I understand the Swedish school girl who stared the protests all alone is nominated for a Nobel. For real, not for fake.
6
If we stop using fertilizer and fossil fuels Today it will continue to warm for another 50 years anyways. So these poor kids will suffer no matter what we do and quite frankly I’m sure we aren’t going to do anything. Since Al Gore made his little movie humans have done more damage to the environment than was done in the previous 400 million years. So if you think a bunch of students taking a day off will add up to a hill of beans you are playing hooky with reality.
6
Go kids! I'm sure thousands, if not millions, all over the world want to know: will you be doing it again? How can I join you?
It is terribly disappointing to see these kids' landmark effort and astonishing organizational success buried at the bottom of the NYTimes. Just like climate change itself, the kids deserve better.
22
My only comment - my daughter is in the background of the “New York” photo and has my full support.
11
Gee, maybe our politicians (mainly Republicans) would pay more
attention to the issue of Global Warming in the press would pay more attention too. Perhaps even the NY Times could try to include articles on their front pages instead of the back pages, particularly when yesterdays marches were world wide and attended by masses. Or if our popular TV stations would mention it at all. Might help.
28
Dead children not walking. Those whose lives we plan to sacrifice to our economic order, standard of living, and way of life decline to walk quietly up the steps to the altar.
9
Greatest con in history. Details will be revealed this year.
3
Who did all this polution? Let's look at the plain facts(a word not in Republican dictionary). Main fact in the USA: how much gas, oil is used therefore big $$$ is made by "buying" politicians to not make public transportation but to have autos with only one person in it?
5
It’s something very sickening with the fact that the terrorists in New Zealand succeeds in getting the worlds attention - as they planned - with the slaughter of innocent people. And at the same time this evil takes the focus from the largest rally ever for this planets future. This is the plague modern extremism and terrorism: forcing everyone to discuss their twisted world views. I have no objections at all to the news evaluation of putting the New Zealand massacre at top and front of every publication, but it’s unfortunate that we can only talk about one news topic at a time.
14
Always remember, battles may be won, they may be lost, but the war is never over.
2
Very proud of these kids and so very disappointed in my fellow adults. They have the right ideas and intentions, but not the power, to force change. The power lies in the hands of the rich and masses of fatalistic religious people that would rather watch the world burn and the slow death of the sixth extinction than risk losing a fraction of their wealth and power to save the planet they were lucky enough to geow up in. Greed and insanity rule the world.
19
These pictures made me cry, but they also gave me hope.
14
Let's burn the flags of all nations. That means acting from our common humanity -- something evident in the faces and actions of these young people around the world. They understand that they are all one, we are all one. "I am a citizen of the world," Diogenes said. Courageous action aimed at transcending obscene and outdated nationalist competition is the only way sanity will prevail. It's either that or say goodbye to the plants and animals, goodbye to a human-centered interaction between people. And ultimately goodbye to the planet itself.
9
I sincerely hope these strikes will make a difference, but unfortunately the country that needs to take a key role in this important issue is led by a climate change denier.
Just like Donald Trump and the Republicans waited for all of the student protests in the wake of the Parkland massacre to die down, I suspect we will see a repeat here.
They know students can't stay out of school forever, so the will bide their time until it goes back to "business as usual."
I sincerely wish that I'm wrong, but Trump and his band of climate change deniers don't give one much reason for hope.
8
I saw this demonstration in downtown Montreal today. I couldn't help thinking that while this was the first climate protest I've seen, it's certainly not going to be the last. . .
8
Good for the kids. I'm proud of them. I'm embarrassed by Trump. On a real crisis, he could not be further out of touch.
13
Nice to see who the adults the (class)rooms are.
2
This would be a good time to remind everyone that we can't change the weather. Sober up and grow up. The climate has been changing constantly during the history of the earth. It may be changing now. If it is, we should be thinking about adaptation, not reversal. Most computer models predictive of global warming have been wrong, so then they get tweaked, so then they are right. And all of the extreme weather you have been reading about recently is within normal historical variability. Politicians and agenda-driven "reporters" should worry about fixing the roads and corruption in city hall. And please stop scaring these kids.
2
Children cannot vote, but their parents can. Every child who is concerned should ask their parents to take a photo of their votes in future elections (even if it's illegal). Do not accept excuses.
If your parents vote for a candidate who doesn't support dramatic action on climate change, take them to task for being so selfish and short-sighted.
If they claim to truly believe that climate change is a hoax (I say "claim", because no intelligent person could truly believe this) let them know that you'll be keeping the photo for 20 years and will expect them to explain it to their grandchildren.
14
And the children shall lead. I am 70 plus and will die as climate change starts to kick in. My daughter will suffer and my grandchildren may not survive the consequences of global warming. There is nothing more important than this issue. We can all do minor environmental changes in our life but they will do virtually nothing to stop global warming. Governments must act. This a Pascal's wager. We are facing a global disaster if not extinction. It may be too late but we have to act with haste and with an all out effort. We must give tax breaks for no child families and one child families. There need to be penalties on religions and individuals who want and produce numerous children. Foreign aid to countries that reduce birth rates. We need to wake up to the fact that these young people are telling us that we are in a struggle for existence.
16
The rhetoric by school children that the earth is going to become a dead planet is pretty unnerving. What are they teaching children in Earth Science class? Or was that class sent to the irrelevant heap like recess? The earth is a dynamic entity and teaching a freeze frame picture of it is a serious injustice. At the bottom of every student's diploma, there needs to be written, "We assume no responsibility for the accuracy or validity of the information received at this institution"
1
All the parades looks good but I rather see these young people in the voting line next election. What good does it do to parade and protest if they stay home when it really matters?
5
I was sorry to hear many of the attendees, and read on their placards, where they condemned 'Congress' and the 'adults' without mentioning that members of the Democratic Congress are all actively trying to fight Climate Change and Global Warming, that it's the Republicans that aren't.
And when there is arguing, it's the Democrats defending their beliefs because they want to protect our environment from those who deny that Global Warming and Climate Change even exists.
Get your facts right. Teachers and parents need to be better informed on these issues and make sure these kids know what's really going on in our country.
9
Attended one of these yesterday. While there are important advantages to the kids taking the lead, and they dd fine, there are still roles for us "codgers," showing support, but also mentoring. Had a number of conversations with students, as well as the unofficial press, academics, the public. Why waste over 40 uphill years on this issue? At this point we have to go beyond a step-by-step approach, hence the importance of the sub-theme, the Green New Deal; include but go beyond advocacy; as well as learn from, and therefore must know about, codgers' experiences, including mistakes.
10
At least, it's uplifting to watch those pictures depicting the young generation standing shoulder to shoulder, taking the peaceful protest down to the streets when leading this fight for the preservation of the World, perhaps a noble but a lost cause.
This is a critical fight that should be otherwise sustained by all generations confounded.
In doing so, they prove to the world that they are smarter and wiser than the current ruling political elites in many countries, too often backed by financial interests.
Such economical interests which are fundamentally part of the problem we are faced with, however, this is common knowledge.
The sacrifices made today must profit tomorrow's generation, therefore, it's no great leap of intelligence to come to grasp that in our times the society seen as a whole, must make drastic cuts on his consumption rate, because the mechanics of production as these are being exercised today happen systematically at the detriment of Nature and its already overexploited vital resources.
Give Earth room to breathe. Keep up with the good work.
14
Thank you for caring about this amazing Earth.
Please repeat these displays of love yearly, monthly, daily until those who profit from destruction cease their activities.
May God bless ALL of Earth's creatures.
11
This wonderful activism is juxtaposed with the college cheating scandal. Some kids are rich enough to have parents who will pay six figures to get them into top schools regardless of merit. But its heartening to know that the real change will come from these kind of young people - kids with heart and a willingness to engage in the everyday change that needs to happen. Kids able to see that working together, rather than competing alone for the "top prize" is where the real success is. My faith is with them.
13
Every time I read that most adults my age (over 50) are unconcerned about the climate, it makes me work harder to turn the ship around. Every minute I spend with my wonderful grandchildren makes me more of a climate justice activist: it is time to make radical changes to our energy and consumer behavior so our children and their children will have a future.
28
Your beautiful, hopeful faces.
Your beautiful, hopeful work.
Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you.
I am a little bit more alive
for having taken this little
trip around the world.
Continue to be fierce in your love
for this place. Lead with your hope
and take in the beauty around you
as you stand up for this one fragile,
glittering globe.
God bless you all.
36
I am 74 years old, and have lived my life recognizing the need to save our planet. One huge problem is human over-population! This is why we had only two children. There are too many people using too many resources of all kinds - and no matter how much we conserve and use electric cars, recycle, etc - population decrease is key!
32
I protested against the Vietnam War. When LBJ abdicated, it felt so great to know we had an effect. Even Nixon had to listen.
Then Reagan came along and returned the nation to the same old policies. We old hippies had families and took on mortgages and burnt out. We should’ve done more, but didn’t.
New generations forgot about changing the world for the better, their noses buried in stock market news and their iPhones.
Now teenagers have awakened; they see a bleak future, and are refusing to keep quiet. Bravo! I am inspired by them. Lead us to change; I will follow you. And, as we used to say, right on!
62
“Mark Margolin ... said he understood the urgency of climate change intellectually but didn’t feel the panic the younger generation feels emotionally.”
With respect, I don’t believe that Mr. Margolin does understand the urgency of climate change intellectually or otherwise. Nor do most U.S. adults. If we did, we’d all be in a panic. Or taking drastic action, such as the Green New Deal proposes.
Take ocean acidification, the result of CO2 absorption by the oceans. When plankton quite literally die off due to acidification, the very foundation of the oceanic food web will collapse. Collapse! That will KILL virtually ALL fish and other marine life. Who will feed the 1 billion humans who currently depend on the sea for their survival? Where will those people go to survive? What will they do in response? What will their nations do? Can you imagine the implications? The refugee problem of 2019 will look like a picnic in comparison.
Most Americans don’t know or understand the incredibly grave implications. This is in large part due to deniers, the lack of significant U.S. media coverage of global warming and politicians’ perennial habit of kicking the can down the road until a) a crisis hits, or b) grassroots demands for action demand it (i.e. they’ll get voted out if they don’t act). Adults need to join the children to create that grassroots pressure now.
55
@Joseph Montuori
Add our slavish devotion to the profit system, at the very heart of change denial.
5
Voters who go to the polls to vote for the next president should keep in mind these kids. They expect to still be here when the climate models show a very different planet and one far less friendly for human habitation if emissions are not dramatically reduced during the next 20 years. They have heard the predictions from climate experts and cannot quite understand why the adults do not show a greater sense of urgency. I am not sure that the adults really understand it themselves why they are not doing more in the face of disaster.
25
I’m so inspired by this young generation. It’s so much more aware and active than I (Gen X) was at that age. Please don’t stop. We older folk need you!
31
My daughter, along with her friends, spoke today at climate strike in Annapolis. She does not take missing school lightly - she thought for a long time about what action would be most effective. She and her friends have written letters to officials at every level of government and spoken at town and county council meetings. Sometimes they actually listen and take action - we did not think it was possible to ban fracking in Maryland but we did - and she played a role by speaking up at a town council meeting, making Bel Air one of many municipalities to make a statement on the issue. This shows us that the power of the people is greater than the people in power. Today measures like the Maryland Clean Energy Jobs Act or the US Green New Deal may seem unattainable but for the sake of tomorrow we must make them possible.
46
Till I got to the end of the photos I had tears of pride streaming down my face for every one of these children.
I took part in the first Earth Day all those years ago, and have been trying to lessen my mark on this planet ever since. The last few years I wondered where all the youth activists are of this generation as it looked like all any of them cared about was iPhones and looking cool.
It is reassuring to know we will let this globe in capable hands some day. God Bless them all.
27
School strike for Climate march organizers are reporting over one million children worldwide went on strike from school today to participate in the marches (more than 150,000 in Montreal alone) in over 2000 marches in 123 countries. UN Secretary General has just had published an op-ed in the Guardian entitled The climate strikers should inspire us all to act at the next UN summit, in which he commends and agrees with the marchers; announces, apparently in response, that he is bringing world leaders together for a special climate action summit later this year in New York to try to develop some concrete plans; and closes by telling the marchers "The more I see your commitment and activism, the more confident I am that we will win. Together, with your help and thanks to your efforts, we can and must beat this threat and create a cleaner, safer, greener world for everyone."
26
@Benjamin Ochshorn Meanwhile I'm reading that 45 is moving ahead with testing for oil drilling along all the coastlines of the US in spite of protests and in spite of the damage it clearly creates among marine creatures. All for the enrichment of wealthy fossil fuel gluttons and their stock holders. Undoubtedly when the Secretary General attempts to make this point, the US will not be there in support. Another embarrassment for us.
7
Yesterday night, I was in a tug-of-war whether to join the strikes. As a high school sophomore, I know that I have a responsibility to go to school, but at the same time, I want a future with a planet not affected by climate change.
I tried to convince my parents, but of course, they declined. "Why are you going to do something like this anyway? It's not worth it. Go to school." When I tried to reason with them, their response only angered me more. "It doesn't make a difference! They won't do anything anyway! And who are these people you're striking with? Did they get approved by the police? We're only doing this for your protection!"
They even added, "You're supposed to fight climate change by writing letters. Not school striking."
At this point, I was so frustrated. "So what are you going to do? Your generation has cost us the work?" I said on the verge of tears.
"There's nothing we can do," said my father. "Except save a little electricity and a little water."
"But what about me?" I asked.
"Save electricity, save water, recycle, reuse..."
If I had argued any more, I would have gotten in trouble.
So I didn't end up going. But as I was eating my lunch at school today, my mind was elsewhere. I wished I could be part of the millions of youth striking for our futures. For our generation's well-being. I don't want my children to clean up the mess that I have ignorantly left. Unfortunately, that is what we are forced to do. Unless we, the youth, speak up and take a stand.
63
@Isabel Li Thank you Isabel! You'll be voting soon, ultimately it will have much more impact than the march you missed. Young people will lead the way -- your frustration and upset (at the condition we've most unfortunately left the planet in) is motivating you towards a better future.
"Be the change you want in the world" my daughter put on her senior high school plaque and after an excellent college and graduate school education she IS working on that change with a non-profit as a research policy analyst in efficient green transportation options for large cities.
You're on the right path!
21
@Isabel Li,
I understand your frustration with your parents, and thought it may help you to know that I was also a sophomore in high school, and got nearly the same reaction when we were protesting to save the Earth. More people than you would think were clear minded enough in the 70s to see what lay down the road, and I am so sorry that it has not changed yet. Unfortunately it often takes a very long time to change the thinking of commerce, and that is the mindset we must change.
There was progress under good leadership in this country, today not so much. However we can elect leaders that believe in Science in a few short years, so don't give up hope. Keep trying and doing all you can to help any positive steps be made. Never give up and never give in and this planet of ours can be better, can heal and flourish again.
Try not to be too hard on your mom and dad for not letting you attend. Strikes can be dangerous places to be so I understand the caution they used. It sounds like they needed more information. Perhaps share this story with them, the photos are very powerful. They are more than likely remembering some not so nice protests they have seen over the years.
Try talking to them about it when they are feeling calm, and not pressured for an answers to let you be part of something I am sure they knew next to nothing about. I want you to know that I am proud of you! I hope that helps.
19
Dear Isabel,
I feel your fear. Today's youth has *everything* to lose. The generation of our parents? Not so much. They already had theirs and they can't even imagine a world where things will be so.much.worse for their children.
And yes, if you go against your parents wishes, you are going to get in trouble. Still, considering just how much bigger the trouble the world will be in is if we don't stop climate change, you might decide at some point to protest and strike and get into trouble for that anyway in the hopes that it will wake your parents up out of their complacency, their sleep-walking towards a global climate catastrophe.
If you do, make sure to find allies, co-conspirators and friends who will get into this good kind of trouble together with you, because there is strength in numbers. And hopefully, together you can make enough noise to wake up your parents.
12
Thank you, young people of this country. You seem to be some of the only ones brave enough, or dare I say desperate enough, to demand action when action is so direly needed. This movement is yours to lead. Please, don’t sit down. Don’t stop protesting. We will follow your lead.
39
My daughter wants to have children and all I can think of is what a scary future they will face.
19
I don't think any of Trump lies matter more than the one his entire party has been engaging in for decades, the lie so big and so highly funded to create multifaceted supportive propaganda, that it probably was the lynch-pin of broad white working-class rejection of scientists, expert opinion and even journalism in our country.
When you accuse the entire world community of climate scientists of propagating a huge hoax, you are damaging more than us having a unified campaign to fight global warming. Your are also creating cynicism and rejection of all expert opinion and allowing profiteers and demagogues to prosper because there are no longer information sources we all agree with as being impartial.
We know who has paid for this propaganda and they deserve to be tried for crimes against humanity.
28
Now explain how increasing our population in this country by the equivalent of a third of a billion people* since the first Reagan amnesty helps reduce global warming?
Also, what are the kids' plans that require any sacrifice on their part? Will they renounce shopping?
* since the first Reagan amnesty the population of the US has grown by 38 million solely due to immigration. This figure includes their progeny. Since the average American consumes 10 times more energy than what the immigrants did back in their country ... (are the kids still taught math?)
3
Why is this buried in little type at the bottom of the page? This is one of the biggest issues of our time. Children all over the planet raised their voices today in a call to action. We need their hope and energy and they need all of us to take action. Disappointed in this coverage.
45
@TGregory
not "one of the biggest issues," but THE BIGGEST ISSUE.
4
Any excuse is a good one to ditch class.
I know, I used to take any chance to play hooky and not get caught.
These kids don’t even have to try, or hide it from mama, they get free hooky days courtesy of the left fringe.
That’s ok. When it comes to test time they will be wishing they had studies, and not screaming ‘the sky is falling!’
1
@AutumnLeaf In fact, the sky is falling--have you noticed all those storms this winter that are from the disruption of the climate? And other parts of the world are roasting. I suggest you read more of what is being said by 97% of the scientists all over the world who have studied climate. As for the young people, they can see what is coming and it is terrifying if we don't act forcefully and soon.
2
WOW! They took off from school to protest! I would be far more impressed if they went to school and protested over a weekend.
1
This planet is our only home. It is beyond belief that politicians work to pollute the planet and care nothing about the future. I'm talking about Wheeler and Trump. $$$ for corporations is all that counts. Our health and the survival of people and all life on earth doesn't matter.
It is the epitome of short, little minds.
15
Aaah to be young and naive again.
1
@CSD,
Not young and Naive, standing up for what needs to be said. Like my generation did over Viet Nam.
21
@CSD
We were tens of thousands in Montreal.
We were millions all over the world, in 120 countries.
There must be a reason, don't you think?
By the way, I'm 62. Ant not that naive.
5
"i'd like to help you son but you're too young to vote"
Eddie Cochran
prove them wrong VOTE and if you are too young work on a campaign
8
My 8th grade daughter and her dear friend marched with tons of high school kids fromColumbus Circle to The Museum of Natural History. Climate change is the most pressing issue facing our children -they must right this mess we are making of Mother Earth.
25
Why aren't these kids in schools actually learning to use their brains to do something about it?
Some other newspapers have noted that the kids are much like "props" being used to further the agenda of adults:
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/mar/13/youth-climate-strike-sparks-debate-use-students-pr/
2
@Amy You mean a noted conservative newspaper is peddling a tired and repeatedly disproven conspiracy about climate protests? You don't say!
The student who organized this strike is 16. All of the students who participated are the same age, give or take a few years. Considering they're going to inherit a disaster of a planet, it's THEIR agenda -- not anyone else's.
3
Rock on! They are fighting for their very lives. We need to change the paradigm. Let the children win! We all win if they win. And let YouthvGov win too! https://www.youthvgov.org/meet-the-youth
12
Sure hope these kids parents are proud of them...leave it to kids to make more sense than most adults...they will be our future leaders soon enough. It's good to know we will be in good hands !! Too bad some of them aren't old enough to run for President here in the US in 2020 !! The current administration promised to bring back coal and repeal EPA laws regarding air quality etc. It's just unbelievable there could be any support for such an inept administration ...the worst in American History !! You go kids...you've got my Vote !!
11
This should be front page news instead the front page is another mass shooting,. This is hardly news as there is one 4 days a week in the USA. Really that's true. Please don't misunderstand of course I feel for the people lost but Thousands of people around the world are already dying from climate change!
The Planet is dying as will all theses kids and NYT staffers your kids future are also in danger and even their survival is at risk.
Where is the Coverage!!!!
17
Echoing Miranda, this should be on the front page. This is minimal coverage of the events, half way down my scroll bar, and doesn't bother to address the issues that the children want to call attention to. Very disappointing, NYT. Not commensurate with the seriousness of the crisis, or the scale or unheard-of nature of the protests. It seems minimizing and marginalizing to me.
29
I love it. God bless the protesters!
I’m knee deep in old age. I don’t get around much anymore.
I come from the “HELL NO WE WON’T GO” era.
This kind of dissent makes democracy so much stronger.
These young adults will vote very soon.
I know the times they are a changing.
I fully support civil disobedience!!!
18
@New World,
That makes at least two of us on here. : ) I myself had been wondering why our youth wasn't protesting more, as we did when change was needed. It's so nice to see it happening here, and with gun violence. The world should not be the way it is, it can be changed.
5
This is the Children's Planet. It is their Future.
As it is their decision, on the long-term, what is to be done.
14
Kudos to these dedicate children for demnding a safe future from the ills perpetrated by their parents' and grandparents' wilful ignorance and self gratification spanning decades. For children's efforts to gain traction they have to convince their families, adult friends and neighbors to do their part in the political arena and to undertake lifestyle changing actions. This more so here in the US and developing countries than in Europe. It is in Europe where this march was conceived and even there efforts to scale back green house gas emissions are still inadequate, but vastly better than what is occurring in the US. We must continue to let our children and grandchildren shame us into action.
24
This is completely appropriate. First you release excess CO2, then you get a top-of-atmosphere radiative imbalance, then you get 'global warming', and then, after 30 years due to the sheer mass of the oceans, you get 'climate change', and then, due to the sheer mass of the ice locked up at the poles, after another 50 years, you get 'sea level rise'. Us old folks don't care about it. We want to care, but viscerally we just don't. We care, as per usual, about growing old. About the indignities of age, about our personal loss of physical freedom. So, we can't, fundamentally, care about what we're doing to poor Earth with our excess greenhouse gas emissions. It must fall to the youngsters to make this change happen. I'm so happy they have decided to step up to the plate, on this issue. Because of the sheer physical immovability of this planet, when it comes to change, coupled with the sheer cascading resolution of that change, when it finally comes, these children must know this, above all: the earlier you make this change in human behavior happen, the better for you and your children.
7
@Phil
Age is not an excuse for inaction. You have at least the power of the vote to elects sympathetic officials to local, state and federal positions where they will address climate issues. You can also contact your elected congressional delegates and senators to express your concerns. Show the younger generations that you do care! It can be contagious.
12
@Phil - those of retirement age have spent their whole lives enjoying the biodiversity of this green planet. Not caring if future generations must exist with the loss of what we took for granted is beyond excuse. Plenty of older folks have spare time and energy, we should join forces with these kids. There is no better use of the time we have left.
2
@Rudy Ludeke, I was just about to say what @phil said, but he said it for me. I am getting old, and have infirmaries, but I still care about my planet and the shape we are letting it in.
Your excuse does not hold water, but you are right that the youth can bring change.
1
The conversation is shifting. People are listening. Change is coming. Keep the pressure on. Demand meaningful, massive, economy-wide action in line with what the science demands.
27
It's wonderful and necessary that young people are speaking out. Let's hope they are heard loud and clear, and continue to be heard. BTW, these were held in Canada as well. Just saying..
18
Children have grown up with climate change, which allows them to see it more clearly and describe its threat more accurately than their elders. Older folks in this country have been programmed to believe in the certainty of the American Dream and, by extension, the environmental conditions for its indefinite continued existence. They cling to this certainty with increasing levels of desperation. Rethinking this basic premise would mean rethinking the rationale for their existence. Few are eager to do that.
But kids having a party in the streets every Friday will not be sufficient in itself to foment the basic levels of change that countering the climate crisis will require. It's a good start, but more will be needed.
Perhaps the next step is some form of international consumer strike. One of the beauties of contemporary global capitalism is that its stability depends on the ongoing purchase of huge quantities of non-essential goods -- stuff nice to have but not required for basic survival, or if it is in some cultural sense essential, buying a new model is not required every year. Cars, appliances and electronic gadgets of every type fall into this category. A sudden massive decrease in the purchase of non-essentials would topple the world economy.
If consumers worldwide threatened not to buy more of these non-essential items until a certain level of environmentally friendly economic restructuring occurred, governments and corporations would race to fall into line.
20
@woofer Come on. They've grown up with it and can see it more clearly. Wrong. For most of these kids there hasn't been any change in their lifetime they could possibly notice. They can be brainwashed of course, but that's different.
And if their elders can't perceive a change --- maybe that's because there hasn't been one.
@Ralphie The kids might not have seen climate changes but I have in my 70 years in Alaska. Spring comes earlier, fall comes later, winter is nothing like the winters of my youth. The polar bears and walrus are dying, the moose have more parasites. Villages on the coast are eroding into the sea because there is no shore fast ice in the winter to protect from the winter storms. And the Alaskan Native elders have more stories about the changes they have seen in the last 70-80 years.
Besides, I pay attention to science and the scientists who study all of this have massive amounts of data. I suggest you do more reading about what they are finding.
4
I'd ask all these kids what they are willing to give up to save the planet. You know, give up vacations, charging their smartphone, buying fewer clothes, living in a smaller house, not eating food that is out of season (that would have to be shipped in).
Great to skip school. But what are they pledging to do? Anyone know? Or am I just a curmudgeon who thinks the kids have no idea about CC, know only what their teachers and parents have told them (and they probably don't know much either) and are simply parroting this stuff.
I'd be more impressed if all these kids promised:
1) No car rides to school, I'm walking, biking or taking the bus.
2) No trips to Disneyland
3) Limited use of cellphone
That kind of thing. I'd like all the alarmists out there to make similar adult commitments -- if you're serious.
6
Hello. It would be helpful to do all of these things but you fundamentally misunderstand the scale of the challenge. This is not, first and foremost a problem of personal choice. It is a systems challenge that must be solved at the level of systems: policy makers and leaders need to mandate that the cars these kids drive are electric, that the stuff they buy or choose not to is manufactured using renewable energy and that there massive incentives to recycle the materials they purchase.
The cars we drive, whether we leave the lights on or not, paper?/plastic? are all irrelevant to the scale of this challenge. This is a global systems challenge. It’s been framed as a problem of individual choice by people who want to confuse the issue.
47
@Ralphie I don’t think you grasp the scale of the problem. No personal actions can make a dent in it. We need immediate and transformative political action. This action must be taken by adults. Are you an adult ? What are you doing to prevent our earth from turning into a hellworld?
11
@Ralphie Really, your argument examples are hardly rational or even based on real-life today.
1) Children do not create 'mass green transit systems' to get themselves to school, not all (or many!) schools are within a (safe) walking or biking distance
2) OK, so the kids in Kampala Uganda (shown in the photos), Kiev Ukraine, and Hyderabad India PROMISE to never go to Disneyland
3) Cell phone use is hardly the major contributor to Climate Change, no less over the last 50 yrs. Or do you know some statistics others don't?
To 'curmugeonly' discount the REAL concerns citizens, especially the young, feel around the globe is rather small-minded at best, catastrophic at worse.
11
This should be front-page news given the importance of climate change. What’s more, is the extraordinary support from children highlighting the gravity of the situation. They are willing to exercise their democratic right of free speech and want to be heard! The children have shown that they are more informed than most adults.
60
Agree with others here that what the next generation is begging for deserves better coverage from our newspaper of record.
Thank you for putting it on your digital front page, and I hope it will soon be higher.
This is truly the most pressing issue of the early 21st Century. It should unite all people on the planet.
The candidate who focuses most on reversing climate change will be the one I support, work for, and donate to in 2020.
37
Good for them. Now get out and vote. No excuses about your vote not mattering. Everything matters, including the patience and discipline to change the world one vote at a time.
21
I'm not sure whom they think is the culprit. We have big SUV's now, because people are obese, and, consequently, can't fit into small cars. We have massive home development, because people have multiple children. Everybody is always charging their cellphones ever minute o the day and night. Kids play high definition video games all day.
It's easy to decry some ill-defined evil ovrelord. It's must more difficult to cut back on own detrimental habits. Imagine if the government restricted computer/cellphone use. These kids would protest that restriction.
4
You know what's really frustrating? Look at the reader comments for other articles in the NYT. Hundreds of comments for the NZ shooting, Congress, College Admissions & Netflix compared to the 37 comments currently posted here. Certainly all of these stories are important, but it's obvious not many people care or realize the dramatic impact the climate will have on their lives and the lives of their children. Unfortunately, the children seem to be alone on this issue.
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@Cynthia Lamb Exactly, the lack of comments is sadly telling . . . but these motivated (by fear) young people will be voters soon, they will be the leaders and innovators, thank goodness. Get all the small-minded, selfish (mostly older) 'leaders' out!
4
It’s great to see so many young people turning out to fight climate change. Let’s hope that many of them will vote in the next election, against all of the elitists who take money from the dirty fossil fuel industry and sell out the future of the planet. Trump and McConnell have to go, for a start. Protest marches are a good start, but they have to turn that energy into political action and continued effort to defeat climate deniers.
13
Kids love to protest. I did.
Rise up and make the old people pay! Take all their money they got from trashing the planet and use it to clean it up. Power to all the people!
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@Adam Palazzo
Please don't stereotype any group.
The oldest candidate in 2016, Bernie Sanders declared climate change our biggest national security threat.
One of my best friends, a baby boomer, is protesting today and regularly teaches church groups how to make individual sacrifices for the future.
I know many boomers who are working on this cause, as I am.
Blaming accomplishes nothing. Work to unite us in saving the planet for you and your children.
22
These kids are right. Climate change is the asteroid headed our way, the train coming down the track. And, they are right that many politicians have failed to take steps to address climate change. But, in addition, all of us non-politicians have responsibility. These kids' parents and grandparents didn't pay enough attention and take enough steps, either. Even though many of us already have taken steps - like reducing heating and cooling for our houses, switching to more fuel efficient vehicles, taking more public transportation, bundling errands run in a car, keeping car tires properly inflated, switching to LEDs or compact flourescents, eating less meat, etc - it's still not enough, yet. So, I pledge to do much more to address climate change than I have so far. Starting today. And, I'm confident that many of you out there will do so, as well.
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4, maybe 5 of our grandchildren are demonstrating today, and I pray for their success.
But I fear that they will get a 'pooh, pooh, children."
They don't contribute to politicians' campaigns. They can't all vote.
In the sixties, young people marching in the streets did effect change. How can we make that happen today?
14
Wonderful! Here's hoping.
For those thinking of New Zealand, consider that climate events in the past few days have killed many more. For example: "Satellite images show the nightmare bomb cyclone whirling across the US: Snow, wind, lightning, and dust" https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/14/18265637/bomb-cyclone-colorado-blizzard-us-satellite-images-photos
and
60 more since this: "Deadliest Weather Disaster of 2019: Category 2 Idai Kills 111 in Africa; 20-Foot Storm Tide Possible" https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/Deadliest-Weather-Disaster-2019-Category-2-Idai-Kills-111-Africa-Heads-Landfall
Let's celebrate these kids, but there's a reason they're upset. It's just their lives!
16
Dianne Feinstein and her fellow closet climate change deniers in the neoliberal wing of the Democratic Party are out of touch on a global scale.
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National Emergency # 1 for the next Prez.
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So proud of these kids and this generation! Yet, our president, the ‘leader of the free world,’ believes it’s a hoax and appoints a coal lobbyist to the EPA. No progress till the older generation dies.
26
To the Republicans in Washington:
Are you listening?
26
The fact that this article appears at the bottom of “other news” in my app feed is quite sad.
22
We marched today in St Louis. There were maybe 150 people. Dozens of port a potties were set up nearby for the thousands that will turn out for the st Patrick’s drinking this weekend. But you have to start somewhere. Climate is my number one issue going into the next election cycle. Climate disruption will soon dictate everything we can or cannot do.
23
Reminds me of the 60's student protests. Nothing, really, ever changes except the names on the marquee.
You go. You keep climate change before the "adults" who are supposed to know what's important and what to do. We "adults" have consistently and regularly demonstrated that we are behind the curve when it comes to issues that are vital for the future of our children and our planet. Shame on us and kudos to the kids!
17
Seeing the way youth are taking action and demanding progress brought a tear to my eye today. Not only because I appreciate their sense of hope and frustration with the utter lack of real progress on this issue, but because it feels like my generation has already failed them.
I’m 35.
I hope they’re able to bring environmental issues to the forefront in a way that we haven’t been able to.
78
This lifts my heart on an otherwise difficult news day. I’m so proud of our youth. May they grow strong, in health and prosperity.
43
What do you mean by prosperity?
“Prosperous: successful in material terms, flourishing financially “.
A lot of evil is behind the pursuit of this goal, especially in this country, especially by republicans.
1
Bravissimo for the Climate Change Children! They are their parents and grandparents inspiration and their hope! I am moved and so very proud of each and every one of them
25
This is the best news I’ve heard in a while. I hope this youth movement grows and becomes even bigger next year. They give me hope.
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Thank heavens for these young people! Here's hoping they will use their power as voters to vote in people who will finally do something about the disaster our climate has become. Kudos to them all!
30
Fantastic turnout here in Dublin - at least 10,000 kids turned out, including mine! We have to take notice of this historic day and give a meaningful response. I hear pathetic adults on the radio complaining how it's not their fault, or worse, trying to criticise our children. They did not ask to be born into this mess!
I hope that at least some elected officials will publicly respond to young people with what exactly they are going to do and honour their commitments.
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@gf Way to go Dublin, thank you kids! Yes, those criticizing are the most pathetic (I'm being diplomatic) -- what's wrong with people?!!?
5
a half century ago,you weren't allowed to drive a car to school unless you had a job after school. Now kids drive their car to school and pass up the bus.
The expression years ago was Walk The Walk. (fitting)
11
You fail to understand the scale of the problem.
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So many kids who see what is coming in the oceans and the air and on the land. Where are the political and corporate leaders who have the power to turn things around. They and their followers are on their knees praying to the god of mammon.
44
This should be the lead on the front page right after the shooting.
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@Barbara It ought to be the HEADLINE story in all news sites around the world! This is exactly what the strikers are saying to ALL of us-- there is nothing more important than shaking up the entrenched system which has gotten us into this mess. Disappointingly, this story was way down on the list of the NY Times, whereas in the Guardian it is front and center. The Youth are shouting truth to the power elite--- Are they listening yet??
18
Yes.
2
I'm disappointed with the NYT today. This is a huge event and this generations deserves better coverage of this story. They deserve the same coverage the Women's March got. This should be front page news.
236
@Susan Maybe it will be tomorrow since..you know it happened today.
2
On a day of so much despair, something to feel hopeful about. God bless these young people.
59
Amazing to see this, but hard to find the article on the NYT site. I know there is a lot of news today, but it would be nice to see something as inspiring and hopeful as this bumped up a little higher.
191
Yes please NY Times, find a way to bump this up
124
Just back from the desert Southwest where a series of winter storms delivered overwhelming amounts of snow and rain. This is welcomed in an area dealing with hotter summers and drought conditions, year after year. Amid these conditions, many locals believe alt-right claims that climate change isn't real and a trumped up pretext to raise taxes. Sigh. I can see this wetter year is due to climate change. Like the melting permafrost and polar caps. Sadly the West will continue to dry out. The glaciers are receding and there will be less snow pack years ahead. New home construction will put more demand on limited water resources and many people continue to live as if what was true and plentiful in the past will be the same in the future; not recognizing that our over-consumption habits aren't sustainable. We all have to make changes. Now is the time. Hats off to the youth who are raising their voices.
53
Such a shame the horrific and sinister mass shooting in New Zealand may overshadow this important, hopeful, and urgent movement and day of action by hundreds of thousands of young people who seem to be the only ones taking sense in this day and age. They’re certainly more adult than our crybaby world “leaders.”
98
Hundreds of thousands of kids in 100 countries across the world and it doesn't make the front page of the NYT. I had to search for this item. What are you thinking? This is THE ISSUE of the current day. If we don't get this right, nothing else matters.
286
@Lisa Strickland Clark - YES.
17
@Lisa Strickland Clark
The Guardian UK has better coverage of the Climate Strike.
45
If only we would listen. Wednesday evening, I was listening to Dahr Jamail talk about Climate Change and all the signs telling us that it's too late, that we have already gone over the climate precipice. On the same day, Colorado Springs experienced an historic "bomb cyclone" blizzard with 96 mph winds. Did you know the Great Barrier Reef will be gone in 10 years? Did you know you can no longer get a 30-year mortgage in Miami because of the rising sea level? Do you know what's happening in the Amazon jungles, the lungs of our planet? Maybe we should do something. What do you think?
132
(Intended Audience: The wives and daughters of the carbon barons & the carbon-sponsored politicians)
I truly fear for the future safety of the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the owners, board members and executives of the oil, natural gas, coal and pipeline companies and their sponsored political “leaders.”
As living conditions on our planet become unbearable due to the severe, relentless impacts of Climate Change, generations of devastated citizens around the world will ask: “Who is most directly responsible for this existential catastrophe?”
When these citizens look around, they will find many of the culpable carbon barons and carbon-sponsored politicians have already passed on to whatever afterlife awaits them. But the direct descendants of the carbon barons and the carbon-sponsored politicians will still be here. And there will be no escape – not even behind their gated communities – from the wrath of billions of incensed citizens on every continent.
For the carbon barons, it all comes down to one essential choice to be made RIGHT NOW: harvest their carbon assets and sacrifice their descendants – or – strand their carbon assets and save their descendants?
For the carbon-sponsored politicians, it also comes down to one essential choice to be made RIGHT NOW: continue to dither on Climate Change legislation and sacrifice their descendants – or – pass sweeping and meaningful Climate Change mitigation legislation and save their descendants?
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@Phillip Stephen Pino
Thank you for your words.
7