'The world is on fire,' Greta Thunberg tells UK climate rally
Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg attends a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls
Greta Thunberg denounced politicians and the media on Friday for ignoring a looming climate cataclysm, saying that they were failing her generation with their inaction in the face of a world on fire.
Several thousand people attended a rally in the southwestern English city of Bristol to see Thunberg, the teenage activist who has reprimanded governments across the world over climate change.
Demonstrators attend a youth climate protest with Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg in Bristol, Britain, February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls
Known simply as Greta, 17-year-old Thunberg has captured the imagination of many young people with impassioned demands for world leaders to take urgent action.
"I will not be silenced while the world is on fire - will you?" said Thunberg.
"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."
Demonstrators attend a youth climate protest with Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg in Bristol, Britain, February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
Supporters held placards reading: "Change the politics not the climate", "The ocean is rising so are we!" and "At this point education is pointless."
After she finished speaking, Thunberg led a march through central Bristol. Local police estimated that turnout was over 20,000 people.
Demonstrators attend a youth climate protest with Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg in Bristol, Britain, February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls
'CHANGE IS COMING'
Thunberg rose to prominence when she starting missing lessons two years ago to protest outside the Swedish parliament building. Since then, she has become the world's most prominent climate activist.
On Friday she marched behind a banner saying "Skolstrejk för klimatet" - or "school strike for climate" in her native Swedish.
Demonstrators attend a youth climate protest with Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg in Bristol, Britain, February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls
Sacha Tomlinson, 14, missed school to attend the march.
"Greta's really inspirational considering she's so young. Even though she’s a child and a normal person she’s done so much to change (things)," he told Reuters.
"She's given the generation confidence to stand up to people in government and power."
Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg attends a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls
Thunberg has repeatedly upbraided world leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump for ignoring the perils of climate change, though Trump has dismissed what he calls the climate "prophets of doom".
"We are being betrayed by those in power. They are failing us. But we will not back down," Thunberg said at the rally.
"And if you feel threatened by that, then I have some very bad news for you. We will not be silenced, because we are the change, and change is coming whether you like it or not."
Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg talks to a crying girl who joined a march during a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, Britain February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
Thunberg has been in Britain since last weekend. On Tuesday she visited the University of Oxford, where she met Malala Yousafzai, the 22-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner and campaigner for girls' education, who is studying there.
Thunberg called Yousafzai her role model, while Yousafzai said on Twitter: "She's the only friend I'd skip school for."
Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg and demonstrators attend a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, Britain February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
(Reporting by Elizabeth Howcroft; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge and Alistair Smout; Editing by Susan Fenton and Frances Kerry)
Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg arrives on a stage during a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Peter NichollsSwedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg and demonstrators attend a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, Britain February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan MartinezSwedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg attends a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, Britain February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan MartinezSwedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg and demonstrators attend a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, Britain February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan MartinezSwedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg and demonstrators attend a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, Britain February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan MartinezSwedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg attends a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, Britain February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan MartinezA placard is pictured during a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, Britain February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan MartinezPeople hold placards during a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, Britain February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan MartinezPeople hold placards during a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, Britain February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan MartinezA boy holds a placard during a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, Britain February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan MartinezA boy holds a placard during a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, Britain February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan MartinezPeople attend a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, Britain February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Peter NichollsFILE PHOTO: Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg speaks during the Fridays for Future protest in Hamburg, Germany February 21, 2020. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File PhotoPeople hold placards during a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, Britain February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan MartinezA woman walks past banners, ahead of a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, Britain February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan MartinezPeople hold a placard during a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, Britain February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan MartinezPeople hold placards during a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, Britain February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan MartinezA woman walks next to a banner, ahead of a youth climate protest in Bristol, Britain, Britain February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez
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