Ukrainian, Russian climate strikers oppose war

March 2, 2022
Issue 
Fridays for Future protest war in Ukraine
Fridays for Future activists protest the war in Ukraine, outside the Russian embassy in Sweden. Photo: Greta Thunberg/Twitter

The Ukrainian arm of the climate movement Fridays for Future has called for global demonstrations to demand an end to Russia's military assault.

"We ask all of our brothers and sisters from Fridays for Future to go on the streets, to demand this war to end, to fight for peace in our name," the group said on Twitter on March 1.

While the international climate strikes take place on Fridays, the Ukrainian group called for additional demonstrations to be held Thursday this week to centre on the call for an end to military hostilities in their country.

"We are youth climate activists usually fighting a crisis we didn't cause, now finding ourselves at the front lines of a war we didn't start," they continued.

The climate strikers also put blame for "many recent wars" on fossil fuels, which they called "resources we no longer need".

"War for fossil fuels could be even next your home," the activists warned.

Fridays for Future Russia — which retweeted Fridays for Future Ukraine's Twitter thread — put out a message of solidarity with their Ukrainian counterparts.

In a Twitter thread on February 24, the day Russia launched its invasion, the group rejected war as "not fair".

"In a situation where the world is suffering from climate, environmental, and other crises, war will only exacerbate these crises, but will not help to solve them," wrote Fridays for Future Russia. "In our time, all conflicts must be resolved through diplomacy, and not by the blood of civilians in other countries."

The Russian activists said their group "has always opposed" and "will continue to oppose any military action, no matter how 'fair' they are portrayed by state propaganda".

They further vowed to "continue to fight for peace and justice for all the inhabitants of the planet, especially in the current conditions".

[Abridged from Common Dreams.]

You need Green Left, and we need you!

Green Left is funded by contributions from readers and supporters. Help us reach our funding target.

Make a One-off Donation or choose from one of our Monthly Donation options.

Become a supporter to get the digital edition for $5 per month or the print edition for $10 per month. One-time payment options are available.

You can also call 1800 634 206 to make a donation or to become a supporter. Thank you.