School children the world have been going strike. They are unhappy that their governments are doing too little to fight climate change. The strikes are part a growing international movement called School Strike Climate. Instead going to school, students the globe have been skipping classes to take part street protests. Many the protests have been government buildings. The movement began in August 2018 when Swedish student Greta Thunberg stood outside Sweden's government every Friday. She held a sign that read: "School strike for climate". Photos of her went viral social media. Students organized themselves and copied Ms Thunberg's actions.
The movement is growing worldwide. 2019, strikes have taken place Europe, North America and Australia. Over 45,000 students protested one day in Switzerland and Germany. Students have held banners reading, "Why learn a future?" "If you do not act as adults, we will" and "Like the sea level, we rise." The first worldwide strike will take place March 15. Many scientists, politicians and teachers congratulated the students their activism. However, not everyone is the students' side. Australia's leader called for "more learning schools and less activism". A journalist the U.K. wrote: "If children really must wag their fingers older generations some imaginary sin, I wish they'd do it at the weekend."
