Tens of thousands of striking school students jammed the Melbourne CBD on Friday. Hatch’s Rabia Khairi and Zakia Noori were there.
Estimates of the Melbourne crowd ranged from 20,000 people to as high as 50,000, considerably higher than turned out for last year’s first School Strike For Climate. The students were demanding action on climate change as Australian cities set the standard for a day of rolling youth protests across the globe.
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“Standing here today with us takes a lot of courage, so, thank you!” 40-50,000 people here in Melbourne second that, thank you for standing and striking with us today #SchoolsStrike4Climate pic.twitter.com/E65TivKoDo
— AYCC (@AYCC) March 15, 2019
One protester, Anna from St Michael’s Grammar School, said: “We don’t have a chance to vote but this way we can make our voice heard.”
Her schoolmate Tim told Hatch: “It’s a really important opportunity for the Government to hear our voices and that they need to know that the young people of Australia matter.”
Helima, from Footscray City College, said she was striking for change.
“We need to save the planet … we only have 11 years for us to save the planet for everyone after us.”
Another protester said: “I am here today because I want the world to change before it can’t. We need to do something, it’s the facts.”
The global student protest movement has been inspired by Swedish student Greta Thunberg, 16, who this week was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
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Tomorrow we school strike for the climate in 1769 places in 112 countries around the world. And counting.
Everyone is welcome. Everyone is needed. Let’s change history. And let’s never stop for as long as it takes. #fridaysforfuture #schoolstrike4climate #climatestrike pic.twitter.com/xpCLQN8icv
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) March 14, 2019
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