John,
Wow. Just: wow.
Over this past week, almost eight million people walked out on the streets of the entire globe, more than 4 million (and counting!) of them in Europe.
We showed the world, and each other, that we are determined, powerful, and ready. We followed the lead of young people and stood together in solidarity and in hope. That’s what made this Climate Strike week an incredible, overwhelming success for the movement for climate justice.
And that’s why, even as this week ends, we know that this historic Climate Strike is a new beginning.
John, I want to share with you this video. Turn on your sound, sit back and take 3 minutes to experience the beauty, power, anger and joy of this past week. I promise: it will be worth it.
7.6 million is a good number. But back when we decided to join youth strikers in their mobilisation we hoped for something else even more than for record-breaking numbers.
We hoped that this shared defiance of business-as-usual would help us build power, and lay bridges that weren’t there before. That it would make us look up, and realise that we can only win this fight for our future if we stand together.
In the past week, in 38 countries in Europe, and on every continent across the whole planet, we made this dream into reality. We followed the striking kids out on the streets, angry, defiant, but also hopeful.
A million people protested in Italy. 1,4 million went on strike across Germany. Hundreds of thousands of us joined protests in big cities and small villages across Europe, from Portugal to Poland, from Ireland to Finland.
We stood hand in hand in our rage and solidarity and we said “no more” to the destruction and oppression which has brought us to a global climate crisis. We lifted each other up. We spoke up against destruction, racism, patriarchy, and an economy which puts profit above people and planet. We dared to imagine a different future, and fight for it.
Take a moment to relive the beauty of this past week by watching this short video.
Greta Thunberg said this in front of the United Nations: “Right here, right now, is where we draw the line. The world is waking up, and change is coming - whether you like it, or not”.
We are that change. And we are coming for those who stand in our way.
The bosses of fossil fuel corporations. Banks who fuel the fire of climate breakdown by pouring money into coal, oil and gas projects. Politicians in the pockets of billionaires. All who value money and profit over the survival of our planet and the future of the next generations.
This is just the beginning. We’ll keep showing up. We’ll keep escalating. We’ll keep lifting up each other, and all voices demanding justice.
Thank you.
With so much pride and humility,
Julia for the 350 Europe team
PS: One of the ways you can help 350 sustain the massive effort of escalated, coordinated mobilisations, is to help make sure we have the money to operate. We rely on small donations from community members. Please chip in if you can.
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