Medical students skipped lectures on Friday to join massive crowds protesting against inaction on climate change
Sydney Town Hall was jam packed with school children cutting class to protest against inaction on climate change today.
Children dressed in school uniforms climbed onto walls, shook placards, chanted and sang along to John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’. Most of the speeches were made by kids. “This is what democracy looks like,” one speaker said.
#SchoolsStrike4Climate pic.twitter.com/UoZS0rUPYI
— The Medical Republic (@Medicalrepublic) March 15, 2019
The crowds were so thick that police had to form a ring around the central rally to manage foot traffic.
Hundreds of school children cutting class & singing John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’. #SchoolsStrike4Climate pic.twitter.com/yPVAXs4nKL
— The Medical Republic (@Medicalrepublic) March 15, 2019
Fourth-year medical student Keerthi Muvva, the Code Green coordinator for AMSA, told The Medical Republic:“Climate change is the greatest global health threat of the 21st century.
“It is unimaginable how many facets of our life climate change is going to effect, whether it is vector-borne disease, air pollution, mental health, food security.
“There are going to be so many patients who will have to deal with the consequences.”
The same scene was replicated across the country, with tens of thousands of children joining protests in capital cities, as well as the Blue Mountains, Orange, Tamworth, Bendigo, Mackay, Port Macquarie, Alice Springs and Cairns.
The Medical Republic’s photographer, Victoria Nelson, weaved through the crowd to capture a few shots of medical students who had also skipped lectures to take to the streets.
Editor’s note: This story previously included a TMR Twitter post, which featured an image of medical students at the rally who were incorrectly referred to as doctors.
