Businesses across the Highlands are being asked to strike for climate change in September as part of an international campaign.
Urging as many people as possible to join a world-wide General Strike for Climate Challenge, Stephen Kershaw, the owner of the Wildcat Cafe in Fort William has already balloted his own staff who have agreed to take industrial action and is asking other businesses across the region to do the same.
Mr Kershaw, who runs a vegan cafe in Fort William, said: “We all need to address the climate crisis, as individuals, small businesses, large organisations and governments.
“The School Strike movement, started by Greta Thunberg has gathered incredible momentum, with millions of young people striking every week. In her words, we need to act like our house is on fire.
“The Wildcat is one of a large number of businesses around the world, which is going on General Strike for the Climate on September 20. This will be the first general strike since 1926.
“The climate crisis is already affecting millions of people worldwide, often the poorest, and it will affect us too, in our lifetimes. If we don’t address it, we’ll also take down countless species and habitats with us, and we’re dooming future generations to a catastrophic and uncertain future.
“All businesses are vulnerable to its impact too, as a coffee shop, we may not have any coffee in 50 years. We only have a handful of years to divert from the catastrophic track we’re heading down, and businesses must play a role in this transition.
“We demand urgent and radical and decisive government action to tackle the climate emergency, and we need it now.
“There is no more time for inaction. 50 years ago, we could have made a gradual transition to a green, carbon free economy, but we have left it so long, we need to transition in the next five years.
“We hope other local businesses and residents will join us on the day, and we could use some volunteer help to organise and promote this event.”
Mr Kershaw is urging anyone who would like to take part to contact him via The Wildcat’s Facebook page, or to pop into the cafe to discuss the campaign.
