The Global Climate Strike kicked off on Friday in what may be the largest mass climate demonstration in history. Millions of young people and adults marched in cities around the world to pressure world leaders to tackle the global ecological crisis with bold and urgent action.
Australia alone had an estimated 400,000 people attend the strike and hundreds of thousands united across India, Germany, Austria, Indonesia, Kenya, Pakistan, the U.K., and other nations.
“We’re here to reclaim our right to live, our right to breathe, our right to exist,” said youth climate activist Aman Sharma, in Dehli.
Demonstrations took place in over 130 nations on Friday, with over 800 strikes planned in the United States. “I think it’s pretty clear this will be the biggest day of climate action in planetary history,” said 350.org founder Bill McKibben on Friday as images and videos began to pour in on social media.
The strikes, led by youth climate activists, have drawn enthusiastic support from diverse segments of society, including teachers, scientists, tech workers, labor unions, and lawmakers.
Vic Barrett, a 20-year-old plaintiff in the Juliana v. United States climate lawsuit against the US government, explained his reason for being part of the Global Climate strike in an op-ed for The Guardian Friday, as “this decade is our last chance to stop the destruction of our people and our planet.”
“We have no choice but to act when the alternative is to sit and watch our world burn,” wrote Barrett. “We have no choice but to act when the alternative is extinction.”
#ClimateStrike photos and videos of the events were flooding social media platforms with live coverage from the participating cities and countries.
In Freiburg, Germany:
Like the sea we rise!
Liebes Klimakabinett, ihr habt euch mit den falschen angelegt…#AlleFuersKlima #FridaysForFuture pic.twitter.com/RW5jn9RnWf— Fridays for Future Freiburg (@F4F_Freiburg) September 20, 2019
In Sydney, Australia:
Sydney you look incredible! #ClimateStrike pic.twitter.com/fybxCNfjG0
— School Strike 4 Climate Australia (@StrikeClimate) September 20, 2019
In Melbourne, Australia:
The #ClimateStrike crowd numbers are phenomenal.
Melbourne 100,000+
Sydney 80,000+
Brisbane 30,000
Hobart 20,000
Canberra 15,000
Perth & Adelaide at least 10,000 each
Thousands more across regional Australia & Pacific https://t.co/rViiPMOgWR @strikeclimate #schoolstrike4climate pic.twitter.com/VAOKRHq7Zu— Guardian Australia (@GuardianAus) September 20, 2019
The #ClimateStrike crowd numbers are phenomenal.
Melbourne 100,000+
Sydney 80,000+
Brisbane 30,000
Hobart 20,000
Canberra 15,000
Perth & Adelaide at least 10,000 each
Thousands more across regional Australia & Pacific https://t.co/rViiPMOgWR @strikeclimate #schoolstrike4climate pic.twitter.com/VAOKRHq7Zu— Guardian Australia (@GuardianAus) September 20, 2019
In Lahore, Pakistan:
#Lahore gathering for the #ClimateMarch! Where are you when your planet needs you? #ClimateMarchPakistan @ClimateActionPk pic.twitter.com/N1D3bkXLgx
— Sara Hayat (@saratamman) September 20, 2019
In Woerdern, Austria:
So much joy #ClimateStrike Woerdern, Austria 🇦🇹 pic.twitter.com/BtusGuQaTn
— 350 dot org (@350) September 20, 2019
In London, England:
Everybody London #ClimateStrike is massive. I think I’m gonna cry 😭 pic.twitter.com/44OR451v6f
— Hannah Martin 💜 (@Hannah_RM) September 20, 2019
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