In an attempt to raise awareness among the public pertaining to climate change and demand action from those in power, the world is observing the #FridaysForFuture campaign as part of #ClimateStrike movement.
‘School strike for Climate’ had announced two global strikes for September 2019. Climate Strike was held September 20 – three days before a UN emergency climate summit being held in New York and the Earth Strike over the full week from September 20 to 27.
This September 20, from New York to Mumbai, climate protesters flooded the streets in cities around the globe, marching out of their schools, homes and workplaces demanding action on climate change. Several reports suggested that more than 4 million people from 163 countries participated in it making it one of the largest protests ever held.
That said, do you know who started this massively powerful campaign?
This movement is a classic case of a sapling turning into a massive tree.
Publicity and widespread organising began after Swedish schoolgirl Greta Thunberg staged a protest in August 2018 outside the Swedish Riksdag (parliament) holding a sign that read ‘Skolstrejk för klimatet’ (‘School strike for the climate’)
Interestingly, a photograph of teen activist Greta Thunberg holding her first-ever climate strike in August 2018 is going viral following Friday’s mass climate protests around the world, that were partly inspired by her #FridaysForFuture movement. In this picture taken by Adam Johansson, then-15-year-old Greta sits alone outside the Swedish parliament. It was shared by Louise Macdonald, CEO of Scottish youth charity Young Scot on Twitter.
I find this picture so incredibly moving. This is @GretaThunberg aged 15, sat alone outside the Swedish Parliament Aug 2018 – the first school strike. In just one year, she’s created a wave that will change the whole world. Never underestimate the power of one young person 💜💚 pic.twitter.com/84oYgJpnLj
— Louise Macdonald (@Louisemac) September 20, 2019
“I find this picture so incredibly moving,” wrote Macdonald. “In just one year, she’s created a wave that will change the world. Never underestimate the power of one young person.” By early Saturday, the post had garnered more than 161,000 likes and was retweeted more than 43,000 times.
Thunberg herself shared these snaps of the debut demonstration to Twitter at the time:
Many other contemporary ‘leaders’ would do well to reflect on how much they have achieved when compared to the global mobilisation & movement @GretaThunberg has achieved so elegantly.
— Jim Savege (@jimsavege) September 20, 2019
“Many other contemporary ‘leaders’ would do well to reflect on how much they have achieved when compared to the global mobilisation & movement @GretaThunberg has achieved so elegantly,” wrote user Jim Savege.
The scale of what @GretaThunberg is achieving is genuinely incredible. This is her, sat alone outside the Swedish Parliament, Aug 2018 – the first school strike. Today she's spearheading a #ClimateStrike of millions of people, across 7 continents & 150+ countries. At 16. Legend! pic.twitter.com/jOsrKHp3Oc
— Conor O'Neill (@conoraon) September 20, 2019
“The scale of what @GretaThunberg is achieving is genuinely incredible. This is her, sat alone outside the Swedish Parliament, Aug 2018 – the first school strike. Today she’s spearheading a #ClimateStrike of millions of people, across 7 continents & 150+ countries. At 16. Legend!,” wrote user Conor O’Neill.
