The imagery created by the school strikers has made climate change visible, tangible, focussed and emotionally-compelling, and has projected an image of the future.
This matters politically—it counteracts the political consequences of climate change being invisible, unfocused, intangible and emotionally unengaging…)
Darren Aronofsky writes in the New York Times about why images count in climate politics:
It is through imagery that we tell stories about who we are or want to be. Some images do more than just represent an idea; they deepen, illuminate, connect. They can make us pause or change our minds… powerful images tend to show us what we’ve tried to ignore. Their rawness slices through the haze… visual language is the ultimate tool of communication and connection… Ms. Thunberg… has made it human, tangible and urgent.
Making climate change visible.
Climate Strike Montreal Image: Vjosana Shkurti / 350
School Strike in New Zealand Image: David Tong, Twitter: @Davidxvx/ 350
Melbourne climate strike Image: Takver
Melbourne School Strike for Climate Action Image: Julian Meehan
Our Time To Rise Bloc at the Ottawa-Gatineau Climate Strike Image: Nhattan Nguyen/ 350
Image: Mark Dixon
No More coal Melbourne climate strike Image: Takver
…Tangible
School Strike for Climate Melbourne 30-11-18 Image: Julian Meehan
School Strike for Climate Melbourne 30-11-18 Image: Julian Meehan
Delhi, India September 2019 school strike Image: 350.org
Vanuatu, September 2019 Image 350.org
Australian divers in Dumaguete, Philippines in solidarity with climate strikes, 15 March 2019 Image: Andre Snoopy Montenegro @tshark33 / 350
…Focusing the issues in the public mind
2 minutes to midnight banner Image: Takver
Edmonton climate strike. Image: Abdul Malik
At Parliament Square in London during the Global Climate Strike 20/09/19. Image: Garry Knight
Climate strike, 14th February 2020, London. Image: Socialist Appeal
At Parliament Square in London during the Global Climate Strike 20/09/19. Image: Garry Knight
Don’t burn my future – Melbourne climate strike. Image: Takver
Less Activism in Schools when there is More Learning in Government Image: Stop Adani
Edmonton Climate Strike. Image: Abdul Malik
Why should we go to school if you won’t listen to the educated? Image: John Englart
School Climate Strike, Shrewsbury , UK Image: 350
…Projecting an image of the future
New laws for nature to protect our future – Melbourne climate strike Image: Takver
It’s our future, keep the coal underground. Image Takver
Don’t steal our future – Melbourne climate strike. Image Takver
350 Pilipinas volunteers joined the youth that organized a climate strike solidarity protest at Quezon Memorial Circle. The group joins the thousands of students that organized actions in cities across Asia and Europe against climate change. Photo: Fread De Mesa Image: 350
Marcha por el Clima 6 Dec Madrid #COP25 Greta Thunberg attended and read a short statement to the crowd of 500,000. A manifesto – The World Woke Up Facing A Climate Emergency – for climate justice and climate action was read to the crowd. The march was lead by Fridays for Future students, Chileans and Indigenous people. Image: John Englart/Climate Action Network Australia
When I grow up I want a planet to live on Image: Takver
Don’t be a fossil fool, support renewable energy – Melbourne climate strike Image: Takver
Thinking about 2040 Image: Melbourne School Strike 4 Climate
…Making climate change emotionally-compelling
Climate Strike protests, central London, 2019. Image: Steve Eason
Fridays For Future – Student Climate Strikes London Image: Philip McMaster
Climate March, 2019 Image: Fotomovimiento
In August 2018, outside the Swedish parliament building, Greta Thunberg started a school strike for the climate. Her sign reads, “Skolstrejk för klimatet,” meaning, “school strike for climate”. Image: Anders Hellberg, Wikimedia Commons
Greta Thunberg, New York City, September 2019 Image: Shadia Fayne Wood Survival Media Agency/ 350
People & Planet Before Profit and Politics. Image Stephen Hass
Beth asks Why? and why not? Image Takver
There is no Plan(et) B. Image: School Strike
We owe children a future. Image Takver