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Climate protests: Marches worldwide against global warming | Climate protests: Marches worldwide against global warming |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Millions of people around the world held a global climate strike on Friday, inspired by activist Greta Thunberg. | Millions of people around the world held a global climate strike on Friday, inspired by activist Greta Thunberg. |
Protesters across continents waved placards and chanted slogans in what could be the biggest ever demonstration over global warming caused by humans. | Protesters across continents waved placards and chanted slogans in what could be the biggest ever demonstration over global warming caused by humans. |
"Our house is on fire", Ms Thunberg said at a rally. "We will not just stand aside and watch." | "Our house is on fire", Ms Thunberg said at a rally. "We will not just stand aside and watch." |
The day began in the Pacific and Asia and culminated in a massive demonstration in New York. | The day began in the Pacific and Asia and culminated in a massive demonstration in New York. |
It comes ahead of a UN summit next week at the organisation's headquarters in Manhattan. Activists are demanding greater efforts be made at the meeting to tackle climate change. | It comes ahead of a UN summit next week at the organisation's headquarters in Manhattan. Activists are demanding greater efforts be made at the meeting to tackle climate change. |
Ms Thunberg first started skipping school to protest against inaction on climate change in 2018. | |
Her actions have inspired schoolchildren and adults around the world to take up the fight. | Her actions have inspired schoolchildren and adults around the world to take up the fight. |
What happened on Friday? | What happened on Friday? |
Pacific island nations like Kiribati, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu - all threatened by rising sea levels - kicked off the strike. Posts online showed citizens chanting: "We are not sinking, we are fighting." | Pacific island nations like Kiribati, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu - all threatened by rising sea levels - kicked off the strike. Posts online showed citizens chanting: "We are not sinking, we are fighting." |
In Australia, 350,000 people are thought to have joined protests across the country, with some local authorities encouraging school children and workers to take part. | In Australia, 350,000 people are thought to have joined protests across the country, with some local authorities encouraging school children and workers to take part. |
The country is already suffering from soaring temperatures, and warming seas have contributed to the death of half the Great Barrier Reef off Australia's north-east coast. | The country is already suffering from soaring temperatures, and warming seas have contributed to the death of half the Great Barrier Reef off Australia's north-east coast. |
From there, demonstrations spread to cities in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. | From there, demonstrations spread to cities in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. |
Students in Ghana marched in the capital Accra, saying climate change has sped up coastal erosion which is affecting people on the country's coast. About 44% of the population of Ghana have not heard of climate change, one study by Afrobarometer suggests. | Students in Ghana marched in the capital Accra, saying climate change has sped up coastal erosion which is affecting people on the country's coast. About 44% of the population of Ghana have not heard of climate change, one study by Afrobarometer suggests. |
People in Thailand and India staged "die-ins", falling to the ground and feigning death to demand greater government action. | People in Thailand and India staged "die-ins", falling to the ground and feigning death to demand greater government action. |
As protests took place in 500 towns and cities across Germany, the country's coalition government announced a €54bn (£48bn; $60bn) package aimed at cutting greenhouse gases. | As protests took place in 500 towns and cities across Germany, the country's coalition government announced a €54bn (£48bn; $60bn) package aimed at cutting greenhouse gases. |
And in the UK, hundreds of thousands are believed to have taken part in cities across all four countries. | And in the UK, hundreds of thousands are believed to have taken part in cities across all four countries. |
Further climate strikes are expected next week during the UN summit. | Further climate strikes are expected next week during the UN summit. |
What did Greta Thunberg say? | What did Greta Thunberg say? |
The teenage activist was greeted like a rockstar at the rally on Friday, with chants of "Greta! Greta!" resounding around New York's Battery Park. | The teenage activist was greeted like a rockstar at the rally on Friday, with chants of "Greta! Greta!" resounding around New York's Battery Park. |
"This is the biggest climate strike ever in history, and we all should be so proud of ourselves because we have done this together," the teenager told demonstrators. | "This is the biggest climate strike ever in history, and we all should be so proud of ourselves because we have done this together," the teenager told demonstrators. |
Ms Thunberg said about four million people took part in the strike around the world, "and we're still counting." | Ms Thunberg said about four million people took part in the strike around the world, "and we're still counting." |
"This is an emergency. Our house is on fire. And it's not just the young people's house, we all live here - it affects all of us," she told the crowd. | "This is an emergency. Our house is on fire. And it's not just the young people's house, we all live here - it affects all of us," she told the crowd. |
Wherever she has gone in the world, she said, "the empty promises are the same, the lies are the same and the inaction is the same". | Wherever she has gone in the world, she said, "the empty promises are the same, the lies are the same and the inaction is the same". |
The eyes of the world will be on leaders at the UN next week, and "they have a chance to take leadership to prove they actually hear us". | The eyes of the world will be on leaders at the UN next week, and "they have a chance to take leadership to prove they actually hear us". |
"This is what people power looks like," she said, before ending the speech with a word for those "who feel threatened by us". | "This is what people power looks like," she said, before ending the speech with a word for those "who feel threatened by us". |
"This is only the beginning," she said. "Change is coming whether they like it or not." | "This is only the beginning," she said. "Change is coming whether they like it or not." |
Who is Greta Thunberg? | Who is Greta Thunberg? |
Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg first staged a "School Strike for Climate" outside her national parliament in August last year. | Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg first staged a "School Strike for Climate" outside her national parliament in August last year. |
Her actions have inspired other schoolchildren and adults around the world, and she has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. | Her actions have inspired other schoolchildren and adults around the world, and she has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. |
The 16-year-old travelled to the US by boat in August, refusing to fly or take a cruise ship due to the emissions those modes of transport cause. | The 16-year-old travelled to the US by boat in August, refusing to fly or take a cruise ship due to the emissions those modes of transport cause. |
Ahead of her address to the UN next week, Ms Thunberg told US politicians they must do more to combat climate change. | Ahead of her address to the UN next week, Ms Thunberg told US politicians they must do more to combat climate change. |
"Don't invite us here to just tell us how inspiring we are without actually doing anything about it," she said. | "Don't invite us here to just tell us how inspiring we are without actually doing anything about it," she said. |
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