Small gathering with big ambition
Youths make a stand for climate change
KUALA LUMPUR: The turnout was low, but the event carried a big message for the environment.
Even though not many people showed up for the Fridays for Future climate change demonstration near here, organisers were optimistic the gathering was the start of an important movement in the country.
A group of about 40 youths – mainly students of universities in the Klang Valley – had gathered to call for greater awareness and action against climate change.
It was held near the Klang River next to Damai LRT station yesterday and would be aligned to the global movement.
Though it stood in contrast with the hundreds or even thousands of youths who had gathered in other cities such as Berlin, Hong Kong and New Delhi, the organisers believed that the movement is off to a good start.
The event encountered a few hiccups at the beginning, as the organisers did not manage to get police permission to hold the event.
However, that did not deter the Kuala Lumpur organisers such as Aroe Ajoeni to carry on with the demonstration.
“It doesn’t matter how many people turned up because those who did were very passionate,” said Aroe, 19.
“This is a big achievement in Malaysia as no one has ever done it before.”
Another organiser Aidil Iman Adid, 20, said big impact came from small beginnings.
“Soon we will march for climate change,” said the college student.
The youths carried placards with slogans, such as “Change the system, not the climate” and “Malaysia is not a global rubbish bin”.
The participants then picked up trash nearby and discussed on how to move forward.
Muriel Benz, who flew in from Germany to visit her father in Malaysia, brought her five year-old son to the gathering.
“My son is my future. It is important to show my son what people my age are doing for him,” said the 25-year-old student.
The Fridays for Future climate change movement was started last year by Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg who went on strike against climate change outside the Swedish parliament building every Friday.
Since then, the movement has gained momentum and yesterday, youths in over 90 countries and over 1,000 cities demonstrated against climate change.
Thunberg has been nominated by Norwegian lawmakers for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
In George Town, more than 30 people joined the Fridays for Future event organised by Serikat Mahasiswa and BikeCommute_ USM that was held in front of the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) entrance in Sungai Dua.