This Friday (20th), The Sponge team is going to be a part of something huge. The team has pledged  This Is Not Business As Usual to support the Global Climate Strike happening on the 20th.

But what is the Climate Strike all about? And why is the team so willing to jump aboard?

You’ve probably heard of the fossil fuel debate, it’s been going on for so long. People are sick of carbon emissions and greenhouse gases. Because they’re doing huge amounts of damage to our planet.

NASA said that if nothing changes, we may see increases in global temperatures. They estimate from 2.5 to 10 degrees over the next century.

This means hotter temperatures and further rising sea levels. And drastic repercussions for all living creatures across the world.

It’s pretty scary stuff.

Enter the Global Climate Strike.  It’s a huge initiative happening a week before the United Nations Climate Summit.

Businesses and workers are joining young strikers who are skipping school that day. Because they want to make an impact against fossil fuels.

There are coordinated strikes happening globally across at least 120 countries. Australia alone has many locations throughout the main cities to the rural areas.

Why the Sponge Team are on board

Two weeks ago, the Sponge Team took the pledge and committed to striking on the 20th.

We did this because it’s who we are and the purpose of the Climate Strike resonates with our values.

We’re a B Corp. And being a B Corp has guided us to make decisions on who we do business with. The Certification process validates our commitment to sustainability. We also choose to work with clients that are socially responsible. As well as being ethical and environmentally sustainable.

Our team is united in this stance and each of us cares about social and environmental impact.

That’s why taking the not business as usual pledge was a no-brainer!

We’ve seen the damage fossil fuels have done. We’ve seen the opportunities for renewable energy. And we know with a broken heart, that greed is the main reason why we are still dependant on fossil fuels.

This is why we pledged and why we support the many students, workers, businesses and fellow B Corps on Friday.

But what about me?

We know how the team feels as a whole, but how do I feel?

I’m all in.

I’m from an East Asian background.  Eco-friendliness wasn’t the center of society’s concerns. But, I was very lucky and moved to Australia when I was quite young.

This opportunity allowed me to be exposed to new opinions. I learned about the horrors of plastic, the devastation of fossil fuels and oil.

I then looked at my home back across the ocean and I was sad.

Because the excess plastic and carbon emissions had become a part of their culture.

In some countries, items are wrapped in tissue paper, then placed into cellophane bags.

Then they’re placed into another plastic carry bag.

Pollution was everywhere and I remember wiping black sludge out of my nose every time after a day out.

Back then, whatever small amount of eco-friendly rhetoric we had in the western world…

We had even less of across the vast waters of the Pacific Ocean.

That’s why I 100% support everyone striking on Friday. And I couldn’t be more proud of our Founder, Luke, for rallying the team and signing us up for this pledge.

I strike because of my personal values and beliefs. I strike because I don’t want the world to burn but I also strike for my birth home.

Because I want to be able to teach my family who still lives there. And show them the truth about fossil fuels and carbon emissions.

And now it’s your turn, why are you striking?