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FRIDAYS FOR FUTURE

Thousands of Danish schoolkids take part in global climate strike

School children across Denmark took part in the global climate strike movement on Friday.

Thousands of Danish schoolkids take part in global climate strike
School children at the Climate Strike demonstration in Copenhagen. Photo: Nils Meilvang/Ritzau Scanpix

Signs and banners held in public squares across the country called for political and civic action on climate.

In uncompromising weather in Copenhagen, thousands came out to attend the protest at City Hall Square (Rådhuspladsen).

The demonstration in the capital included speeches from a string of activists and organizations including Kenyan group Nafsi Youngsters, Amnesty International Denmark and the Danish Grandparents’ Climate Action (Bedsteforældrenes Klimaaktion).

Danish participants in the SMILE project, which gathers young climate activists from across Europe, also spoke about their experiences attending an international summer camp.

Earlier this year, Denmark saw a similar level of engagement in the Fridays for Future movement, which was started by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg in 2018.

READ ALSO: The Local meets Greta Thunberg during her very first climate strike

At least 19 cities across Denmark took part in Friday’s demonstrations, according to DR.

Fridays for Future Denmark coordinator Selma Montgomery told the broadcaster that the new government’s climate target of a 70 percent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 could be even more ambitious, even if 100 percent was not possible without changing societal structure.

“But (that means) we must change the way society is organized,” she said to DR.

Speakers at Friday’s demonstration in Copenhagen called specifically for reductions in Danish oil drilling in the North Sea and for the country’s agricultural sector to move away from meat production.

READ ALSO: Thousands of young Danes take part in climate strike at parliament

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CLIMATE

IN PHOTOS: Fridays for Future returns to Germany with more than 400 demos

Thousands of demonstrators marched throughout Germany in the first series of climate protests since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Here are some highlights from Friday

IN PHOTOS: Fridays for Future returns to Germany with more than 400 demos
Protesters took refuge from the rain under a 'Fridays for Future' umbrella in Frankfurt. Photo: DPA

The Fridays for Future movement, spawned by Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg, used to occur every Friday around Germany, with protesters taking to the streets of hundreds of German cities of all sizes.

Then came the coronavirus crisis, putting the popular protest movement on hold – at least in person.

READ ALSO: Over 200 'Fridays for Future' climate demos taking place in Germany

But protesters returned on Friday September 25th amid the rainy weather. This time they showed up stronger than ever with more than 400 cities participating, all under the motto #KeinGradWeiter, or Not a Degree More.

They called for an array of changes to better protect the environment, from a quicker end to coal production in Germany, to stronger laws regulating emissions, to simply less consumption.

Here's a look at some of the top photos. All photos are from DPA unless otherwise noted.

Protesters in Berlin returned to one of their favourite spots, in front of the iconic Brandenburg Gate. A total of 10,000 people registered for the demo in the capital, as well as another 4,000 at two bike demos.

Yet Fridays for Future estimates that a total of 21,000 people marched in support of the climate, and greater environmental protections.

In Aachen in North Rhine-Westphalia, a total of 4,000 people turned up.

In Bonn, near Cologne, a very socially-distanced demo took place.

Thousands also showed their support in Hamburg with signs such as “Bye mass consumption” and “Hello environmental protestion.”

Demonstrators in Brandenburg's capital of Potsdam lined up to hold signs reading: “There is no Planet B”.

Protesters, including many students, showed up in Dresden, Saxony's capital.

A demo participant in Frankfurt had a very clear message.

In Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt's capital, a protester bore a backpack with the protest's motto.

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