News / climate change
Bristol’s young people strike for their future again
Protesters descended on College Green in their hundreds on Friday for the second Youth Strike 4 Climate.
The Bristol youth strike happened in tandem with strikes in more than 80 countries across the world, following the previous UK youth strike on February 15, which also saw many schoolchildren protest on College Green and march through the city centre.
Students walked out of school on Friday morning to call for government action against climate change.
is needed now More than ever
Protesters on College Green call out for action against climate change
The catalyst for this movement came from 16-year-old Greta Thunberg who has been protesting climate change in Sweden since August 2018.
The Bristol protests were originally organised by 14-year-old Zoe Bonnett from Thornbury after she saw a video of what Greta was doing in Stockholm.
“We want the government to know how urgent this is,” said Zoe on the need for such demonstrations.
Katie Hodgetts, 23, was also involved in organising the strike. Katie said: “We’re protesting inaction. We’re going to keep doing this until the government do something.”
The majority of the protesters were children and students, holding signs and shouting chants from around the world. After chanting on College Green, a samba band accompanied the protesters as they marched up to the water in front of City Hall to make their message heard.
Hundreds turned up to the strike
Chants like: “United, the people will never be defeated” hail from South America, chosen in recognition of those who will be most affected by climate change.
In a speech to the gathered protesters, an Extinction Rebellion representative said: “We’re here because of a failure of leadership… this is a crisis, but also an opportunity for us.”
He encouraged demonstrators to take inspiration for the power of the youth from successful youth protests such as the 1963 Children’s March for civil rights in the USA.
Schoolchildren were passionate about the need for action. Many cited fears about the effects climate change would have on their generation specifically as a motivation.
“I want a future,” said seasoned climate activist Elsie Luna, 10, who has previously protested in Germany.
After a report in 2018 that the world only had 12 years to take action before climate change became irreversible, Bristol announced a ‘climate emergency’. Bristol City Council announced plans to become fully carbon-neutral by 2030.
Speaking to the crowd, Zoe warned those complacent in the destruction of the planet: “Change is coming whether you like it or not.”
Read more: Hundreds of Bristol schoolchildren ‘strike’ over climate change
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