By Jim Hayes
Tens of thousands of young Australians, if not more, have once again taken part in the global school strike. Students in 123 countries and 2,000 cities called on governments to step up their game and take decisive action and cut back carbon emissions, which threaten catastrophic global warming.
The school strike movement was inspired last year by the then 15-year-old Swedish student Greta Thunberg – who had been striking outside Swedish Parliament calling for climate change action.
Video from VOA News
Although government representatives continue to dismiss the young, they know very well that the changed mood will have serious consequences.
The biggest turnout was in Melbourne, where the authorities were forced to close streets, in response to the unexpected number of participants.
Video from Aaron Martin
#climateaction #climatestrike #melbourne pic.twitter.com/xiBX4MMPqj
— Aaron Martin (@clevernombre96) March 15, 2019
Roads also had to be closed in Sydney and buses re-routed as students packed Town Hall square.
Video from Student Edge
“Climate change is not just an environmental crisis, it’s a humanitarian crisis, and it needs to be treated as such,” student activist Danielle, 15, told the crowd.
“This is what democracy looks like.”
In Adelaide, students packed the stairs of South Australian Parliament for the protest.
Video from Lucy Hinton
Thousands of students (and some former students!) shut down city streets as part of a nation wide climate change protest. @9NewsAdel pic.twitter.com/oGXKDaZNSC
— Lucy Hinton (@LucyHinton_9) March 15, 2019
Brisbane saw its own large turnout.
Video from Rob Morrison
“The Youth are rising no more compromising.” #Strike4Climate #Brisbane @9NewsQueensland pic.twitter.com/AqaYrxjYsv
— Rob Morrison (@RMorrison9) March 15, 2019
The Adani owned Carmichael coal mine became a special target of the protest
Video from GetUp!
Leadership. #ClimateStrike pic.twitter.com/Ifk59h2uvr
— GetUp! (@GetUp) March 15, 2019