Greta Thunberg’s speech inspired millions to join hands in the global protest to save Earth

Around the world, millions of young people gathered on Friday to urge political leaders to find a way to stop environmental change, participating in a global protest propelled by 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. The Reuters reported.

Greenland ice sheets melting and Amazon forest burning images have alarmed students and workers. All the shopkeepers, schools, and workplaces gathered together in many parts of the world intending to stop what they see as an impending natural disaster. The protest took place in around 185 countries. The Guardian reported.

The protest took place on the eve of the UN climate summit, called by the secretary-general, António Guterres, to add urgency into government action to curb the rising global temperatures to 1.5C, as acknowledged under the 2015 Paris agreement.

The protest began in the Pacific Islands, where rising ocean levels undermined the life and pursued crosswise over Australia, Japan, Southeast Asia and on to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. The coordinated strike ended in New York’s Wall Street.

Large groups collected on the streets of Manhattan and reciting “Save our planet!” while waiting for a speech by Greta Thunberg, a Swedish environmental activist, and global figure.

Thunberg, in her speech, to a large number of people gathered at the Liberty park, said that “At this moment, we are the ones who are making a difference. If nobody takes action, then we will,”

Four million people took part overall incorporating 300,000 in New York, coordinators with the anti-fossil fuel group 350.org said. Reuters couldn’t confirm the group sizes.

Trump and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro are among the world leaders who openly question the study of environmental change, and they are not participating in the upcoming UN climate summit.

Thousands accumulated across Brazil to target Bolsonaro, whom people state is permitting the annihilation of the Amazon rainforest to clear space for soybeans and steers farming. In August, fires increased to their most prominent level since 2010.

“The approach of the Bolsonaro government is the policy of ecological decimation and deepening the environmental crisis … this is the reason we’re protesting,” said Marcela Pimentel Miranda, a coordinator for Youth for Climate’s member in Brasilia.

The protests spread in Australia – the world’s largest exporter of coal and liquid natural gas (LPG). In Australia, more than 300,000 people participated in 100 rallies, inspired by a tweet from Thunberg.

In Tokyo, thousands of students and environmental activists marched through the district of Shibuya, chanting “Climate Justice!” holding placards made of cardboard with slogans such as “Go Green,” ‘‘Save the Earth,” and “the Earth is on fire.”

Demonstrations took place in most European countries, where huge crowds gathered in Warsaw, Poland. More than 1.4 million people took part in Germany. In Berlin, protestors obstructed roads and protested outside the German chancellery. In reply, Angela Merkel declared a €50bn package of new steps to control carbon emissions and examine progress towards attaining its climate goals by 2030.

Merkel said that as a scientist, she had been overwhelmed by Thunberg’s slogan “unite behind the science.”

While addressing the young crowd in New York, Greta said, all the politicians she had met asked her for a selfie and told us they genuinely admire what she does” but have done nothing to curtail the climate crisis. She added, “We need a safe future. Is that truly too much to ask?”

Article Credit:- The Guardian/The Reuters

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