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{{AFC comment|1=We don't refer to people by first name only, please change to full name, last name only, or personal pronouns. [[User:DoubleGrazing|DoubleGrazing]] ([[User talk:DoubleGrazing|talk]]) 17:05, 15 August 2023 (UTC)}}

{{AFC comment|1=Interviews, things the person themselves has said/written, and passing mentions or very short profiles do no establish notability per [[WP:GNG]]. We need to see significant coverage, directly of them (not indirectly related matters), in multiple independent and reliable secondary sources. [[User:DoubleGrazing|DoubleGrazing]] ([[User talk:DoubleGrazing|talk]]) 17:03, 15 August 2023 (UTC)}}

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'''Anna Kernahan''' is a climate, ecological, social justice and human rights activist, founder of Fridays for Future Northern Ireland, writer and a youth advocate from [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]]. They{{Efn|Anna Kernahan uses [[singular they|they/them]] pronouns.<ref name="TwitterPage"/>}} protest every Friday to acknowledge climate changes and why to take it seriously, as part of [[Fridays For Future]], a global climate strike movement.<ref name="TheRegenerators1">{{cite web |url=https://theregenerators.org/stories/meet-a-regenerator-anna-kernahan/ |title=Meet Anna Kernahan |last=Studios |first=Regen |website=The Regenerators |date=2 December 2022 |access-date= 16 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/whats-on/be/international-womens-day-30-women-23313017 |title=International Women's Day: 30 women from Northern Ireland who are breaking down barriers |last1= Corscadden |first1= Jane |last2=McGoran |first2= Peter|last3= McLaughlin |first3= Sophie |website=BelfastLive |date=8 March 2022 |access-date= 10 July 2023}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BBC Radio Ulster - The Lynette Fay Show, Earth Day and harpist Brídín, Earth Day with youth climate activist Anna Kernahan |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09fgnth/player |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=BBC}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Big city centre climate strike demo takes place today |url=https://belfastmedia.com/city-centre-climate-strikes-kick-start-the-new-year-with-a-clear-message |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=Belfast Media Group |language=en}}</ref>


⚫
Anna Kernahan is a climate, ecological, social justice and human rights activist, founder of Fridays for Future Northern Ireland, writer, student and youth advocate from [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]]. They{{Efn|Anna Kernahan uses [[singular they|they/them]] pronouns.<ref name="TwitterPage"/>}} protest every Friday to acknowledge climate changes and why to take it seriously, as part of [[Fridays For Future|Fridays For Future]], a global climate strike movement.<ref name="TheRegenerators1">{{cite web |url=https://theregenerators.org/stories/meet-a-regenerator-anna-kernahan/ |title=Meet Anna Kernahan |last=Studios |first=Regen |website=The Regenerators |access-date= 16 May 2023}}</ref>
== Early Life ==
== Early Life ==
Anna was born on 25th of July 2002.<ref name="TwitterPage">https://twitter.com/AnnaKernahan</ref> According to them, at a young age, Anna had already a passion for nature being interested in ecology and wildlife and loving being in nature, going on walks through the hills and reading nature encyclopedias.<ref name="BelfastInterview1">{{cite web |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/being-out-in-nature-is-a-fun-way-to-learn/40150305.html |title='Being out in nature is a fun way to learn' |date= 3 March 2021 |website=Belfast Telegraph |access-date=16 May 2023 |quote="Did your interest in ecology/wildlife start at a young age? Yes, I've always loved being in nature, searching for worms and walking through hills. In nursery school I'd be digging in soil to search for insects and once I could read I was obsessed with nature encyclopaedias. "}}</ref>
Kernahan was born on 25<sup>th</sup> of July 2002.<ref name="TwitterPage">https://twitter.com/AnnaKernahan</ref>{{better source}} According to them, at a young age, Kernahan had already a passion for nature being interested in ecology and wildlife and loving being in nature, going on walks through the hills and reading nature encyclopedias.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="BelfastInterview1">{{cite web |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/being-out-in-nature-is-a-fun-way-to-learn/40150305.html |title='Being out in nature is a fun way to learn' |date= 3 March 2021 |website=Belfast Telegraph |access-date=16 May 2023 |quote=Did your interest in ecology/wildlife start at a young age? Yes, I've always loved being in nature, searching for worms and walking through hills. In nursery school I'd be digging in soil to search for insects and once I could read I was obsessed with nature encyclopaedias.}}</ref> On 2019, on the age of 16, after reading about [[Greta Thunberg]], [[School Strike for Climate|Fridays For Future]] and reports concerning the environment such as the [[Special Report on Climate Change and Land|2018 IPCC special report]], Kernahan became concerned with the climate emergency believing that the educational system is not teaching with enough significance about the climate crisis and that politicians are not totally aware of the crisis.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Interview with Anna Kernahan, Climate Strike Activist {{!}} Development Education Review |url=https://www.developmenteducationreview.com/issue/issue-30/interview-anna-kernahan-climate-strike-activist |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=www.developmenteducationreview.com}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-07-05 |title=Climate change: Northern Ireland pupils to study new qualification |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-62008312 |access-date=2023-09-11}}</ref> So, they started raising awareness about the pollution impact by making scientific data on this topic known and protesting, fighting and demanding the politicians to act on the climate crisis.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

On 2019, near the age of 17, after reading about [[Greta Thunberg]], [[School Strike for Climate|Fridays For Future]] and reports concerning the environment such as the [[Special Report on Climate Change and Land|2018 IPCC special report]], Anna became concerned with the climate emergency believing that the educational system is not teaching with enough significance about the climate crisis.<ref name="DevelopmentEducationReview1">{{cite web |url=https://www.developmenteducationreview.com/issue/issue-30/interview-anna-kernahan-climate-strike-activist |title=Interview with Anna Kernahan, Climate Strike Activist |website=Policy & Practice: A Development Education Review |access-date=1 June 2023 |quote=Why did you decide to get involved in the climate strikes and why are they important to you?
I decided to get involved in the climate strikes because, as I am under 18, I am not able to have a vote in the decisions that will affect my future and so I feel as though I have a moral duty to try and influence the adults who are voting on mine and my generation’s behalf. I have been enlightened to the severity of the climate crisis due to reading about Greta Thunberg and ‘Fridays’ for Future’ and reading documents such as the ‘IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) special report on climate change’ (IPCC, 2018). The best available science is telling us that this is an emergency, but there’s no mainstream education on this, so getting involved in the climate strikes is a way of raising awareness of the research from the scientists. }}</ref> So, they started raising awareness about the pollution impact, making scientific data on this topic known and protesting, fighting and demanding actions by the politicians to act on the climate crisis.
== Activism ==
== Activism ==
[[File:Annakernahan.jpg|thumb|255x255px|Anna Kernahan striking, as part of the ''Youth Strike 4 Climate'' movement.]]
[[File:Annakernahan.jpg|thumb|255x255px|Anna Kernahan striking, as part of the ''Youth Strike 4 Climate'' movement.]]
According to them, Kernahan started as a social justice activist when they were 13 years old.<ref name=":0" />
Initially, Anna's school didn’t support the idea of school striking, but Anna did it anyway and her school let them do it with a few restrictions.<ref name="DevelopmentEducationReview2">{{cite web |url=https://www.developmenteducationreview.com/issue/issue-30/interview-anna-kernahan-climate-strike-activist |title=Interview with Anna Kernahan, Climate Strike Activist |date=Spring 2020 |website=Policy & Practice: A Development Education Review |access-date=1 June 2023 |quote=How supportive has your school been to your participation in the climate strikes? Not very supportive at all. At first it was a straight ‘no’, but when they realised I was just going to do it anyway, I was reluctantly allowed. I have to wear a hoodie underneath my blazer to cover up my school tie and I have to come into school on Fridays first and then leave at break-time to go to the strike location. However, individual teachers have been very supportive of it by helping me catch up on missed work and taking an interest in what we have been doing.}}</ref> Firstly, in May of 2019, Anna joined the Northern Ireland Students’ Climate Network, the [[Youth Strike 4 Climate]] branch of Northern Ireland, striking monthly.Then, on September 2019, Anna created Fridays For Future Northern Ireland, the national Northern Irish section of Friday For Future, an association that protests and raises awareness about climate change every Friday around the world.<ref name="NewsletterUK1">{{cite web |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/education/ni-teenager-id-rather-be-school-taking-part-climate-strikes-1364982 |title=NI teenager: I’d rather be in school than taking part in climate strikes |author=The Newsroom |date=15 January 2020 |website= News Letter |access-date=1 June 2023|quote=Anna said: “I joined Youth Strike 4 Climate in May and I started Fridays for the Future in September.”}}</ref><ref name="UnsustainableMagazine2">{{cite web |url=https://www.unsustainablemagazine.com/anna-kernahan/ |title=Interview with Anna Kernahan |date=17 January 2020 |website=unsustainable |access-date= 1 June 2023|quote=I have been striking with NISCN (Northern Ireland Students’ Climate Network), which is the Northern Irish branch of the youth strike for climate movement, since May, and this involves monthly strikes for climate action. However, by August literally nothing had happened, so I wanted to do more. There was no FridaysForFuture strike in my country, so I created my own, and currently solo strike.}}</ref>

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Thus, Anna has been school striking every Friday on the sculpture ''[[Spirit of Belfast]]'' for almost 4 years without any exception, protesting frequently alone.<ref name="UnsustainableMagazine3">{{cite web |url=https://www.unsustainablemagazine.com/anna-kernahan/ |title=Interview with Anna Kernahan |date=17 January 2020 |website=unsustainable |access-date= 1 June 2023|quote=Instead, every week without fail, sometimes with company but frequently alone, she protests at the Spirit of Belfast statue in Cornmarket, Belfast.}}</ref> Moreover, during the [[COVID-19 pandemic|Covid-19 pandemic]], they continued protesting with physical and digital actions.<ref name="BelfastInterview2">{{cite web |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/being-out-in-nature-is-a-fun-way-to-learn/40150305.html |title='Being out in nature is a fun way to learn' |date=3 March 2021 |website=Belfast Telegraph |access-date=16 May 2023 |quote=Yes, there have been school strikes every Friday but on a much smaller scale. Every crisis should be treated like a crisis and this means both the climate crisis and the coronavirus crisis so we are trying to balance the importance of raising awareness of the environment while also staying safe.}}</ref>
Then, on 2019, they decided to school strike for the environment, although their school didn't support the idea of school striking and only let them do it with a few restricitions.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /> Firstly, in May 2019, Kernahan joined the Northern Ireland Students' Climate Network, the [[Youth Strike 4 Climate]] branch of Northern Ireland, striking monthly. Then, in September 2019, they created Fridays For Future Northern Ireland, the national Northern Irish section of Friday For Future protesting and raising awareness about climate change every Friday.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="NewsletterUK1">{{cite web |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/education/ni-teenager-id-rather-be-school-taking-part-climate-strikes-1364982 |title=NI teenager: I'd rather be in school than taking part in climate strikes |author=The Newsroom |date=15 January 2020 |website= News Letter |access-date=1 June 2023|quote=Anna said: "I joined Youth Strike 4 Climate in May and I started Fridays for the Future in September."}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
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Anna has stated in an interview that they hate striking and would prefer going to school, but they have no option as they felt it is their moral duty.<ref name="NewsletterUK2">{{cite web |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/education/ni-teenager-id-rather-be-school-taking-part-climate-strikes-1364982 |title=NI teenager: I’d rather be in school than taking part in climate strikes |author= The Newsroom |date=15 January 2020 |website= News Letter |access-date=1 June 2023 |quote=Anna Kernahan, a 17-year-old pupil at Victoria College in Belfast, said she would much rather be in school than taking part in climate strikes.However she argues that she is being let down by an education system that isn’t telling “the full story” and therefore feels the need to take to the streets to raise awareness of the climate crisis.}}</ref><ref name="DevelopmentEducationReview3">{{cite web |url=https://www.developmenteducationreview.com/issue/issue-30/interview-anna-kernahan-climate-strike-activist |title=Interview with Anna Kernahan, Climate Strike Activist |website=Policy & Practice: A Development Education Review |access-date=1 June 2023 |quote=I honestly hate striking, but I have no other choice. This sounds strange, but would you like to sit on a cold stone slab for hours in the rain every single week that you only need to do because others aren't doing their jobs properly?}}</ref>

Besides remonstrating for the environment, Anna writes poems, their thoughts on the environmental problems and their experiences as an activist and often makes art to concern people about the pollution and other climate problems, specially directed to politicians and governments with power to change the system.<ref name="blog">https://annakernahan.co.uk/author/annakernahanclimate/</ref>
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Thus, Kernahan has been school striking every Friday without any exception on the sculpture ''[[Spirit of Belfast]]'', protesting frequently alone.<ref name="UnsustainableMagazine3">{{cite web |url=https://www.unsustainablemagazine.com/anna-kernahan/ |title=Interview with Anna Kernahan |date=17 January 2020 |website=unsustainable |access-date= 1 June 2023|quote=Instead, every week without fail, sometimes with company but frequently alone, she protests at the Spirit of Belfast statue in Cornmarket, Belfast.}}</ref><ref name="BelfastInterview2">{{cite web |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/being-out-in-nature-is-a-fun-way-to-learn/40150305.html |title='Being out in nature is a fun way to learn' |date=3 March 2021 |website=Belfast Telegraph |access-date=16 May 2023 |quote=Yes, there have been school strikes every Friday but on a much smaller scale. Every crisis should be treated like a crisis and this means both the climate crisis and the coronavirus crisis so we are trying to balance the importance of raising awareness of the environment while also staying safe.}}</ref>Besides remonstrating for the environment, they write poems, their thoughts on the environmental problems and their experiences as an activist and often make art to concern people about the pollution and other climate problems, specially directed to politicians and governments.<ref name="blog">{{cite web | url=https://annakernahan.co.uk/author/annakernahanclimate/ | title=Anna Kernahan | date=21 June 2022 }}</ref>

=== Solo But Not Alone ===
=== Solo But Not Alone ===
In December of 2019, Anna Kernahan and two friends, Grace Maddrell and Helen Jackson, created a Twitter page, which in weeks got hundreds of followers, with the purpose of sharing stories of solo climate strikes.<ref name="UnsustainableMagazine1">{{cite web |url=https://www.unsustainablemagazine.com/anna-kernahan/ |title=Interview with Anna Kernahan |date=17 January 2020 |website=unsustainable |access-date= 1 June 2023|quote=You mention digital support from across the world. How has social media influenced this conflict for you? Massively influenced it. I don’t know if I’d still be a striker today if I didn’t live in the age of the internet. Me and two friends, Helen and Grace, have co- founded “solo but not alone”. The purpose of this is to uplift, expose and raise awareness of climate strikers who are alone every Friday. We want to share the message that, although we may be alone physically, we are not truly alone: we’re all out there in our respective countries at the same time united behind the science and fighting for our future and I think there’s something really wholesome and motivating in that. Everyday, we highlight the brilliant work and tell the story of another solo striker and on Fridays we retweet lots of people all over the world.}}</ref><ref name="SoloButNotAlone">https://twitter.com/solo_not_alone?s=09</ref>
In December 2019, Kernahan and two friends, Grace Maddrell and Helen Jackson, created a Twitter page, called Solo Not Alone,<ref>https://twitter.com/solo_not_alone?s=09</ref> with the purpose of sharing stories of solo climate strikes.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="SoloButNotAlone">https://twitter.com/solo_not_alone?s=09</ref><ref name="Guardian">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/13/young-climate-strikers-go-it-alone |title='I've lost friends': the young climate strikers forced to go it alone |date=13 February 2020 |website=The Guardian |access-date= 18 August 2023|author = Jessica Murray|quote= It was the power of social media that inspired Anna Kernahan, 17, Grace Maddrell, 14, and Helen Jackson, 21, to set up Solo But Not Alone, a Twitter page dedicated to sharing the stories of solo climate strikers."People will say: 'Oh, you're not alone,' but it's hard to see that when you are sitting there at the strike and there's no one else around you, everyone's walking past," says Anna. She strikes alone in Belfast from 12pm to 3pm every Friday, often reading a book or catching up on homework. Although she struggles to get friends to join her, she has one powerful supporter to keep her going – Greta Thunberg.}}</ref>

=== Campaign #LearnMoreOutdoors ===
=== Campaign #LearnMoreOutdoors ===
On 3rd of March 2020, Ulster Wildlife and its Our Bright Future Youth Advocate launched a campaign called #LearnMoreOutdoors to celebrate World Wildlife Day.<ref name="UlsterWildlife">{{cite web |url=https://www.ulsterwildlife.org/news/ulster-wildlife-youth-advocates-call-students-learnmoreoutdoors |title=Ulster Wildlife Youth Advocates call for students to #LearnMoreOutdoors |website=Ulster Wildlife |access-date=1 June 2023}}</ref> Anna participated in this movement by helping in its series of videos about the advantages of outdoor schooling and giving their opinion about the subject.<ref name="BelfastInterview3">{{cite web |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/being-out-in-nature-is-a-fun-way-to-learn/40150305.html |title='Being out in nature is a fun way to learn' |date= 3 March 2021 |website=Belfast Telegraph |access-date=16 May 2023}}</ref>
On 3<sup>rd</sup> of March 2020, [[Ulster Wildlife]] and its Our Bright Future Youth Advocate launched a campaign called ''#LearnMoreOutdoors'' to celebrate World Wildlife Day.<ref name="UlsterWildlife">{{cite web |url=https://www.ulsterwildlife.org/news/ulster-wildlife-youth-advocates-call-students-learnmoreoutdoors |title=Ulster Wildlife Youth Advocates call for students to #LearnMoreOutdoors |website=Ulster Wildlife |date=3 March 2021 |access-date=1 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bailie |first=Tony |date=2021-03-06 |title=Tony Bailie's Take on Nature: Advocating for the environment |url=http://www.irishnews.com/lifestyle/2021/03/06/news/tony-bailie-s-take-on-nature-advocating-for-the-environment-2244278/ |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=The Irish News |language=en}}</ref> Kernahan participated in this movement by helping in its series of videos about the advantages of outdoor schooling and giving their opinion about the subject.<ref name="BelfastInterview3">{{cite web |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/features/being-out-in-nature-is-a-fun-way-to-learn/40150305.html |title='Being out in nature is a fun way to learn' |date= 3 March 2021 |website=Belfast Telegraph |access-date=16 May 2023}}</ref>

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On 14th of March 2020, Anna had a [[TED (conference)|TED-Talk]] where they and another young climate activist, [[Kaitlyn Laverty]], called the viewers to act and take the environmental problems seriously.<ref name="tedtalk">{{cite web |url=https://www.ted.com/talks/anna_kernahan_kaitlyn_laverty_young_climate_justice_activists_call_for_action |title=Young climate justice activists call for action |website=TED |access-date=1 June 2023}}</ref>
=== TED-Talk ===
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On 14th of March 2020, Kernahan had a [[TED (conference)|TED-Talk]] where they and another young climate activist, [[Kaitlyn Laverty]], called the viewers to act and take the environmental problems seriously.<ref name="tedtalk">{{cite web |url=https://www.ted.com/talks/anna_kernahan_kaitlyn_laverty_young_climate_justice_activists_call_for_action |title=Young climate justice activists call for action |website=TED |date=14 October 2020 |access-date=1 June 2023}}</ref>
=== Amnesty Brave Award 2020 ===
=== Amnesty Brave Award 2020 ===
In 2020, Anna won the [[Amnesty International|Amnesty]] Brave Award 2020 as, at the time, they had been striking for more than half a year in Ireland, a country with very strict protesting laws.<ref name="amnsety">{{cite web |url=https://www.amnesty.org.uk/braveawards |title=Amnesty Brave Awards 2020 |date= |website=Amnesty International UK|access-date=1 June 2023 |quote=Anna Kernahan is a 17-year-old climate activist who unfailingly takes part in weekly climate strikes in Northern Ireland as part of the global Fridays for Future movement. She has now kept it up for six months: a considerable achievement given that protest laws are stricter than elsewhere in the UK.}}</ref>
In 2020, Kernahan won the [[Amnesty International|Amnesty]] Brave Award 2020 as they had been striking for more than half a year when Ireland had very strict protesting laws.<ref name="amnsety">{{cite web |url=https://www.amnesty.org.uk/braveawards |title=Amnesty Brave Awards 2020 |date= |website=Amnesty International UK|access-date=1 June 2023 |quote=Anna Kernahan is a 17-year-old climate activist who unfailingly takes part in weekly climate strikes in Northern Ireland as part of the global Fridays for Future movement. She has now kept it up for six months: a considerable achievement given that protest laws are stricter than elsewhere in the UK.}}</ref>
=== Northern Ireland Science Festival ===
=== Northern Ireland Science Festival ===
In 2021, between 15th to 28th of February, in the [[Northern Ireland Science Festival]], Anna joined a conversation with [[Jane Goodall]] and [[Dr Tarashine]], hosted by [[Lizzie Dalyabout]]. In the conversation, they talked about how to face the issues of the world and to save it from dying.<ref name="NIFestival">{{cite web |url=https://nireland.britishcouncil.org/northern-ireland-science-festival-2021 |title=How to Save The Planet - In conversation with Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, Tara Shine and Anna Kernahan |website= British Council: Northern Ireland |access-date=1 June 2023}}</ref>
Between 15<sup>th</sup> to 28<sup>th</sup> of February 2021, in the [[Northern Ireland Science Festival]], Kernahan joined a inter-generational conversation on the key problems facing the planet and what is necessary to do in order to influence politicians and the public, named ''How to save the planet'', . The conversation was presented in partnership with British Council Northern Ireland, included [[Jane Goodall]] and [[Tara Shine]] and was hosted by wildlife biologist [[Lizzie Daly]].<ref name="NIFestival">{{cite web |url=https://nireland.britishcouncil.org/northern-ireland-science-festival-2021 |title=How to Save The Planet - In conversation with Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, Tara Shine and Anna Kernahan |website= British Council: Northern Ireland |access-date=1 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ONE PLANET How to Save the Planet – In conversation with Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, Tara Shine and Anna Kernahan – Tara Shine |url=https://www.tarashine.com/one-planet-how-to-save-the-planet-in-conversation-with-dr-jane-goodall-dbe-tara-shine-and-anna-kernahan/ |access-date=2023-09-11 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cousins |first=Graeme |date=February 9, 2021 |title=World renowned primatologist Dr Jane Goodall to take part in NI climate panel discussion |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/environment/world-renowned-primatologist-dr-jane-goodall-to-take-part-in-ni-climate-panel-discussion-3129053 |website=News Letter}}</ref>





== Criticism ==
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Kernahan was criticised for only school striking for the environment so they could skip classes. They had stated in an interview that they hate striking and would prefer going to school, but they have no option as they felt it is their moral duty.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="NewsletterUK2">{{cite web |author=The Newsroom |date=15 January 2020 |title=NI teenager: I'd rather be in school than taking part in climate strikes |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/education/ni-teenager-id-rather-be-school-taking-part-climate-strikes-1364982 |access-date=1 June 2023 |website=News Letter |quote=Anna Kernahan, a 17-year-old pupil at Victoria College in Belfast, said she would much rather be in school than taking part in climate strikes.However she argues that she is being let down by an education system that isn't telling "the full story" and therefore feels the need to take to the streets to raise awareness of the climate crisis.}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 16:12, 1 July 2024

  • Comment: We don't refer to people by first name only, please change to full name, last name only, or personal pronouns. DoubleGrazing (talk) 17:05, 15 August 2023 (UTC)
  • Comment: Interviews, things the person themselves has said/written, and passing mentions or very short profiles do no establish notability per WP:GNG. We need to see significant coverage, directly of them (not indirectly related matters), in multiple independent and reliable secondary sources. DoubleGrazing (talk) 17:03, 15 August 2023 (UTC)

Anna Kernahan is a climate, ecological, social justice and human rights activist, founder of Fridays for Future Northern Ireland, writer and a youth advocate from Belfast, Northern Ireland. They[a] protest every Friday to acknowledge climate changes and why to take it seriously, as part of Fridays For Future, a global climate strike movement.[2][3][4][5]

Early Life

Kernahan was born on 25th of July 2002.[1][better source needed] According to them, at a young age, Kernahan had already a passion for nature being interested in ecology and wildlife and loving being in nature, going on walks through the hills and reading nature encyclopedias.[4][6] On 2019, on the age of 16, after reading about Greta Thunberg, Fridays For Future and reports concerning the environment such as the 2018 IPCC special report, Kernahan became concerned with the climate emergency believing that the educational system is not teaching with enough significance about the climate crisis and that politicians are not totally aware of the crisis.[7][4][8] So, they started raising awareness about the pollution impact by making scientific data on this topic known and protesting, fighting and demanding the politicians to act on the climate crisis.[4][5]

Activism

Anna Kernahan striking, as part of the Youth Strike 4 Climate movement.

According to them, Kernahan started as a social justice activist when they were 13 years old.[4]

Then, on 2019, they decided to school strike for the environment, although their school didn't support the idea of school striking and only let them do it with a few restricitions.[7][4] Firstly, in May 2019, Kernahan joined the Northern Ireland Students' Climate Network, the Youth Strike 4 Climate branch of Northern Ireland, striking monthly. Then, in September 2019, they created Fridays For Future Northern Ireland, the national Northern Irish section of Friday For Future protesting and raising awareness about climate change every Friday.[7][9][4]

Thus, Kernahan has been school striking every Friday without any exception on the sculpture Spirit of Belfast, protesting frequently alone.[10][11]Besides remonstrating for the environment, they write poems, their thoughts on the environmental problems and their experiences as an activist and often make art to concern people about the pollution and other climate problems, specially directed to politicians and governments.[12]

Solo But Not Alone

In December 2019, Kernahan and two friends, Grace Maddrell and Helen Jackson, created a Twitter page, called Solo Not Alone,[13] with the purpose of sharing stories of solo climate strikes.[7][14][15]

Campaign #LearnMoreOutdoors

On 3rd of March 2020, Ulster Wildlife and its Our Bright Future Youth Advocate launched a campaign called #LearnMoreOutdoors to celebrate World Wildlife Day.[16][17] Kernahan participated in this movement by helping in its series of videos about the advantages of outdoor schooling and giving their opinion about the subject.[18]

TED-Talk

On 14th of March 2020, Kernahan had a TED-Talk where they and another young climate activist, Kaitlyn Laverty, called the viewers to act and take the environmental problems seriously.[19]

Amnesty Brave Award 2020

In 2020, Kernahan won the Amnesty Brave Award 2020 as they had been striking for more than half a year when Ireland had very strict protesting laws.[20]

Northern Ireland Science Festival

Between 15th to 28th of February 2021, in the Northern Ireland Science Festival, Kernahan joined a inter-generational conversation on the key problems facing the planet and what is necessary to do in order to influence politicians and the public, named How to save the planet, . The conversation was presented in partnership with British Council Northern Ireland, included Jane Goodall and Tara Shine and was hosted by wildlife biologist Lizzie Daly.[21][22][23]

Criticism

Kernahan was criticised for only school striking for the environment so they could skip classes. They had stated in an interview that they hate striking and would prefer going to school, but they have no option as they felt it is their moral duty.[7][24]

References

  1. ^ a b https://twitter.com/AnnaKernahan
  2. ^ Studios, Regen (2 December 2022). "Meet Anna Kernahan". The Regenerators. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  3. ^ Corscadden, Jane; McGoran, Peter; McLaughlin, Sophie (8 March 2022). "International Women's Day: 30 women from Northern Ireland who are breaking down barriers". BelfastLive. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "BBC Radio Ulster - The Lynette Fay Show, Earth Day and harpist Brídín, Earth Day with youth climate activist Anna Kernahan". BBC. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
  5. ^ a b "Big city centre climate strike demo takes place today". Belfast Media Group. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  6. ^ "'Being out in nature is a fun way to learn'". Belfast Telegraph. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2023. Did your interest in ecology/wildlife start at a young age? Yes, I've always loved being in nature, searching for worms and walking through hills. In nursery school I'd be digging in soil to search for insects and once I could read I was obsessed with nature encyclopaedias.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Interview with Anna Kernahan, Climate Strike Activist | Development Education Review". www.developmenteducationreview.com. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  8. ^ "Climate change: Northern Ireland pupils to study new qualification". BBC News. 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  9. ^ The Newsroom (15 January 2020). "NI teenager: I'd rather be in school than taking part in climate strikes". News Letter. Retrieved 1 June 2023. Anna said: "I joined Youth Strike 4 Climate in May and I started Fridays for the Future in September." {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ "Interview with Anna Kernahan". unsustainable. 17 January 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2023. Instead, every week without fail, sometimes with company but frequently alone, she protests at the Spirit of Belfast statue in Cornmarket, Belfast.
  11. ^ "'Being out in nature is a fun way to learn'". Belfast Telegraph. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2023. Yes, there have been school strikes every Friday but on a much smaller scale. Every crisis should be treated like a crisis and this means both the climate crisis and the coronavirus crisis so we are trying to balance the importance of raising awareness of the environment while also staying safe.
  12. ^ "Anna Kernahan". 21 June 2022.
  13. ^ https://twitter.com/solo_not_alone?s=09
  14. ^ https://twitter.com/solo_not_alone?s=09
  15. ^ Jessica Murray (13 February 2020). "'I've lost friends': the young climate strikers forced to go it alone". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 August 2023. It was the power of social media that inspired Anna Kernahan, 17, Grace Maddrell, 14, and Helen Jackson, 21, to set up Solo But Not Alone, a Twitter page dedicated to sharing the stories of solo climate strikers."People will say: 'Oh, you're not alone,' but it's hard to see that when you are sitting there at the strike and there's no one else around you, everyone's walking past," says Anna. She strikes alone in Belfast from 12pm to 3pm every Friday, often reading a book or catching up on homework. Although she struggles to get friends to join her, she has one powerful supporter to keep her going – Greta Thunberg.
  16. ^ "Ulster Wildlife Youth Advocates call for students to #LearnMoreOutdoors". Ulster Wildlife. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  17. ^ Bailie, Tony (2021-03-06). "Tony Bailie's Take on Nature: Advocating for the environment". The Irish News. Retrieved 2023-09-13.
  18. ^ "'Being out in nature is a fun way to learn'". Belfast Telegraph. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  19. ^ "Young climate justice activists call for action". TED. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  20. ^ "Amnesty Brave Awards 2020". Amnesty International UK. Retrieved 1 June 2023. Anna Kernahan is a 17-year-old climate activist who unfailingly takes part in weekly climate strikes in Northern Ireland as part of the global Fridays for Future movement. She has now kept it up for six months: a considerable achievement given that protest laws are stricter than elsewhere in the UK.
  21. ^ "How to Save The Planet - In conversation with Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, Tara Shine and Anna Kernahan". British Council: Northern Ireland. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  22. ^ "ONE PLANET How to Save the Planet – In conversation with Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, Tara Shine and Anna Kernahan – Tara Shine". Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  23. ^ Cousins, Graeme (February 9, 2021). "World renowned primatologist Dr Jane Goodall to take part in NI climate panel discussion". News Letter.
  24. ^ The Newsroom (15 January 2020). "NI teenager: I'd rather be in school than taking part in climate strikes". News Letter. Retrieved 1 June 2023. Anna Kernahan, a 17-year-old pupil at Victoria College in Belfast, said she would much rather be in school than taking part in climate strikes.However she argues that she is being let down by an education system that isn't telling "the full story" and therefore feels the need to take to the streets to raise awareness of the climate crisis. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  1. ^ Anna Kernahan uses they/them pronouns.[1]
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