They were not protesting against
hiked school fees or better jobs. Nor was it a freedom movement or a
political rally. Millions of school students took to the streets across
the globe for their love for this planet and concern over climate
change.
When I was in school, we had no
understanding of the extent of climate change, neither were we as smart
as these students. I can’t think of another organic movement in history
that has achieved this scale and spread across the continents. The
clarity of vision, honesty in intention, and their concern for the
changing environment is the driving force for the school strikes.
Who would have thought that these
so-called millennials, who grew up in a world of tablets and touch
screens, where PlayStation took preference over swings and sand castles,
would take to the streets and force everyone to listen to them?
These students have mastered the art
of old school street protests and have given it a fresh perspective.
Creative and to the point, their banners are a delight to read. Yes,
this “Instagram generation” who might not have a huge interest in pen
and paper, have redefined the art of slogan-writing and banner painting
and are a part of history in the making.
These are a few of the best and the most creative banner messages from the student strike.
Students
in Vienna went on the street to strike, demonstrate and demand
politicians to act urgently in order to prevent further global warming
and climate change. It is a part of the School strike for the climate
movement, also known as Fridays for Future. Strikes took place in more
than 40 countries around the globe. © Mitja Kobal / Greenpeace
Thousands
of youth strikers gather in Regent Street as they take part in a
protest march against the governments lack of action on the climate
change and destruction of the environment on 12 April, 2019 in London,
England. The 3rd UK-wide youth strike is part of a global
FridaysForFuture movement inspired by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg
who protests in front of the country’s parliament every Friday since
September 2018. © WIktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto via Getty Images
School
students who are deciding not to attend classes and instead take part
in demonstrations to demand action to prevent further global warming and
climate change. © Christian Åslund / Greenpeace
Striking
high school students march to protest for more effective government
climate change policy on January 25, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. © Omer
Messinger/Getty Images
PARIS,
FRANCE – MARCH 16: A protester holds a sign reading “Game over” as he
takes part in the “March of The Century” (La Marche du Siecle) to demand
answers to climate change on March 16, 2019 in Paris, France. Several
thousand people demonstrated in Paris to denounce the government’s
inaction on climate. © Chesnot/Getty Images
Rome’s school student go on strike and take to the streets to protest about climate change. © Massimo Guidi / Greenpeace
Thousands
of young people gather in Parliament Square in central London to
protest against the governments lack of action on the climate change and
destruction of the environment on 15 February, 2019. The 1st UK-wide
youth strike is part of a global FridaysForFuture movement inspired by
Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg who protests in front of the country’s
parliament every Friday since September 2018 and is determined to carry
on until the Swedens climate policies are in line with the Paris
agreement. ©WIktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Student
activists join the international movement and strike to show the
climate crisis is the most important issue humanity faces. Strikes took
place across the US and in more than 40 countries around the globe. ©
Livia Ferguson / Greenpeace
With
a demonstration for more climate protection thousands of students from
all over Germany protest in Hamburg during school time. Swedish teenager
Greta Thunberg, climate activist and face of the Fridays for Future
movement leads the march through the city. © Jana Kornely / Greenpeace
Thousands
of Belgian students, for the seventh Thursday in a row, march through
Brussels in order to draw attention to climate change. © Greenpeace /
Eric De Mildt
The best message we ever knew was ‘May the force be with you”
Sudhanshu Malhotra is the Multimedia Editor at Greenpeace International and you can follow him on Instagram
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