Global Climate Strikes gain momentum from Greta Thunberg
Local children protest after walking out of school as part of a worldwide School Strike for Climate change, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019 in Eugene, Ore. Young people afraid for their futures protested around the globe Friday to implore leaders to tackle climate change, turning out by the hundreds of thousands to insist that the warming world cannot wait for action. (Andy Nelson/The Register-Guard via AP)
Countries around the globe are joining together in climate protests, and experts are referring to these crowds as some of the biggest they have ever seen. The strikes—inspired by environmental activist Greta Thunberg—seek to pull worldwide attention to the current climate crisis.
The Global Climate Strike, beginning in September, broke records with an estimated 7.6 million worldwide attendance. These numbers were released after Thunberg and experts projected the numbers to be around 4 million.
In 2018, Thunberg created Fridays for Future—a movement encouraging school children to protest climate destruction. At the end of September this year, Thunberg was able to join protesters in Montreal for the occasion, marching with half a million children and adults.
Thunberg, who has recently been the recipient of mixed reaction online, has garnered a steady following since her United Nations speech, which focused on calling out world leaders for their lack of action.
“You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words,” Thunberg said. “The eyes of all future generations are upon you and if you choose to fail us, I say we will never forgive you.”
Professor of Biology Dr. Michael Freake says the protests are to be expected during this time of emergency.
“The climate issue right now is at a tipping point where dramatic action is required to avoid the worst effects of climate change,” Freake said. “When young people are standing up and saying this is an important issue that matters to them, I think that impacts someone who is older.”
This year alone, millions of young people have joined the call for action, and the numbers continue to grow as future protests begin preparation. The past Fridays for Future event alone secured a crowd of over 2 million people, ranging from students to adults in the workforce.
Thunberg has stated the United States has a “moral responsibility” when it comes to climate change, and Freake said he agrees, citing scripture as the reason why.
“The mandate in Genesis 2 is to serve and protect God’s creation—to be His stewards,” Freake said. “To act out of ignorance is one thing; to act out of lawful disobedience is another.”
Students and guests gather on the steps of the Statehouse during a climate change protest, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, in Indianapolis. Across the globe, hundreds of thousands of young people took to the streets Friday to demand that leaders tackle climate change in the run-up to a U.N. summit. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
In lieu of last month’s global climate walkout, Lee’s Creation Care Club participated by hosting a prayer vigil on campus.
Summer Hancock, social media and events coordinator of the Creation Care Club, said these demonstrations have made a notable impact.
“I think it definitely caught some new attention,” Hancock said. “It is a movement which takes time to develop, and really there has been pretty radical growth since this time last year.”
The United Kingdom Climate Network recently announced its plan to host a follow-up strike on Oct. 25. To learn more about the climate protests, visit peoplesclimate.org. To watch Greta Thunberg’s U.N. speech, click here.
