‘I will not stand and watch,’ says Greta

Swedish activist addresses thousands of youth strikers at a climate march in Bristol and says ‘nothing is being done despite the promises’.

Thousands of schoolchildren and adults gathered in Bristol last Friday (28 February) to hear the 17-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg address the city’s Youth Strike for Climate gathering.

Thunberg, who has risen to fame as the founder of the global youth climate movement, contacted one of the teenage organisers of the Bristol Youth Strike for Climate (BYS4C) to let them know of her intention to attend.

Bristol is considered one of the greenest cities in the UK having become the first to declare a climate emergency and with plans to become a carbon neutral and climate resilient city by 2030.

Greta Thunberg
Greta Thunberg has appeared at numerous high-profile climate events. Image European Parliament.

Addressing the crowds gathered in the rain on Bristol’s College Green, Thunberg said: “We will look back at this time and ask ourselves, ‘what did we do?’ How do we want to be remembered? This is an emergency. There are already people dying and suffering because of the climate and environmental emergency.

“And still, this emergency is being completely ignored by the politicians, the media, and those in power.

“Basically, nothing is being done despite all the beautiful words and promises. I will not stand aside and watch. I will not be silent when the world is on fire. Will you?”

Schoolchildren from across Bristol attended the march across the city, which was led by Thunberg as a guest of honour, calling for climate justice and more urgent action from those in power.

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