Published 19:33 IST, September 14th 2019
Climate Change: Activist Greta Thunberg leads protests at White House
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has led protest a near White House against climate change where protesters called for a reduction in use of fossil fuel
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg led the protest near the White House on Friday against climate change and global warming. Thunberg, along with 1,500 protestors, marched and chanted slogans calling for immediate action to halt global warming and avert environmental catastrophe. The protesters called for a reduction in the use of fossil fuel. "You can't breathe money, you can't drink oil," they chanted.
“People or Profit?”
The protestors were comprised of mostly young people who carried banners and posters with catchy slogans. “People or Profit?”, "This is a crisis, act like it!", "Business as usual is not enough" were among the slogans written on the posters. Thunberg walked amidst the other activists and sometimes it was hard to hear her due to sloganeering. “This is very overwhelming,” she said into the megaphone.
Inspiration for all
“What Greta has brought is a unified international presence for youth," said Natalie Mebane, Policy Director for the environmental group 350.org. The environmental group had helped organising the Friday’s protest. "She's created an international youth voice," added Mebane. Thunberg, 16, inspired a series of protests and school strikes that gave her international recognition. The fresh wave of demand for strict action against climate change and global warming has inspired youth.
Future plan against climate crisis
Last month, she crossed the Atlantic Ocean in a solar-powered boat, landing in New York City on August 28 to attend a global warming conference. She was welcomed by hundreds of activists at the Hudson River promenade amidst huge cheer. There also she had said, “All of this is very overwhelming.” Thunberg will also address the UN Action Summit in New York on September 23. Later this month, the annual UN General Assembly (UNGA) will meet in New York to discuss the climate crisis, and activists, including Thunberg, will target the global fossil fuel chief executives’ conference taking place in the city on the same day.
Updated 21:26 IST, September 14th 2019