Millions of young people from more than 150 countries skipped school Friday to take part in a global climate strike that’s meant to focus attention on how the climate crisis is affecting the world. The students are calling on world leaders to act more aggressively to combat climate change, The Washington Post reports.
The protests unfurled in Australia, where some 300,000 students in Melbourne, Sydney, and other cities hit the streets. Soon after, students took to the streets in towns and cities spanning the planet, ranging from tiny island nations like Kiribati to enormous cities like Mumbai. The protests also ranged across parts of Africa and swelled into huge masses in Europe’s capital cities.
Thousands of students protested in London, marching in front of 10 Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament. Some students held signs that read “Winter is NOT coming,” and “I’m taking time out of my lessons to teach you.”
Londoner Martha Lickman, 13, held a sign that read “Oceans are rising and so are we.”
“We’re doing our bit, eating less meat, using less plastic,” she said, “but it’s still on the government to do something.”
And this has grabbed the media’s attention. Even Fox News has picked this up — one media organization that most of us wouldn’t expect to take an interest, Mediaite reports.
Fox News’ Ed Henry opened his show, The Daily Briefing, with a story on the strikes. Correspondent Bryan Llenas noted the immense crowds and backed his report up with a video provided by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer.
NYCs massive #ClimateStrike march has begun, from Foley Sq down Centre St to Chambers St across to Broadway… and down to the Battery! Thank you @ClimateCrisis and everyone else marching! pic.twitter.com/WUpeRP0ZQS
— Gale A. Brewer (@galeabrewer) September 20, 2019
“Thousands of strikes have been planned across the world,” Llenas reported. “Over 150 countries, over 300,000 people showing up in Australia, organizers estimate there. … There have been protests throughout Europe, including the U.K., Germany, and Poland, as thousands of young people there demanding that more be done.”
Several commentators and journalists showed videos and photos of the protests around the world, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, the young woman who sparked the climate strike movement.
New York City is looking huge! Lower Manhattan is absolutely packed with people. It will take ages for everyone to get to Battery Park.#ClimateStrike #FridaysForFuture pic.twitter.com/InoX8kQmCa
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) September 20, 2019
Brighton, England. #FridaysForFuture #ClimateStrike https://t.co/aa5SwuiZsH
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) September 20, 2019
And some other notable people joined in.
This is Sydney, Australia.
On strike.
For the climate. https://t.co/5siJcj9rwF
— Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) September 20, 2019
Are you kidding me? The #ClimateStrike scene in Freiburg Germany https://t.co/UkI3vloq0S
— Bill McKibben (@billmckibben) September 20, 2019
An estimated 100,000 people in Berlin on #ClimateStrike. Today is massive pic.twitter.com/kSS7NulTx0
— Brian Kahn (@blkahn) September 20, 2019
A view through the crowds… #ClimateStrike protestors gathered at Merrion Square, Dublin #FridaysForFuture pic.twitter.com/vKIfJGra4B
— Philip Bromwell (@philipbromwell) September 20, 2019
Chanting “People over Profit!” And “This is what democracy looks like” a huge flood of adults and youth march past the Wall St Bull. #ClimateStrike
All the banks and corporations propping up the fossil fuel industry should definitely pay attention. pic.twitter.com/WQRviJLvOn
— 350 dot org (@350) September 20, 2019
Millions of young people are making their feelings known. And kudos to them for doing that. Climate scientists are making it abundantly clear that the world’s government agencies have mere months to act on this if we want the Earth to continue to be a habitable place for life.
Featured image courtesy of the video above