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Largest strike for climate

In a global mobilisation against climate breakdown, millions are gearing up to take part in September's climate strikes
Katie Hill - Editor-in-Chief, My Green Pod
Largest strike for climate

Millions will take part in global climate strikes on 20 and 27 September, and the ‘Week for Future’ in between. Organisers say that it is on course to be the largest global mobilisation against climate breakdown, with over 6,000 people in 150 countries pledging to organise events to date.

The week-long movement will surround the UN Climate Summit being held on 23 September in New York, which aims to meet the climate challenge by accelerating actions to implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Back them up

Greta Thurnberg, Bill McKibben and others have released a video calling on people to join the climate strikes.

‘It is time for world leaders to wake up to the truth of the climate crisis’, say school strikers. ‘By demonstrating people’s power we will make this week a turning point in history. The climate crisis is an emergency. We have to act like it so we will stop our business as usual and show governments what people want: climate justice. This September, millions of us will walk out of homes and workplaces onto the streets and demand an end to the age of fossil fuel.’

‘We need you to be a part of it because we need every age involved. Young people have been leading here but now it’s the job of the rest of us to back them up.’

BILL MCKIBBEN
350.org

’If not now, then when?’

The range of actions is huge, with people downing tools and walking out of work to join strikes, rallies, music concerts and marches.

There will be teach-ins in libraries, people’s assemblies discussing actions and policies benefiting their local communities and protests targeting fossil fuel companies responsible for the climate crisis – and the banks that fund them. Others will spend the day raising awareness in communities and pushing for solutions to the climate crisis that have justice and equity at their heart.

‘This shouldn’t be just the children’s responsibility’, Greta Thunberg said. ‘Now, the adults also need to help us. We are calling for them to strike from their work, we need everyone. There is nothing we can’t do. If not you, then who else, if not now, then when?’

‘We need world leaders to wake up to the truth of the climate crisis. And because we don’t have a single year to loose, we’re going to make this week a turning point in history. We young people have understood that the climate crisis is an emergency. And We ask Everyone to act like it, to stop business as usual with us. This September, millions of us across the globe will join us on the streets to demand the end of empty commitment but real change and real climate action.’

LUISA NEUBAUER
Fridays for Future Germany

Support for the strikes

Support for the strikes and week of future has been growing with parents, academics, bakers, trade unions, doctors, farmers, caretakers, celebrities and teachers among those organising for 20-27 September.

Unions across the globe are building solidarity with the school strikers and are now gearing up with inspiring action plans to support the climate strikes.

‘Multinational corporations aren’t going to give up anything unless we fight. This is a fight for ourselves, for our future, and for future generations. This is a fight for justice for all: workers, students, parents, teachers, conservatives, liberals, socialists, and everyone else. We can fight against climate breakdown, and we can fight against environmental destruction. We need to all be part of this, or else the establishment won’t budge. We can do this, if we do this together.’

EVAN CHOLERTON
Earth Strike International

Pioneering companies and banks have also declared themselves closed for business so employees can join youth strikers in the streets.

Throughout the week the Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice will also take hundreds of actions around the world as part of its annual Reclaim Power mobilisations calling for the transformation of the energy system.

Click here to read our article about the behind-the-scenes documentary of the young strike organisers.

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