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That's what I was thinking. You can make electric current by moving a conductor through a magnetic field. That's the principle behind generators/alternators. Similarly, when you pass a current through a conductor, it creates a magnetic field.

All well and good, but where's the motion, the prime mover force (and energy) here?

I believe what is happening here is an oscillation between the strong magnetic field from the permanent magnets and a current (and field) generated in the coils. Just as you can set up an oscillation between an inductor (coil) and capacitor - tuning a simple AM circuit to make a crystal radio... Conductors and magnetic fields can oscillate.

The initial energy for the system comes from moving the coils on the ends of the florescent tube into the strong magnetic field. This sets up a current, creating a counter field that pushes back. The coil/tube/magnets oscillate - but the system is losing energy to losses in the wires (tiny) and to energy pulled off within the tube and converted to light.

I'll bet you the light would flicker and die within a couple of seconds without more energy being added to the system in the form of moving the coils through the field.

“Conductors and magnetic fields can oscillate.”

This is the best explanation I have see so far. If fact it may be fun to reproduce. The light bulb being a gas discharge device, has a negative resistance region which can be used for amplification. It may be possible to configure it as an oscillator using the energy supplied by the tube movement via induction. Crossing my eyes a bit, it looks like the magnets and coils are setting up a loosely coupled transformer. How long would it last? Not very long, but once the gas in the tube is ionized who knows. It may be able to sustain with ambient RF. Free energy? BS, it has to come from some place.

Yeah I know it sounds like rambling, but it kept me employed for years.