Thousands rally in Adelaide for climate change action
Up to 10,000 people have marched down North Tce to demand action on climate change, stunning organisers of the rally — as hundreds of thousands protest across Australia.
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The teenage organiser of the Adelaide climate change rally says she is stunned by today’s turnout, as up to 10,000 people marched through the CBD to demand more climate change action, ahead of a United Nations summit in New York next week.
SA Police estimate between 8000 and 10,000 protesters marched down North Tce, shutting down the CBD’s main thoroughfare, to rally outside Parliament House after speeches at Victoria Square.
It was part of the Global Strike 4 Climate, which saw protests in 110 towns and cities across the nation, with anywhere between 35,000 to 225,000 people rallying, estimates say.
Organisers estimated 50,000 people in Sydney and up to 100,000 in Melbourne.
Adelaide turns out! #SchoolStrike4Climate pic.twitter.com/6JahbTXzua
— sjwalfish (@sjwalfish) September 20, 2019
What certainly looks like the biggest #adelaide #climatestrike gathering outside #saparli. Crowd spills back up William Street. @abcadelaide #schoolstrike4climate #auspol pic.twitter.com/ipPQPxrMIM
— Gabriella Marchant (@gabby_marchant) September 20, 2019
The March from Vic square to Parliament House @theTiser #schoolstrike4climate pic.twitter.com/MK9Pem2CiO
— Dixie Sulda (@dixie_sulda) September 20, 2019
Vic square has people pouring in for #ClimateStrike #Adelaide pic.twitter.com/LV3KVQuypK
— Kat Gebler (@_katseye) September 20, 2019
Huge turn out demanding climate change action at Victoria square @theTiser #schoolstrike4climate #ClimateStrike pic.twitter.com/ijwzrZMVug
— Dixie Sulda (@dixie_sulda) September 20, 2019
Doha Khan, co-ordinator for the group who arranged the Adelaide event — School Strike 4 Climate — began publicly protesting in November last year. Doha, 17 said the event was inspired by Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg.
“For me climate change is a massive social justice issue and I feel very passionately about seeing justice in this world and so that’s motivated me to do what I can to get climate action” she said.
The Glenunga International High School student said today’s turnout was far larger than the group expected.
“We can’t even fit people here, we did not plan for this, it’s exceeded every expectation we had.”
The group wants to start a national debate about climate action in parliament.
“We really want Scott Morrison to know that there is a strong mandate from the Australian public for climate action and he can see that in cities across Australia … the crowds are massive. “
Hundreds of signs filled the air, but if you forgot to bring one, the Adelaide branch of the Australian Conservation Foundation painted one for you at the scene.
“We’re in a really bad crisis, people aren’t doing anything about it and we will keep fighting until we do,” Louise McCabe, group member said
Ann came to the rally to fight for her grandchildren, fearing a bleak future for those coming after her.
“I feel a bit guilty, that’s why I’m here, we’re dismayed but we’re still here fighting and standing up,” she said.
Ann’s sign is attached to her back with a nappy pin.
“It means we’re doing this for the next generation,” she said.
Louis Wiles, 13, made a sign to bring to the march.
“There’s a lot of smoke and fire in the world and it’s just burning down what my future could be,” he said.
Louis said he will keep fighting with his two brothers, Hugo, 5, and Jack, 10 until, he gets the future he deserves.
#ClimateStrike #SchoolStrike4Climate #Adelaide #Australia pic.twitter.com/hVCcJe63pe
— Dwayne Coulthard (@DwayneCoulthard) September 20, 2019
Maeve Sandeman, 4, attended the rally with her sister, Frida, six months and her mum, Gemma who came along to fight for her future.
“(We came) to make the people in charge listen about changing the planet,” Maeve said.
Adelaide’s protests joined tens of thousands across Australia as parts of Sydney and Brisbane were shut down in the rallies.
Organisers are demanding a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and a transition to 100 per cent renewable energy.
They are part of worldwide protests being held before leaders meet for the UN Climate Action Summit in New York next week.
In Sydney, more than 50,000 protesters took over the Domain before marching down Macquarie Street to Hyde Park.
Daniel, 15, from Fort Street High School in Sydney, said young people “are demanding more than they’re being offered” from their leaders. “Seeing how many young people are coming out, I think the current politicians we’ve got might not stay in power for so long anymore, with a new voting base coming in,” he told AAP.
Bridget, 12, from Chevalier College in the NSW Southern Highlands, had a message for the country’s politicians: “Don’t be a fossil fool”.
“I’m concerned about this because I kind of want a future,” she said. “They didn’t do anything when they were kids so they left it all up to us to fix.”
In Brisbane, thousands filled Brisbane’s Queens Gardens to capacity, with columns of protesters spilling out and closing part of George Street in the CBD. Lucy McDougall, from Mountain Creek State High School on the Sunshine Coast, should have been sitting a exam on Friday.
“I should be sitting in a chemistry exam today, and it’s a significant one. Of course I’m concerned about missing that,” the 16-year-old told AAP.
“But this is more important. This is a crisis and it’s our future at risk.”
She had a pointed message for Prime Minister Scott Morrison. “He’s going to die sooner than we are. This is our future. Start making choices that benefit us.”
Global Strike 4 Climate organisers expect a 50 per cent increase in attendance from the most recent climate strike in March, which drew 150,000 protesters.
Rai,9, Magdalena,11 and Julieta,9 travelled from Pt Elliot to fight for climate change pic.twitter.com/gVO3kHD8NX
— Dixie Sulda (@dixie_sulda) September 20, 2019
The #Adelaide crowd is so big it's almost impossible to hear what the #ClimateStrike organisers are saying! #schoolstrike4climate pic.twitter.com/0aeG4GLgRP
— Aust Science Channel (@RiAus) September 20, 2019
Universities have confirmed they will not penalise students for attending the rallies, while the Uniting Church synod for NSW and the ACT have backed their students to attend the demonstrations.
But Catholic and Anglican Church-run schools say their students should remain in class, as do NSW public schools.
Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack said students should be in school. “I think these sorts of rallies should be held on a weekend where it doesn’t actually disrupt business, it doesn’t disrupt schools, it doesn’t disrupt universities,” Mr McCormack told reporters in Melbourne.
“I think it is just a disruption.”
The strike is the latest in a worldwide movement started in August 2018 when 16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg began protesting outside Sweden’s parliament on school days.
She’ll participate in the UN’s youth climate forum on Saturday and address world leaders at the UN secretary-general’s climate summit on September 23. With DPA
