Young Maldivians join global climate strike

A group of school children skipped classes on Thursday to take part in the global climate strike by staging protests across the Maldives.

More than 50 protesters, including students as young as five, gathered in front of the main government office complex in the capital 15 minutes before offices opened. Little boys and girls of preschool age accompanied by their parents held up colourful handwritten posters. Chants of ‘Stop Stealing Trees,’ ‘Stop Making Plastic‘ and ‘Climate Action Right Now‘ rang outside the building as civil servants used the side entrance stairs. 

Organised with the support of environmental activists, the demonstration continued until 1pm. The strike was planned for the 26th because Friday is the weekend in the Maldives, organisers explained.

Young protesters raised their voices against the destruction of mangroves, removal of trees, failure to address plastic pollution and the large-scale reclamation of lagoons for resort development.