[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]More than 40,000 people on Friday, September 27, marched into the grounds of Wellington’s parliament buildings in New Zealand, urging the authorities to take up actions relating to the latest global climate strike, NDTV reported.
This is the largest turnout yet seen in New Zealand. Children in school uniform marched alongside teens with skateboards tucked under their arms and grey-haired protest veterans supporting the younger generation.
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Participants carried placards reading, “We’re skipping school to teach YOU a lesson”, “Denial = Death” and “What Greta said!”
Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg on Monday, September 23, gave a powerful address to the world leaders at United Nation Climate Action Summon in New York questioning them “how dare you” over inaction on climate change.
13 year old New Zealander James Capie shared a similar sense of outrage and said his generation would continue to protest until their demands were acted upon.
“People do have every right to be angry. My generation shouldn’t be out here missing school,” he said at the Wellington strike.
“But it’s really important to me that we’re out here making a stand against other generations that have really screwed over our planet. If enough of us come out here and show enough mana (honour) and support for each other the message will get through,” he added.
Another 14-year-old protester, Armand Headland said young people had to act else the inaction of the older generation would see the planet transformed into an uninhabitable wasteland.
“It’ll be just like Venus because it’s so hot… there’s not going to be any humans left because of our activity if we keep burning stuff,” he said.
Michael Alspach, 37, who was accompanied by his 17-month-old toddler Ella, said he would not be able to look at his daughter in the eye unless he did everything in his power to secure her future.
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“It’s probably not going to be too bad for me, to be honest, but she’s going to be 80 in 2100 and that’s when the projections are looking quite bad, so I’m doing it for her,” he added.
While dissatisfied at the climate commitments made in New York, Alspach was confident the push for meaningful action was gaining momentum.
“It’s great to see so many people out here. Changing perspectives is the first step, actions come after ideas — I’m hopeful,” he said.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]