Greta Thunberg has urged people to join the global climate strikes, taking place this Friday, September 20.
The 16-year-old climate activist spoke at George Washington University yesterday, September 16. “What I’m telling you to do now is to act, because no one is too small to make a difference. I’m urging all of you to take part in the global climate strikes on September 20 and 27,” she said, before concluding: “See you on the streets!”
Thunberg, who recently sailed to New York on a zero emission boat to protest the environmental effects of air travel, told crowds that “activism works”, saying: “It may seem impossible to pull the emergency break and yet that’s what we have to do. But right now I think there’s an awakening going on. And though it is slow, the pace is picking up and the debate is shifting. This is thanks to a lot of different reasons but it is a lot because of countless activists, especially young activists.”
Earlier this month, the Swedish teenager hit back at the criticism of her by right-wing pundits, writing on Instagram that her Asperger’s syndrome liberates her, and details why being different is often a “superpower”. “When haters go after your looks and differences, it means they have nowhere left to go,” she wrote. “And then you know you’re winning!”
As part of Dazed’s A Future World campaign earlier this year and in a special mini-documentary, we followed Thunberg on one day of school strikes in Sweden, and chronicled her conversations with other climate activists.
Watch the full speech below.