- Title: Greta Thunberg: How one school girl's climate change campaign recruited millions
- Date: 29th August 2019
- Summary: Young people continue to march through major cities in the weekly climate protests. Strikers say they draw inspiration from Thunberg who had originally started protesting alone. LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (FILE - JUNE 21, 2019) (REUTERS) STUDENTS MARCHING IN LONDON PLACARD READING (English): "Our house is burning!" STUDENTS CHANTING AND MARCHING (SOUNDBITE) (English) 16-YEAR-OLD PROTESTER, ANGUS LEES MILLER, SAYING: "So I think, everyone says it is all about the collective and stuff like that, but at the same time, one inspiring figure has got to be Greta Thunberg. The one who, basically, inspired this entire movement, who basically had the bravery to do it alone - she didn't really have anyone the first few days. Then for this to balloon into a global movement, I think she basically is the de-facto figurehead of this movement." (SOUNDBITE) (English) 16-YEAR-OLD PROTESTER, NAT (FULL NAME NOT GIVEN), SAYING: "With all her strikes in Sweden, I think that is really, really, really amazing. She's only, I think, 16 or 17 and for me she is somebody I really look up to, because I think she is showing the way and showing the youth that we can make change. All of this has stemmed from her and I think that is really, really cool." Thunberg receives the Freedom Prize from France's Normandy region in the city of Caen on July 21, 2019. Thunberg said she would donate the prize money of 25,000 euros to four climate justice organisations around the world. CAEN, FRANCE (FILE - JULY 21, 2019) (REUTERS) THUNBERG BEING AWARDED FREEDOM PRIZE ON STAGE DURING CEREMONY THUNBERG HOLDING TROPHY, BEING KISSED ON CHEEK BY ONE OF FREEDOM PRIZE'S SPONSORS, CHARLES NORMAN SHAY AWARD EVENT IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) CLIMATE ACTIVIST AND FREEDOM PRIZE RECIPIENT, GRETA THUNBERG, SAYING: "This prize is not only for me. This is for the whole 'Fridays for Future' movement, because this we have achieved together."
- Embargoed: 12th September 2019 19:55
- Keywords: Greta Thunberg Climate activism Sweden U.N climate politics global warming Fridays for Future
- Location: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
- City: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
- Country: Various
- Topics: Environment,Editors' Choice,Climate Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00CAUAJM13
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg pioneered a climate change campaign that swelled from a one-person school strike by the then 15-year-old to a worldwide movement, drawing in millions of school children, and adults too, who are demanding action on climate change.
Thunberg first drew attention in August, 2019 when she skipped school to protest outside Swedish parliament each Friday.
The teen activist was soon joined by a small group of other school strikers in Stockholm, before the campaign attracted tens of thousands of students in more than 24 countries, taking part in Friday school strikes around the world.
By March 2019, the number of students taking part in worldwide Friday demonstrations hit more than two million across 135 countries.
The now 16-year-old has since been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, named one of the world's most influential people by Time magazine and appeared on its cover. Thunberg has also been awarded a the French Normandy Freedom Prize.
In less than a year since starting the "Fridays for Future" campaign, Thunberg has addressed European Parliament, met Pope Francis and addressed the UK's House of Commons.
In August, 2019, Thunberg sailed into New York Harbour on a zero-carbon emissions vessel, completing a nearly 14-day journey from England to take part in a United Nations climate summit. Meanwhile, the total number of climate strikers reached 3.6 million people across 169 countries.
(Production: Aiden Nulty, Lucy Marks) - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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