" Activism works, so I ask you to act ": young Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg called on young British people to rally during a climate march on Friday 28 February in Bristol, in the south - west of England.
Read also: Greta Thunberg protects her name and registers the brand "Fridays for Future"
Thousands of people (20,000 according to the police, almost 30,000 according to the organizers) braved the rain to take part in the Youth March for the climate, whose departure took place in front of College Green University.
Youth March for Ecology in Bristol Friday 28 February PETER NICHOLLS / REUTERS
" The world is burning "
" We will not be silent. We are change and change is going to take place, whether you like it or not, ”warned the young activist, accusing“ those in power ”of having“ betrayed ”the citizens.
Propelled spokesperson for a generation haunted by the climate crisis since it started to go on “school strike ” in front of the Swedish Parliament in August 2018, the teenager called her peers to “ be patient ”: " If enough people are pushing for a change, then it will come ." " Nothing is done to stem the climate crisis ", denounced Greta Thunberg, 17. " But I'm not going to remain silent while the world is burning, would you?" ".
Greta Thunberg preparing to deliver her speech in Bristol GEOFF CADDICK / AFP
" Activism works, so I ask you to act, " she said, taking the example of Bristol Airport, whose expansion project was rejected in early February by local authorities. Concerned about the environmental impact, the North Somerset Council had made this decision after several days of mobilization on the part of environmentalists.
British justice on Thursday also ruled in favor of environmentalists opposed to the construction of a third runway at London Heathrow Airport, the busiest in Europe, believing that this extension project was not sufficiently respectful of the environment.
Greta Thunberg will participate in marches for the climate on March 13 in Grenoble and March 14 in Paris, organized on the eve of the municipal elections.
See also - In Davos, Greta Thunberg says " nothing has been done " for the climate
