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| Climate strike: Thousands protest across UK | Climate strike: Thousands protest across UK |
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| Thousands of people around the UK have joined a global climate change protest, with pupils walking out of schools and workers downing tools to demand action. | Thousands of people around the UK have joined a global climate change protest, with pupils walking out of schools and workers downing tools to demand action. |
| Millions around the world are taking part in the "climate strike" day, with rallies in British cities including Glasgow, Manchester and London. | Millions around the world are taking part in the "climate strike" day, with rallies in British cities including Glasgow, Manchester and London. |
| Anna Taylor, a co-founder of UK Student Climate Network, said it was "very easy" to persuade people to show up. | Anna Taylor, a co-founder of UK Student Climate Network, said it was "very easy" to persuade people to show up. |
| Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said "every child" should be in school. | Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said "every child" should be in school. |
| He added: "They should be learning, they shouldn't be bunking off and it's very irresponsible for people to encourage children to do so." | He added: "They should be learning, they shouldn't be bunking off and it's very irresponsible for people to encourage children to do so." |
| Student Jessica Ahmed, 16, emailed her school to warn that she would be joining the protests instead of being in class. | Student Jessica Ahmed, 16, emailed her school to warn that she would be joining the protests instead of being in class. |
| Speaking at a protest in Westminster, she said: "School is important but so is my future. | Speaking at a protest in Westminster, she said: "School is important but so is my future. |
| "If politicians were taking the appropriate action we need - and had been taking this action a long time ago when it was recognised the world was changing in a negative way - then I would not have to be skipping school." | "If politicians were taking the appropriate action we need - and had been taking this action a long time ago when it was recognised the world was changing in a negative way - then I would not have to be skipping school." |
| Organisers estimated that around 100,000 people attended a rally in central London, while more than 20,000 were thought to have marched in Edinburgh and 10,000 in Brighton. | Organisers estimated that around 100,000 people attended a rally in central London, while more than 20,000 were thought to have marched in Edinburgh and 10,000 in Brighton. |
| In Belfast, organisers put the turnout at between 3,000 and 4,000, with young people taking over the Cornmarket area of the city centre and staging a "mass die-in". | In Belfast, organisers put the turnout at between 3,000 and 4,000, with young people taking over the Cornmarket area of the city centre and staging a "mass die-in". |
| And in Birmingham, around 3,000 protesters, including hundreds of children, gathered in the city's Victoria Square before marching through nearby streets. | And in Birmingham, around 3,000 protesters, including hundreds of children, gathered in the city's Victoria Square before marching through nearby streets. |
| UK Student Climate Network said more than 200 events had been organised across the country. | UK Student Climate Network said more than 200 events had been organised across the country. |
| Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told young people at the Westminster rally: "You and a whole generation have brought [climate change] centre stage and I am absolutely delighted about that. | Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told young people at the Westminster rally: "You and a whole generation have brought [climate change] centre stage and I am absolutely delighted about that. |
| "If we're going to sustain this planet we need to get to net zero emissions a lot, lot quicker than 2050 [the government's target]," he said. | "If we're going to sustain this planet we need to get to net zero emissions a lot, lot quicker than 2050 [the government's target]," he said. |
| He wants every country to sign up to the Paris Agreement, which commits signatory nations to keeping global temperatures "well below" 2.0C (3.6F) above pre-industrial times. | He wants every country to sign up to the Paris Agreement, which commits signatory nations to keeping global temperatures "well below" 2.0C (3.6F) above pre-industrial times. |
| Referring to President Donald Trump, Mr Corbyn said it was "disgraceful when you get a president of a major country like the US" who says they will walk away. | Referring to President Donald Trump, Mr Corbyn said it was "disgraceful when you get a president of a major country like the US" who says they will walk away. |
| The global protests come ahead of a summit at the UN next week that will urge countries to do more to avoid the worst effects of climate change. | The global protests come ahead of a summit at the UN next week that will urge countries to do more to avoid the worst effects of climate change. |
| Dozens of pupils from John Stainer Community Primary school in Brockley, south-east London, were among those taking part in protests in London. | Dozens of pupils from John Stainer Community Primary school in Brockley, south-east London, were among those taking part in protests in London. |
| Head teacher Sue Harte said "children need to know that they have a right to democratic protest". | Head teacher Sue Harte said "children need to know that they have a right to democratic protest". |
| Sebastian, a pupil at the school, said he joined the protests to help fight global warming. | Sebastian, a pupil at the school, said he joined the protests to help fight global warming. |
| "They, the government, don't understand that we're going to go through it and they are not," he said. | "They, the government, don't understand that we're going to go through it and they are not," he said. |
| Eight-year-old Sohan and Nayan, five, also from south-east London, joined protesters with their mother, Celine. | Eight-year-old Sohan and Nayan, five, also from south-east London, joined protesters with their mother, Celine. |
| Sohan said: "We want to save our planet and we hope that marching will help." | Sohan said: "We want to save our planet and we hope that marching will help." |
| At the Belfast protest, Extinction Rebellion activist Lorraine Montague, from County Tyrone, was dressed as a swan to highlight the threat of climate change to wildlife. | At the Belfast protest, Extinction Rebellion activist Lorraine Montague, from County Tyrone, was dressed as a swan to highlight the threat of climate change to wildlife. |
| "Our climate is at crisis point and the government is not doing anything about it," she said. | "Our climate is at crisis point and the government is not doing anything about it," she said. |
| "We are grieving for our future. I don't feel happy about having children, the way our climate is going." | "We are grieving for our future. I don't feel happy about having children, the way our climate is going." |
| In Edinburgh, demonstrators - the majority of them young people - chanted and sang as they marched from the Meadows to Holyrood Park near the Scottish Parliament. | In Edinburgh, demonstrators - the majority of them young people - chanted and sang as they marched from the Meadows to Holyrood Park near the Scottish Parliament. |
| They carried placards reading "Scotland, you're not too wee to change the world" and "If you were smarter, I would be in school". | They carried placards reading "Scotland, you're not too wee to change the world" and "If you were smarter, I would be in school". |
| Extinction Rebellion, which organised its own climate and environment protests in the UK earlier this year, said it stood "in solidarity" with those taking part. | Extinction Rebellion, which organised its own climate and environment protests in the UK earlier this year, said it stood "in solidarity" with those taking part. |
| It added that its members were joining the strikes and holding their own events, including a choir and "kids' space" in Victoria Tower Gardens, Westminster, and outside King's College London. | It added that its members were joining the strikes and holding their own events, including a choir and "kids' space" in Victoria Tower Gardens, Westminster, and outside King's College London. |
| Some trade unions, including the TUC, the University and College Union and Unite, are supporting members who take part in the "strikes". | Some trade unions, including the TUC, the University and College Union and Unite, are supporting members who take part in the "strikes". |
| Co-operative Bank said it supported workers who want to join the action, while US clothing brand Patagonia closed all of its stores and took out adverts to back the protesters. | Co-operative Bank said it supported workers who want to join the action, while US clothing brand Patagonia closed all of its stores and took out adverts to back the protesters. |
| But in Norwich, protester Tiffany Wallace said her employer declined to give her time off work to join demonstrators "because they didn't think it was important". | But in Norwich, protester Tiffany Wallace said her employer declined to give her time off work to join demonstrators "because they didn't think it was important". |
| "The worst thing they can do is fire me," said the 33-year-old. | "The worst thing they can do is fire me," said the 33-year-old. |
| "I don't feel I should compromise my own values and integrity and what's important, so I can make money for a business." | "I don't feel I should compromise my own values and integrity and what's important, so I can make money for a business." |
| Energy minister Kwasi Kwarteng said he could not "endorse children leaving school" to take part in the protests. | Energy minister Kwasi Kwarteng said he could not "endorse children leaving school" to take part in the protests. |
| But he said he did support "their energy, their creativity, and the fact that they have completely mastered these issues and take them very seriously". | But he said he did support "their energy, their creativity, and the fact that they have completely mastered these issues and take them very seriously". |
| London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas and Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson all supported the walkout for the Youth Strike 4 Climate campaign. | London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas and Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson all supported the walkout for the Youth Strike 4 Climate campaign. |
| The Metropolitan Police said seven people were arrested for public order offences, but overall the day ran "smoothly". | |
| Commander Dave Musker said a "tiny minority of protesters" tried to block Lambeth Bridge, a key route for emergency services to St Thomas' Hospital. One other man was arrested on the bridge on suspicion of discharging a flare in a public place. | |
| The global action follows a long-running series of school strikes initially inspired by activist Greta Thunberg. | The global action follows a long-running series of school strikes initially inspired by activist Greta Thunberg. |
| The teenager, from Sweden, is also playing a role in the day's events and is set to join a rally planned in New York, where world leaders will meet at the UN next week. | The teenager, from Sweden, is also playing a role in the day's events and is set to join a rally planned in New York, where world leaders will meet at the UN next week. |