Today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, more than 15,000 young people marched to call for 350. Here’s part of an email from one of the lead organizers of the action, Tinebeb Yohannes:
One of the biggest events with over 15,000 participants for Climate Action took place at Yekatit 12 Martyrs Square at Sidit Kilo, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The event began with a procreation of marching band, the Ethiopian Police Federation, followed by students from more than 15 primary and secondary school in the city. After a welcome speech by our own 350 representative (Lily) an opening speech was made by the representative of H.E. Green Hero Girma Woldegiorgis, President of the F.D.R.E, Ato Assefa Kesito, followed by a brief presentation on climate change and its impact by Mrs Akille Assefa from the Ethiopian National Metrological Services Agency.
A short speech was also made by Ato Alemayehu Akalu, Director of Tenakebenaand Ginfle Cleansed Youth Association. The most impressive part was that the students that came to this event had used their own creativity to create unique and outstanding slogans and banners related with 350 and climate change. There was great media coverage from local (ETV, ENA and Ethiopian Environmental Journalists Association/EEJA/) as well as international media. Various guests were also present at the event including Grace Mwaura from African Youth Initiative on Climate Change from Kenya, 350 reporter and camera women- Emily Taylor, representatives of Forum for Environment and one of our 350 volunteers, Amrote A. Assefa, from Oxfam America.