‘We Are Powerful & We Belong To This World’: Australia Unites For Climate Change Rallies

Australia’s largest climate change mobilisation took place today, with musicians among those throwing their support behind the cause.

Today’s #ClimateStrike rallies across the country saw thousands of students and workers take a stand, including Montaigne and Jack River, who performed in Sydney, while Jimmy Barnes backed the event via a pre-recorded video message to students.

"I am a father and a grandfather and want my grandchildren and the younger generation to live in a safe world, free from the dangerous effects of man-made climate change," Barnes said.

It’s reported that 100,000 people took part in the Melbourne event, with Sydney (80,000), Brisbane (30,000), Adelaide (20,000), Hobart (20,000), Canberra (15,000) and Perth (10,000) also drawing in large crowds.

Australian strikers were calling on the Government to commit to no new coal, oil and gas projects, including Queensland’s Adani mine, 100% renewable energy generation and exports by 2030 and more.

Millions of others around the world are also taking part in the global strike, which comes just days out from world leaders meeting in New York for the United Nations Emergency Climate Summit.

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Our girl @gretathunberg will be protesting from New York today. Hope to see the rest of you out there on the beat, in...
Posted by Clare Bowditch on Thursday, September 19, 2019

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thank you to 100,000 good Sydney people for showing up for climate action today, and thank you for letting me put my music in your sweet sweet public space, thank you for giving me the courage to stand up for what’s right and urgent and necessary
— Montaigne (@actualmontaigne) September 20, 2019

Our team at AF were among the thousands of people who joined the #climatestrike in Adelaide. #FridaysforFuture pic.twitter.com/gVDd6jYsz1
— Adelaide Festival (@adelaidefest) September 20, 2019

Let's make tomorrow's #ClimateStrike huge - I'll be there saluting the young & brave leading the way, they know their future's in the balance. On the cusp of a powerful mass movement demanding change, all leaders, especially @ScottMorrisonMP, must act. No cop outs or delays.
— Peter Garrett (@pgarrett) September 19, 2019