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"This award is for all of those millions of young people around the world who together make up the movement called Fridays for Future. All these fearless youth, fighting for their future.”
- Greta Thunberg, receiving the Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award on behalf of Fridays for Future, September 16, 2019

Dear John,

Last night I was inspired by the words of Greta Thunberg and other Fridays for Future leaders as they received Amnesty International’s highest honour, the Ambassador of Conscience Award. This award celebrates people who have shown unique leadership and courage in standing up for human rights.

What started as one girl in Sweden has grown into a powerful movement across the world. We are just days away from the next Global Climate Strikes on September 20 and 27, when millions of young people like me will hit the streets in more than 1,000 cities and 115 countries.

We are fighting for our futures. And we need your support.

FIND A CLIMATE STRIKE NEAR YOU >>

Can't attend a strike? Click here to learn more about climate change and human rights, and other ways you can get involved!

I'm marching as an Amnesty activist because the climate crisis is the greatest human rights challenge of our time. It impacts the right to life, health, food, water, housing, livelihood, security and the rights of Indigenous peoples. Climate change disproportionately affects those who are already vulnerable, disadvantaged or facing discrimination.

The actions and commitments taken by the Canadian government and other states are inadequate to prevent the climate crisis. This failure may well be the biggest inter-generational human rights violation in history.

For me, the climate strike is about showing those in positions of power that young people will not stay silent as they continue to make decisions that worsen the climate crisis. I’ll be marching in solidarity with youth who are already most affected by the climate crisis, as well as youth who are fighting to avoid the grave human rights violations that would follow if enough action is not taken now.

Amnesty staff and supporters across Canada will be striking on September 20 and 27 in solidarity with young people like me. Will you join us? (If you can’t, here are more ways you can help.)

It’s not too late to make a stand. People created this crisis, and we have the power to fix it. Together we can push governments to create positive change for future generations.

In solidarity,

Maha Asad
National Youth Action and Advisory Committee
Amnesty International Canada

P.S. Last week, Amnesty’s global Secretary General, Kumi Naidoo, sent a personal letter to 30,000 schools around the world, including Canada, to urge them to allow children to take part in the global climate strikes from September 20-27. Find out how you can support their call for climate action >>