Global youth climate strike is back ! On September 25th 2020, thousands of climate strikes will take place across the globe to demand urgent action to tackle the climate crisis. Join the strike in whatever way is safe you and your community!
September 25th is the global day of climate action. Last year, millions of people took to the streets to demand climate action. Politicians and the media congratulated the youth and portrayed them as beacons of hope, but inaction from these same leaders has seen little cause for celebration since.
This year, 2020, the global youth climate strikes are back and with the global pandemic proving that our system cannot handle a serious crisis, now is the perfect opportunity to have a just recovery and build a better normal.
Global Youth Climate Strike is organised by Fridays For Future (FFF) .
Who Is Fridays for Future (FFF) do ?
FFF, is a global climate strike movement that started in August 2018, when 15-year-old Greta Thunberg began a school strike for climate. In the three weeks leading up to the Swedish election, she sat outside Swedish Parliament every school day, demanding urgent action on the climate crisis. She was tired of society’s unwillingness to see the climate crisis for what it is: a crisis.
To begin with, she was alone, but she was soon joined by others. On the 8th of September, Greta and her fellow school strikers decided to continue their strike until the Swedish policies provided a safe pathway well under 2° C, i.e. in line with the Paris agreement. They created the hashtag #FridaysForFuture, and encouraged other young people all over the world to join them. This marked the beginning of the global school strike for climate.
Their call for action sparked an international awakening, with students and activists uniting around the globe to protest outside their local parliaments and city halls. Along with other groups across the world, Fridays for Future is part of a hopeful new wave of change, inspiring millions of people to take action on the climate crisis, and we want you to become one of us!
What Fridays for Future do ?
Fridays For Future (FFF) are fighting for our future and our lives because they are directly threatened by the climate crisis and the ecological breakdown. We are taking action against it because we want to protect the beauty of the earth, the diversity of species and the lives of all beings. Our goal is to overcome the climate crisis and to create a society that lives in harmony with its fellow beings and its environment.
The goal of the movement is to put moral pressure on policymakers, to make them listen to the scientists, and then to take forceful action to limit global warming. The movement is independent of commercial interests and political parties and knows no borders.
We strike because we care for our planet and for each other. We have hope that humanity can change, avert the worst climate disasters and build a better future.
Many question why millions of children and adults across the world are taking the time to strike: don’t they have school, work or other responsibilities?
The answer is simple: we strike because we have no choice. We are fighting for our future and for our children’s future. We strike because there is still time to change, but time is of the essence. The sooner we act, the better our shared future will be.
how to take action ?
Check how you can make a difference with a strike or action
Talk to people you know (family, friends) and try to get them to understand how serious the situation is.
Start small. You can strike on your own, but it is often more fun and more productive to get some friends together. Decide on a time and place to strike and invite members of local climate justice groups and environmental groups. The more people the better!
Register your strike on this webpage here.
Alternative to physical strikes
Many people are unable to strike in person. They might not want to miss school or work, or it is not safe for them to do so, or they may have disabilities that make it difficult or impossible to sit or stand outside for long periods. However, there are many alternative possibilities.
Striking indoors with a sign and hashtag on social media (like #FridaysForFuture; #Climatestrikeonline, #Digitalstrike) totally counts – so have fun and get creative! Write and perform a climate strike song! The possibilities are endless.
You can also sign petitions in Actions and communicate them on social media.
Learning more about the climate crisis is also important, and turning knowledge into lists of things you and your family will do.
Whatever actions you choose, remember FFF culture and guidelines :
- No violence
- No property damage
- No littering
- No profit
- No hate
- Minimize your carbon footprint
- Always refer to science
For future information about Fridays For Future and Global Climate Strike, follow their newsletter here
