Climate Strike 2019: When are the global protests and how can you take part?
‘The climate crisis won’t wait, so neither will we,’ the Global Climate Strike organisers state
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Last week, the first of two days of protesting for the Global Climate Strike took place, with environmental activist Greta Thunberg at the forefront of the international movement.
The event saw scores of people across the world strike from schools and businesses to raise awareness about the detrimental impact of climate change.
During the second strike, supporters of the environmental movement are expected to take to the streets again in countries across the world.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Global Climate Strike:
When is it?
The Global Climate Strike consists of two days of strikes across the world on Friday 20 September and Friday 27 September.
That particular day of the week was selected as it draws inspiration from Thunberg’s #FridaysForFuture movement, which involved the environmental activist encouraging thousands of students to take part in school strikes on Fridays in protest of the climate crisis.
The first strike preceded the United Nations Climate Action Summit, which took place on Monday 23 September.
Thunberg addressed world leaders at the summit, where she said: "You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words.”
What is the Global Climate Strike?
The aim of the Global Climate Strike, it states on the event’s website, is to call on “millions” of people across the world to “disrupt business as usual” by taking part in protests emphasising the danger of environmental damage.
“Together, we will sound the alarm and show our politicians that business as usual is no longer an option. The climate crisis won’t wait, so neither will we,” the description of the international strike reads.
The Global Climate Strike can trace its origins back to Thunberg’s early days of activism, before the 16-year-old became the globally-renowned public figure that she is today.
In August 2018, Thunberg took part in a school strike which saw her stand in front of Swedish parliament for three weeks, holding a sign which read: “Skolstrejk för klimatet“ (school strike for the climate).
Photographs of Thunberg’s demonstration gained traction on social media, resulting in her becoming one of the most recognisable faces in the environmental movement and inspiring thousands of others to follow suit.
In March, hundreds of thousands of people took part in the Global Climate Strike for Future in more than 120 countries.
A second Global Climate Strike was held in May, which Thunberg said was purposely organised in order to impact the European Parliament election, which was held from Thursday 23 May until Sunday 26 May.
Where are the strikes taking place?
Climate strikes are being held in numerous regions around the world as part of the second round of protests.
In order to find Global Climate Strike event near you, you can enter your city or country in the interactive map on this webpage.
“Already people in 150 countries are organising for the global climate strikes this September,” the Global Climate Strike website states.
In London, climate strikes are due to take place in areas including Croydon and Trafalgar Square.
Strikes are also organised across the UK in cities including Newcastle, Lincolnshire, Stornoway and Swindon.
Furthermore, climate change activists will protest in countries including the United States, France, Indonesia, Germany, South Korea and India.
“Some will spend the day in protest against new pipelines and mines, or the banks that fund them; some will highlight the oil companies fuelling this crisis and the politicians that enable them,” Global Climate Strike states on its website.
“Others will spend the day in action raising awareness in their communities and pushing for solutions to the climate crisis that have justice and equity at their heart.”
Earlier this month, Thunberg testified before the US Congress about climate change.
Rather than provide prepared comments, the activist submitted a copy of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s special report on global warming.
“I am submitting this report as my testimony because I don’t want you to listen to me, I want you to listen to the scientists,” she said during the hearing.
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