AMSTERDAM, March 11, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Tens of thousands of people marched
through the heavy rain in Amsterdam Sunday, calling on the Dutch government
to act to counter the effects of climate change.
The organisers, including Greenpeace and a number of Dutch groups, said
around 40,000 turned out for the demonstration, the first of its kind in the
Netherlands.
“The high turnout is the proof that people now want a decisive policy on
climate from the government,” they said in a statement.
The Netherlands is particularly vulnerable to the consequences of climate
change, as part of the country lies below sea level and some of its land has
been reclaimed from the sea.
“We are under sea level, so we really need to do something about it,” said
one demonstrator, Esther Leverstein, a 21-yer-old climate studies student at
Amsterdam University.
“We’re great with water (management) but we need to step up our game.”
Gert van Rees, a 72-year-old pensioner, said she was concerned for future
generations.
“We have seven grand-children and sometimes we are really worried. So
that’s why we are here, it really should change.”
In February, around 15,000 school students skipped school to march for
action on climate change, following the example of their fellow students
across the border in Belgium.
A second youth march for the climate is scheduled for Thursday in
Amsterdam.