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Climate Strike

Thousands have already joined demonstrations in Australia, the world’s largest exporter of coal and liquid natural gas, to call on their government to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate Strike

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 21: Greta Thunberg sits before speaking at the first ever United Nations Youth Climate Summit on September 21, 2019 in New York City. The Youth Climate Summit is intended to bring together young activists who are committed to combating climate change at the pace and scale needed to meet the challenge. Stephanie Keith/Getty Images/AFP (STEPHANIE KEITH / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

It’s been called a climate strike, the like of which the world has never known ~ verily the largest worldwide climate protest in history. Swathes of the globe witnessed exceptional and spirited marches on Friday, verily the largest environmental protest in history, with students in the vanguard. Inspired by the teenage Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, the timing of the march was remarkably crucial ~ ahead of the UN climate summit in New York. The meeting of the world body could scarcely have imagined a curtain-raiser that was closer to the bone.

As millions wound their way through the streets of America, Australia, and parts of Asia- Pacific countries, shrilling for action to save the planet, a dire signal must have been emitted to the likes of Donald Trump, who as yet has not been party to the agreement to curb global warming. Protests inspired by Thunberg have been planned in around 150 countries as people demand that world leaders take immediate action to limit the harmful effects of man-made climate change. British students are preparing to walk out of lessons and lectures, and adults are being encouraged to join them as they go on strike.

‘This is what democracy looks like,’ was the war-cry of thousands as they marched through Parliament Square. It is fervently to be hoped that the stirring message will resonate in the echo chambers of the UN General Assembly, which reconvenes on Monday, and not least at the venue of the next climate conference. The world, developed and developing countries both, must give it to the teenagers that they have been able to orchestrate the dangers of pollution, global warming, and climate change ~ issues that need to be addressed more urgently than the geopolitical storm-centres of the world.

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Thousands have already joined demonstrations in Australia, the world’s largest exporter of coal and liquid natural gas, to call on their government to curb greenhouse gas emissions. School Strike 4 Climate, socalled, plans to organise a turnout of 265,000 protesters in seven cities alone. On Friday, the largest crowd was an estimated 100,000 in Melbourne. And there were 80,000 in Sydney. The organisers have demanded that both the government and business sectors work according to a target ~ net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

In the midst of the raging fire in Indonesia and the blinding haze in Singapore and Malaysia, the march has had its impact in Thailand as well. The protesters staged a “die-in” to dramatise their concerns, lying down on Bangkok’s pavements with many clutching banners with such slogans as “Clean air is our right”. It really is. It isn’t a tall order, given the will and the effort.

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