Brighton were just some of the cities in the United
Kingdom to march. A total of 500,000 people from
schools, businesses and environmental organi-
sations across the UK came together at over 200
events across the country.
A hundred thousand people joined the rally in
London with UK businesses such as Lush Cosmetics
and outdoor clothing company Patagonia closing
their shops and offices in solidarity for the strikes.
In Gibraltar, the OTWO magazine team joined
250 parents, students, young children and members
of environmental groups on a march through Main
Street, which ended at No. 6 Convent Place. There,
a signed petition was delivered to the Environment
Minister, Dr John Cortes, demanding the imple-
mentation of an independent climate body with a
cross-party agenda.
The march and petition were organised by the
local group; Coalition for Climate Action in support
of Parents for Future Worldwide. The group is a co-
llective of local environmental organisations inclu-
ding The Nautilus Project, the Environmental Safety
Group and Sustainable Gibraltar. Describing
the purpose of an independent climate body, Janet
Howitt of ESG explained that “we feel that politics
often get in the way of any one party rolling out a
long term [climate] plan... we want to depoliticise
the environment and be able to plan 5, 10, 15 years
ahead because climate change and the emergency
surrounding all of these issues demand it”.
46
Spain saw massive marches on both the 20 th and
27 September, with 500,000 taking part in various
cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Granada, Zaragoza
and Valladolid. Spain’s largest electrical utility com-
pany; Endesa, announced plans to stop operating all
coal thermal power plants on the Peninsula, including
those of Litoral, in Almería, and As Pontes, La Coruña.
In Andalucia, there were also protests held in Malaga,
Cadiz, Estepona, Seville and Jerez de la Frontera.
Organisers in the United States announced that
over a thousand rallies took place across all 50
states. New York saw the highest numbers, with
250,000 joining the protests. Public school authori-
ties in New York, Boston and Chicago allowed stu-
dents to skip school for the strikes and many busi-
nesses closed their doors to join the protests.
Greta took part in the New York demonstrations
and addressed the crowds to rapturous roars and
cheers. “This is an emergency. Our house is on fire,”
she declared. “We will do everything in our power to
stop this crisis from getting worse.”
Just a few days after the first protests, the United
Nations Climate Action Summit was held in New
York City, with 60 of the largest member states an-
nouncing they were working on or exploring plans
to reduce greenhouse gas to virtually zero. However,
many critics fear that these commitments are not
drastic enough to ensure global temperatures do not
rise above an irreversible tipping point.
In a powerful and passionate speech, Greta ad-
dressed the United Nations, calling out their lack of
commitment and definitive action, declaring bluntly,
“you are failing us. But young people are starting to
understand your betrayal. The eyes of all future ge-
nerations are upon you, and if you choose to fail us,
I say, we will never forgive you.”
The last year has seen awareness and frustrations
with global governments growing, due to several sever
global climate events making headlines across the globe.
Decades of climate change concerns have now
culminated in a youth-led movement which is lea-
ding the charge for rapid and drastic climate action
to be taken, proving that millions of people around
the world are prepared for, and want, real change.
As Greta put to the cheering crowds in New York,
“We will make them hear us. Change is coming.
Whether they like it or not.”
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OTWO 04 / NOVEMBER 2019
OTWO 04 / NOVEMBER 2019
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