Thousands of students marched in downtown Vancouver Friday, calling for action on climate change.
The School Strike for Climate, or #climatestrike, is part of an international movement to have young people’s voices heard about climate change.
Today’s protest garnered impressive numbers as herds of college and universityĀ students joined in as well.
The group marched downtown chanting “For our future, for our life,” and “Hey Hey Ho Ho, climate change has got to go,” before converging at the north side of the Vancouver Art Gallery.
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The protests are part of a movement that was initiated by 16-year-old Greta Thunberg out of Sweden, whose activism and stance against climate change earned her a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.
The action is being applauded by BC Greens Leader Andrew Weaver, who says he is “humbled and honoured” to stand with the world’s children and youth as they demand action on a topic close to his heart.
“All of the science is pointing to the fact that we are fast running out of time to avoid global catastrophe, and yet around the world, political leaders are failing to consider the existential threat that we face,” said Weaver.
“To quote Greta Thunberg, ‘we need to focus on what needs to be done rather than what is politically possible.’ā
If you weren’t around to witness the protest, these pictures and videos do a pretty good job at demonstrating that the students got their point across.
Students marching downstairs in DT Vancouver #ClimateStrike pic.twitter.com/XdYzwApyrV
ā Neurogenesis (@xilu0317) March 15, 2019
The kids are alright šā #ClimateStrike #vancouver pic.twitter.com/E8yQkqD2sF
ā Paul MĆ¼ller (@paulusmuller) March 15, 2019
“Hey hey, ho ho, climate change has got to go” – hundreds of students chanting at the Vancouver #YouthClimateStrike #ClimateStrike #FridaysForFuture pic.twitter.com/ZxncUkou4u
ā Hannah – Byrnewithme (@ByrnewithmeBlog) March 15, 2019
The crowd is arriving at Vancouver Art Gallery #climatestrike pic.twitter.com/2Enzhnq7K0
ā Max M āļø (@_max_m) March 15, 2019
This is pretty unbearable. The students are positive, but thereās pain #ClimateStrike #Vancouver #cdnpoli #bcpoli #vanpoli ā¦@GretaThunbergā© pic.twitter.com/IFTZDiEecn
ā Lindsay Brown – Stop Site C dam (@Lidsville) March 15, 2019
Thereās hope yet. I found some standing with, and for, our future generations today at the #ClimateStrike in Vancouver – ājust like the oceans, we riseā and like the youth, we must demand change pic.twitter.com/tcrCUotlxC
ā Hannah Kobluk (@hmkobluk) March 15, 2019
Went to the #ClimateStrike in Vancouver this afternoon to restore my faith in humanity. pic.twitter.com/WZnmOlYAtM
ā Andrew Burns (@andrew_w_burns) March 15, 2019
#climatestrike #FridaysForFuture Vancouver. @rebecca_p_h speaking pic.twitter.com/xA3uiib8GO
ā Max M āļø (@_max_m) March 15, 2019
CLIMATE STRIKE in Vancouver, unceded Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam, and Squamish territory#OurFutureOurFight #YouthRising #ClimateStrike #climate #climatejustice #NotOurYouthMinister #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/LflHiRhLhA
ā Youth Rising (@YouthRising2030) March 15, 2019
#ClimateStrike has arrived at the Environment and Climate Change #Canada offices in #Vancouver #Youth4Climate #Strike4Climate #FridaysForFurture pic.twitter.com/RWF8Pk0Mdy
ā brenna owen (@brennaowen) March 15, 2019
And we’re off! The Vancouver #ClimateStrike march has begun. Great turnout, great weather! #YouthClimateStrike #FridaysForFuture pic.twitter.com/Da8aSKajrx
ā Hannah – Byrnewithme (@ByrnewithmeBlog) March 15, 2019
So inspired by the youth standing up to demand #climateaction, here in BC and around the world. Students in Vancouver join the global #ClimateStrike#FridaysForFuture #YouthStrike4Climate #yvr pic.twitter.com/5IKFisgLU9
ā West Coast Env. Law (@WCELaw) March 15, 2019
Heard over and over: āTrudeau, Scheer, Singh, THEYāRE ALL THE SAME.ā Plus an appeal from the kids to listen to science at #ClimateStrike #Vancouver #cdnpoli#bcpoli #vanpoli pic.twitter.com/MsjmskYHnl
ā Lindsay Brown – Stop Site C dam (@Lidsville) March 15, 2019
āWe donāt get the luxury of ignoring climate changeā… ā14 + 12 = TOO YOUNG TO DIEā #ClimateStrike #Vancouver #bcpoli #cdnpoli # vanpoli pic.twitter.com/0Or99w8Uls
ā Lindsay Brown – Stop Site C dam (@Lidsville) March 15, 2019
With files from Tyler Jadah