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Regular-article-logo Monday, 23 December 2024

Swedish teen leads Belgian students on 7th climate march

The 16-year-old first addressed an EU conference, chiding adults for their inaction

AP Brussels Published 21.02.19, 11:29 AM
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg (centre) speaks during an event at the EU Charlemagne building in Brussels on Thursday.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg (centre) speaks during an event at the EU Charlemagne building in Brussels on Thursday. AP

Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg is joining Belgian students who are skipping classes for the seventh Thursday in a row to march through Brussels to draw more attention to fighting climate change.

The 16-year-old Thunberg first addressed a European Union conference, chiding adults for their inaction in the face of such climatic global dangers. She said youngsters are being forced to skip school and protest because adults are not addressing climate issues quickly enough.

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She told the European Economic and Social Committee plenary session that 'we are school striking because we have done our homework' on the dangers facing the Earth.

We are school striking because we have done our homework (on climate change).

Greta Thunberg

Thunberg has become her generation's voice on climate change after inspiring students around the world to go on strike to express their anger and angst over global warming.

Thousands of Belgian teenagers had been skipping school to protest for better climate protections. They were joined by university students and grandparents. Police said a demonstration in Brussels on February 14 drew at least 11,000 people.

Students march during a climate change protest in Brussels on February 14, 2019.

Students march during a climate change protest in Brussels on February 14, 2019. AP

The sustained success of the marches comes despite some school measures to dissuade students who continue to stay away every Thursday. It started with a few thousand seven weeks ago and swelled to around 35,000 three weeks ago.

The protests have kept a focus on climate change as a political pressure point before national and European Union elections.

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