On December 2, 2018, there was a climate march in Brussels. 65,000 demonstrators. A month later, in early January, the Belgian youth revolted. 3,0000 young people played truant for the climate. The following week, 12,500 people took part. Almost three weeks later, this number almost tripled to 35,000. Last Sunday, young and old went out into the streets together in the Belgian capital. The result: a new record. 70,000 demonstrators.
Brussels is currently the epicenter of the global climate protest. Who would have thought it? That my little country, known for its French fries and Tripel beer, would take the lead in this global issue.
Without becoming sentimental: all this is largely due to the courage and determination of youth. Thanks to their civil disobedience, the climate theme is now at the top of the (Belgian) social agenda, and there is plenty of talk about what may rightly be called the greatest challenge of this century. The fact that there is finally consensus on this is in itself a victory.
While some adults build an armor around their comfortable and familiar lives, by basking in complacency and so-called sense of reality ("it all has to remain affordable"), these kids really understand that we're in the middle of a climate storm and that there is no time for denial or business as usual.
Pathetic to see how many adults are tight like a cramp because those rebellious youngsters dare to disrupt the normal course of events. They dare to say 'kiss my ass' to a system that we have invented before they existed. And that is just what needs to be done. We must dare to question the entire system. We must dare to think radically different. We must have to courage to set the right priorities. Let's change the paradigms.
Meanwhile, 3400 scientists in Belgium have joined the students and also King Filip has expressed his sympathy. In a recent speech he said the following:
The young people show ambition and deep feelings of authenticity and solidarity. They have a keen awareness of the needs of our planet. Let us give them the place they deserve and build with them a solid foundation to support them.
Protesting for more climate action is not a matter of 'stupidity', 'madness', let alone 'religion', as some cynics would have us believe. No, it is a healthy act of civilians. It's an effective way of showing that there is enough social capacity for an ambitious and fair climate policy.
"It's already too late," the fatalist says. "Too late for what?", says the idealist. "Too late to prevent a total disaster scenario? Of course not!"
"Protest on the street? Ah, dude, that makes no sense at all", the cynic then shouts. "Politicians do not listen, protest doesn't solve anything."
Above conversations happen daily. In my opinion, the final outcome is one of the most underestimated problems of today in rich Western countries, namely that citizens no longer bother to express their opinions through protest or demonstrations.
However, many people apparently feel the need to express their opinion. Anonymous though. On social media. Preferably as rude and ignorant as possible. But this doesn't solve anything. I find it striking that it are especially young people, people who embraced social media, who now dare to come out on the street in the old-fashioned way. I find this amazing!
