. Greta Thunberg should know about that, for she is one of them. One of you. A young person.

For those who are unaware, Greta Thunberg is the same age as you. Sixteen years old to be precise. A pupil, just like you, currently living and attending school in Sweden. A climate activist at a very young age, she has become an international symbol for environmental protest around the globe. The voice, and face, of those who will be most impacted in the future if the world’s climate continues to heat up thanks to human activity today.

Her personal protest of skipping school to stand outside the Swedish parliament, waving placards demanding government action, started years ago. This year, it turned into a global phenomenon, with thousands of pupils in many nations copying her so-called ‘school strike for climate’.

I might add that I am grateful that none of you were inclined to join such strikes. As much as I admire Greta’s motives, I find that particular method a little illogical.

Although a strike is an action intended to bring about change, it is only effective if the people with the power to make that change are hurt by it. Workers strike to deprive their employers of labour, so that profits are threatened, and businesses suffer, until change occurs.

Therefore, pupils “striking” from school makes little sense. You may not have noticed, but we don’t employ you. Withdrawing your labour from school for a day hurts only one person – you. You are the one who misses lessons. It’s your education that suffers. Maybe your parents do as well, given that they pay for you to be here. Teachers don’t suffer either, other than through the fact that you disrespect them by your absence from lessons that they prepared for your benefit. Other than that, they’d probably quite enjoy an unexpected day off. And certainly, the people at whom the protest is aimed, politicians and environmental policymakers, don’t really suffer if you disrupt your own education.

There is no doubt that school strikes gained media attention, but how much of it promoted the cause and how much simply gave people a chance to criticise unruly children? Yours is an exceptionally talented and connected generation. I found it a little sad that a more positive and creative action couldn’t be found. A protest on a Sunday, giving of their own time, might have carried more weight. Fighting for the future of the planet is a high ideal and a selfless one. To many people though, children skipping school simply looks self-serving.

Nevertheless, Greta’s other tactics have been effective and influential. Having been received the invitation to address the United Nations, she decided to live by her ideals as she made her way there. Rather than add to global warming by flying in a plane, she sailed the 3000 miles on an eco-yacht, leaving zero carbon footprint. Now that is an effective and creative protest.

But at what cost? There is no doubt that she is gaining great admiration and support for her efforts. TIME magazine called her a ‘next generation leader’. She was voted Swedish Woman of the Year. Meghan Markle picked her as one of the 15 most influential women. Others have called for a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.

Yet climate change deniers and critics have been brutal. They have called her naïve, immature. She has been called a hypocrite; photos of her on her eco yacht show her drinking from single-use plastic bottles, despite her environmental principles. The ugliest online bullying has highlighted the fact that she is autistic.

So, is Greta Thunberg an inspiring young person who is not content to wait until she grows up to make a difference in the world? Or a child who has been caught up in our cult of celebrity, cynically used by older environmental activists to promote their causes?

Consider the story of another young girl who also wanted to change the world. At the same age as Greta (a year younger actually, 15) she also embarked upon a 3000-mile journey to make her point. In her case, she travelled overland, often having to hide from the authorities, frequently risking danger and abuse. Yet, just like Greta, her deep convictions kept her going. Finally, though, she made it to her destination. Which was Syria. Where she fulfilled her ambition. Which was to join ISIS, bringing terror and death to those who didn’t share her beliefs.

Shamima Begum was a British schoolgirl. Born in London, going to school in Bethnal Green. Yet in February of 2015, she and two friends slipped out of the country and made their way to war torn Syria, where she married an ISIS fighter and became a jihadi bride. In the years that followed, she moved from battlefield to battlefield. She gave birth to three babies, all of whom died due to the appalling conditions in which they were born.

Yet Shamima was no innocent bystander or passive slave. She was an active member of the rebels’ morality police. She carried a Kalashnikov rifle and earned a reputation as a strict enforcer of jihadist laws. She actively stitched suicide bombers into explosive vests so they could not be removed without detonating.

Today, Shamima lives in a squalid detention camp in Syria. At twenty years old, she is miserable and desperate to be allowed to come back to Britain. In an interview she said of ISIS, “I hate them so much. I hate these women and what they stand for and what they believe in and that they think they can terrorise anyone who does not share their views.” A complete change of tune.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the UK’s Foreign Secretary has refused to allow Shamima to come back to Britain. The Government’s view is that someone who has dedicated themselves to destroying this country and our way of life does not deserve to be repatriated here. Many agree.

Yet many others say that compassion should be shown. That Shamima was a mere child when she left. Ignorant and unaware of the gravity of what she was saying and doing. They say she has suffered enough, that British tolerance and Christian charity should allow her to return here to be with her parents and family.

Two young women then, your age, both driven by ideology, both determined to change the world. Indeed, to a degree, they have. In both cases, there are those who say that they are adult enough to be heard. Clear thinking idealists with the right to have their views and opinions heard. The responsibility also, to be held accountable for them.

Yet others would say they are still children. Not yet old enough to understand the complexities of the world. Perhaps cynically used and manipulated by adults with other agendas.

That Shamima Begum was just a naïve young girl who was brainwashed into doing and saying the things that she did. Or that Greta Thunberg is a puppet of climate change activists who are simply seeking new and more dramatic ways to pursue their agendas. What do you believe?

What would I want you to believe? Here’s what.

Greta Thunberg’s speeches were inspiring, her message important, and I congratulate her for it. Shamima Begum’s actions were despicable, her belief warped, and I condemn her for it. But my message this morning is not about their rights and wrongs. It is about their power.

Regardless of your views on ISIS or climate change, Shamima Begum and Greta Thunberg are proof that people your age are not passive bystanders in today’s world. As evil as Shamima’s cause was and as honourable as Greta’s is, they are not that different from you today.

I choose my words carefully when I speak to you. You may notice therefore, that I never refer to you as children. There are children in the Prep and Pre-Prep. There are young adults in the Senior School. It is a mistake to believe that pupils in a senior school are just marking time, waiting to enter the real world. In my view, you already inhabit that world. You already have the power to make your voice heard. And therefore, you also have the responsibility to be accountable for your actions.

Two 16 year old girls currently in the world’s eye are proof that you have the chance to start changing the world now. My point in contrasting these two stories this morning is to encourage you to do so wisely. 

Presentations
Duke of Edinburgh
I would like to invite the following to receive our congratulations on passing their Silver award:
Grace Dieppe. Daniel Grove, Hermione Lawther, Eric (Mu) Li, Molly-Jo Sword

The CREST Silver Award is presented to:
Shams Ali Baig – investigating the link between water quality and bacteria populations.
Mingzhe (Jay) Lyu – design and construct his own speaker system
Jude Wynter – investigating the cosmetic effects of staining teeth

Junior House Basketball
In a good competition, the losing semi-finalists were Lyttelton and Walters, whilst in the final Elmshurst beat Wendron Gordon 8-4.

 
Review
Well done to the Upper Fourth who attended the CCF Field day at Peck Wood Activity centre last week. A productive day involving activities ranging from First Aid and Navigation to Cooking Rations and Weapons Training, with enthusiastic participation shown by all.

Last Tuesday we were treated to ten brilliant performances by our Fifth and Lower Sixth Music scholars; each stepping onto the concert platform as soloists, in addition to their busy schedule as ensemble musicians.

Well done also to 40 singers who will travel to Salzburg in Austria for a 5-day choir tour over Half Term. On Saturday, they gave a pre-tour concert at the fabulous Baroque church at Great Witley Court, where they sang beautifully. We wish them well for their tour.

Badminton
Well done to the Girls’ A and B teams who both won their fixtures against Cheltenham Ladies College.

Basketball
The senior team played a very worthwhile competitive training fixture against Worcester Wolves.

Hockey
The Boys U15 team enjoyed a 7-0 win against Bablake School in their first fixture of the season.

Meanwhile there were good results for the Girls teams in the matches against Malvern College, with wins for the U14C, U14A, U15B and U15A and draws for the U14 and 1st XI. The U14D team had a good 2-1 victory away at Oundle.

Rugby
In a score reminiscent of some of the early World Cup pool matches, the U15 team beat Beacon Hill Academy 50-5 in the 1st round of the Nat West Cup.

Unfortunately in our main fixture, Millifeld got the better of the results on Saturday, although there were good wins from the U14A, U15B, U15A, and U16B teams.

Squash
Congratulations to Will Hobbs who won the U15 Worcestershire squash title last week, retaining his title from last year. It is really pleasing to see that squash fixtures are now taking place on Saturdays and that so many more are joining the opportunities to play squash at School.

Swimming
Our swimming teams competed in the first round of the national ESSA relays which we hosted in our pool on Friday. All our teams swam well and now wait to see if they have qualified for the national finals.

Table tennis
Both the Girls and Boys teams enjoyed a 20-16 victory against Holte School.

Tennis
Congratulations to the U16 Girls Cup team who have qualified for the Regional Finals by beating a very strong Kings High Warwick team 5 sets to 1. The team of Josie Ward, Izzy O’Connor, Kelly Lin and Grace Richardson are now one of the top 3 schools in the West Midlands and have a chance of reaching the National Finals in November.

Golf
It was a good week for Bromsgrove School golf. On Tuesday, we defeated Rugby School and then on Thursday we progressed to the next round of the ISGA Matchplay Cup with a 2-1 win over RGS, Worcester.
Malvern or Solihull await in the next round.

 
Preview
For those Upper Fourth and Fifth Form pupils interested in finding out more about the next World Challenge trip to Costa Rica, the final information meeting for parents and pupils is this evening at 17:30 in the Hospitality Suite.

Please note that the far end of Humanities - classrooms H3-H8 and the back staircase - will be strictly out of bounds all day tomorrow, Tuesday. Upper Sixth IB orals are being recorded in this area throughout the day. Silence should be observed in the ground floor corridor.

If you are applying for Law, please consider signing up for a workshop delivered by Lawyers and Paralegals from Harrison Clark Rickerbys Law Firm. It is from 3-5pm tomorrow, for Sixth Form students applying this year or considering applying next year. A maximum of 30 places available, so please email Miss Leech to secure a place.

All are welcome to attend tomorrow’s Teatime Concert at 5.15pm in Routh Hall, featuring the Year 9 GCSE Music Set and a variety of soloists from the Senior School. The concert will last approximately 40 minutes.

On Wednesday 10 October OB and Vet, Emily Douglas Osborn, will be available to talk to students who are interested in career in Veterinary Science. She will be in Futures during afternoon break. She is an excellent contact to make if you are considering becoming a Vet. Please email Miss Leech if you are interested in meeting her.

The Lower Fourth will be walking the Malvern Hills on Wednesday and we wish you well for that time-honoured tradition.

On Friday we have an Own Clothes Day in aid of the Giles Trust.

Also on Friday, the next Marmite Movie and Pizza Evening, 5.15pm at 5 Conway Road. Details have been emailed. All current and previous members of The Marmite Society are warmly invited. Please email Dr Ruben if you’d like to attend.

Finally, we are pleased that OB Lord Digby Jones of Birmingham will be returning to give his annual guest lecture on Tuesday 15th October. Lord Jones joins us at a very interesting time in British politics. Whatever your thoughts on Brexit, the evening will provide the opportunity for lively debate and a chance to demonstrate your involvement in issues outside of your mainstream subjects. Tickets are free and can be secured through the Bromsgrove School online Box Office. Lord Jones will be holding a private Q&A session at 6.00pm, email Miss Leech if you would like to join.

Please now stand as we say the Grace together.