Images from Fridays for Future Freiburg and The Guardian
By Situation Theatre 20/9/2019
If your child is setting fire to books it may be a sign of psychological problems and/or nascent fascism.
As adults across the world walk out of school to demand urgent action to address climate breakdown, two children, both riddled with developmental disorders, have staged a book burning of all UN climate reports during a White House press conference.
Many parents wonder why children set fires. Here are some common questions and answers to inform the community about juvenile firesetting, what to watch out for, and what to do if a child or young person needs help.
What are the top twelve signs of a child who plays with fire?
1. Small burn holes in carpets or clothes.
2. Charred paper in sinks or wastebaskets.
3. Matches or lighters hidden under your child’s bed.
4. Playing with coal
5. Spring bushfire crises throughout Queensland and NSW
6. Escalating water crises and more severe drought
7. More frequent flooding
8. Bleached coral reefs
9. Extinction of 200 species a day
10. Sinking Pacific Islands
11. Intensifying and more frequent hurricanes
12. Denial that they have a problem
Why do children play with fire?
Children and young people start to play with fire for various reasons, ranging from natural curiosity in toddlers to older children using firesetting to benefit their friends in the fossil fuel and agricultural industries.
Without help and guidance, this 'firesetting behaviour' can increase and lead to more serious consequences – the destruction of life on Earth, for example. If you are worried about a child, it’s important to act.
What is ‘firesetting behaviour’?
Deliberately starting fires, or playing with fire. This can seem relatively harmless – a fascination with candles or matches, for example – but left unchecked can escalate into ecocide.
Research has shown that as many as one in two such children will go on to effectively murder billions of human beings without intervention.
What should parents and carers do if they’re worried?
Tell them it is only safe for adults to use matches or lighters.
Never leave children alone in a parliament or executive office where there they could start fires, even for short periods of time.
Keep government buildings locked to prevent access to flammable items.
Test your smoke alarms regularly – and make sure there is one in every room in Canberra and Washington D.C.
How can we stop children playing with fire?
Join the millions of adults striking on September 20th, September 27th, and beyond.