Thousands of people marched through Glasgow on Saturday in what organisers called the city's biggest climate rally since the UN climate conference Cop26 in 2021. The demonstration, part of a global day of action coinciding with Cop30 in Brazil, saw families, activists and grassroots groups demand urgent action on the climate crisis.
The march, organised by Friends Of The Earth Scotland, wound through the city centre to Glasgow Green. A banner at the front proclaimed: «a better world is possible». Many protesters carried Palestinian flags in solidarity with Gaza, while a choir sang modified Christmas carols opposing the Rosebank oil field west of the Shetland Isles.
Ben Williams, a 36-year-old university worker, brought his daughters aged six and three to the march. He said: «I have come today to show my children about activism and support in numbers. They enjoy going to protests. I'm hoping this will make politicians listen.» Groups of children chanted: «Stop Rosebank, the planet is for everyone».
Emma Henry, a 41-year-old Glasgow resident, explained her motivation: «I came today because this is so important. I feel so helpless about what is happening with the climate crisis, it is terrible. It is good to be together at a time which is so isolated and divided.»
Broader connections
The demonstration brought together climate campaigners, migrant justice groups and the Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee. Caroline Rance, head of campaigns at Friends Of The Earth Scotland, said: «People came out in huge numbers to demand that better world we know is possible. [...] Public concern about climate breakdown remains really high and people recognise that the challenges our communities face from Palestine to the Amazon are deeply connected.»
Nick Cullen from the Climate and Migrant Justice Organising Group added: «We joined this march because we must stand together against the deepening hostile environment, far right violence, and the erosion of climate action. [...] Today showed that in these challenging times, our communities are stronger and more powerful when we come together.»
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
